Deuteronomy 17:4

Deuteronomy 17:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
• New International Version (NIV)and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
• English Standard Version (ESV)and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel,
• New King James Version (NKJV)and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel,

Context of Deuteronomy 17:4

2In one of the cities the Lord your God is giving you, there may be a man or woman among you who is doing what the Lord considers evil. This person may be disregarding the conditions of the Lord’s promise 3by worshiping and bowing down to other gods, the sun, the moon, or the whole army of heaven. I have forbidden this. When you are told about it, investigate it thoroughly. If it’s true and it can be proven that this disgusting thing has been done in Israel, 5then bring the man or woman who did this evil thing to the gates of your city, and stone that person to death. 6The person can only be sentenced to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses, but no one should ever be sentenced to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Deuteronomy 17:4 word by word

וְהֻֽגַּד־לְךָ֖ וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּ וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֣ הֵיטֵ֔ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֱמֶת֙ נָכ֣וֹן הַדָּבָ֔ר נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it be toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• thee, and thou hast heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• and enquiredדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• diligentlyיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• trueאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: trueH571
• the thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: promisedH1697
• certainכּוּןkûn · to establish: rightH3559
• such abominationתּוֹעֵבַהtô‛êbah tô‛êbah · abominationH8441
• is wroughtעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:4

• Deuteronomy 13:12You may hear that the residents in one of the cities which the Lord your God is giving you to live in
• Deuteronomy 19:18The judges must make a thorough investigation. If it is found that the witness lied when he testified against the other Israelite,
• Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to hide things but the glory of kings to investigate them.
• John 7:51“Do Moses’ Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person’s side of the story? We can’t judge a person without finding out what that person has done.”

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4If it be told thee - In a private way by any confidential person. And thou hast heard of it; so that it appears to be notorious, very likely to be true, and publicly scandalous. And hast inquired diligently - sought to find out the truth of the report by the most careful examination of persons reporting, circumstances of the case, etc. And, behold, it be true - the report is not founded on vague rumor, hearsay, or malice. And the thing certain…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2-7Verses 2-7 Compare Deuteronomy 13:1 ff. Here special reference is made to the legal forms to be adopted, Deuteronomy 17:5-7. The sentence was to be carried into effect at “the gates” (compare Genesis 19:1 note) of the town in which the crime was committed; because, as “all the people” were to take a part, an open space would be requisite for the execution. Note the typical and prophetical aspect of the injunction; compare Acts 7:58; Hebrews 13:12.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Anything that offends the Lord could be called an abomination (see 7:25; 12:31; 13:14). This word describes actions that are deeply hateful or detestable in God’s sight.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-72-7. If there be found among you ... man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness--The grand object contemplated in choosing Israel was to preserve the knowledge and worship of the one true God; and hence idolatry of any kind, whether of the heavenly bodies or in some grosser form, is called "a transgression of His covenant." No rank or sex could palliate this crime. Every reported case, even a flying rumor of the perpetration of so heinous an offense, was…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 17:4

• Church
• Idolatry
• Intolerance, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Idolatry
• Mouth
• Atonement, Day of
• Certain; Certainly; Certainty
• Criticism
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis

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