Deuteronomy 17:18

Deuteronomy 17:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
• New International Version (NIV)When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.

Context of Deuteronomy 17:18

16The king must never own a large number of horses or make the people return to Egypt to get more horses. The Lord has told you, “You will never go back there again.” 17The king must never have a large number of wives, or he will turn away ⌞from God⌟. And he must never own a lot of gold and silver. When he becomes king, he should have the Levitical priests make him a copy of these teachings on a scroll. 19He must keep it with him and read it his entire life. He will learn to fear the Lord his God and faithfully obey everything found in these teachings and laws. 20Then he won’t think he’s better than the rest of his people, and he won’t disobey these commands in any way. So he and his sons will rule for a long time in Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:18 word by word

וְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ וְכָ֨תַב ל֜וֹ אֶת־מִשְׁנֵ֨ה הַתּוֹרָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ עַל־סֵ֔פֶר מִלִּפְנֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים הַלְוִיִּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it shall be, when he sittethיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• upon the throneכִּסֵּאkissê' kissêh · throneH3678
• of his kingdomמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
• that he shall writeכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• him a copyמִשְׁנֶהmishneh · secondH4932
• of this lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451
• in a bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:18

• 2 Kings 11:12Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, gave him the crown and the religious instructions, and made him king by anointing him. As the guards clapped their hands, they said, “Long live the king!”
• Deuteronomy 31:9Moses wrote down these teachings and gave them to the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the Lord’s promise and to all the leaders of Israel.
• 2 Kings 22:8The chief priest Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the Book of Moses’ Teachings in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who then read it.
• 2 Chronicles 34:15Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the Book of the Teachings in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18He shall write him a copy of this law - הזאת התורה משנה mishneh hattorah hazzoth, an iteration or duplicate of this law; translated by the Septuagint, this deuteronomy. From this version both the Vulgate Latin and all the modern versions have taken the name of this book; and from the original word the Jews call it Mishneh . See the preface to this book. Out of that which is before the priests the Levites - It is likely this means, that the copy which the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18It is in striking consistency with the dignity which everywhere throughout the Mosaic legislation surrounds the chosen people of God, that even if they will be “like as all the nations about” Deuteronomy 17:14, and be governed by a king, care should nevertheless be taken that he shall be no Oriental despot. He is to be of no royal caste, but “one from among thy brethren” Deuteronomy 17:15; he is to bear himself as a kind of “primus inter pares,” his heart…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 God himself was in a particular manner Israel's King; and if they set another over them, it was necessary that he should choose the person. Accordingly, when the people desired a king, they applied to Samuel, a prophet of the Lord. In all cases, God's choice, if we can but know it, should direct, determine, and overrule ours. Laws are given for the prince that should be elected. He must carefully avoid every thing that would turn him from God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18this instruction (Hebrew this torah): Here instruction refers to the book of Deuteronomy or possibly only this passage about having a king (monarchy) in Israel. For torah, see study note on 4:44.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. he shall write him a copy of this law in a book--The original scroll of the ancient Scriptures was deposited in the sanctuary under the strict custody of the priests (see on De 31:26; 2Ki 22:8). Each monarch, on his accession, was to be furnished with a true and faithful copy, which he was to keep constantly beside him, and daily peruse it, that his character and sentiments being cast into its sanctifying mould, he might discharge his royal…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 17:18

• Constitution
• King
• Law
• Rulers
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Law of Moses
• Mouth
• Throne
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• Deuteronomy
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• King; Kingdom
• Law, Judicial

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings