God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 17:9
9Go to the Levitical priests and the judge who is serving at that time. Ask for their opinion, and they will give you their verdict
Deuteronomy 17:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:
- New International Version (NIV)Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment.
Context of Deuteronomy 17:9
7The witnesses must start the execution, then all the other people will join them in putting the person to death. You must get rid of this evil. 8There may be a case that is too hard for you to decide. It may involve murder, assault, or a dispute—any case which may be brought to court in your cities. Take this case to the place that the Lord your God will choose. Go to the Levitical priests and the judge who is serving at that time. Ask for their opinion, and they will give you their verdict 10at the place that the Lord will choose. Do what they tell you. Follow all their instructions carefully, 11and do what they tell you to do in their verdict. Do exactly what they tell you to do in their decision.
Read all of Deuteronomy 17Deuteronomy 17:9 word by word
וּבָאתָ֗ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְאֶל־הַשֹּׁפֵ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֑ם וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֙ וְהִגִּ֣ידוּ לְךָ֔ אֵ֖ת דְּבַ֥ר הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And thou shalt comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- and unto the judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- that shall be in those daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- and enquireדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
- and they shall shewנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- thee the sentenceדָּבָרdâbâr · word: promisedH1697
- of judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:9
- Jeremiah 18:18Then they said, “Let’s plot against Jeremiah, because the teachings of the priests, the advice of wise people, and the word of the prophets won’t disappear. Accuse him! Pay no attention to anything he says.”
- Haggai 2:11“This is what the Lord of Armies says: Ask the priests for a decision.
- Malachi 2:7“A priest’s lips should preserve knowledge. Then, because he is the messenger for the Lord of Armies, people will seek instruction from his mouth.
- Deuteronomy 19:17The two people involved must stand in the Lord’s presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time.
- Ezekiel 44:24In all disputes the priests must act as judges and make decisions based on my laws. They must obey my rules and my regulations at all my festivals. They must observe holy days to worship me.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17:9
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 The cases in question are such as the inferior judges did not feel able to decide satisfactorily, and which accordingly they remitted to their superiors (compare Exodus 18:23-27). The Supreme court Deuteronomy 17:9 is referred to in very general terms as sitting at the sanctuary Deuteronomy 17:8. “The judge” would no doubt usually be a layman, and thus the court would contain both an ecclesiastical and a civil element. Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 Courts of judgment were to be set up in every city. Though their judgment had not the Divine authority of an oracle, it was the judgment of wise, prudent, experienced men, and had the advantage of a Divine promise.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9priests and to the judge: Both kinds of leaders could decide cases. These cases could be about religious matters or about everyday civil matters.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-138-13. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment--In all civil or criminal cases, where there was any doubt or difficulty in giving a decision, the local magistrates were to submit them by reference to the tribunal of the Sanhedrim--the supreme council, which was composed partly of civil and partly of ecclesiastical persons. "The priests and Levites," should rather be "the priests--the Levites"; that is, the Levitical priests, including the…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 17:9
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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