God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 23:1
1A man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 23:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.
Context of Deuteronomy 23:1
A man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of the Lord. 2A man born from an illicit union may not join the assembly of the Lord. No descendant of his may join the assembly of the Lord for ten generations. 3Ammonites or Moabites may not join the assembly of the Lord. Not one descendant of theirs may join the assembly of the Lord for ten generations.
Read all of Deuteronomy 23Deuteronomy 23:1 word by word
לֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א פְצֽוּעַ־דַּכָּ֛א וּכְר֥וּת שָׁפְכָ֖ה בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהוָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- He that is wounded in the stonesדַּכָּהdakkâh · crushingH1795
- He that is wounded in the stonesפָּצַעpâtsa‛ · to woundH6481
- or hath his privy memberשׇׁפְכָהshophkâh · penisH8212
- cut offכָּרַתkârath · to cut: cutH3772
- shall not enterבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into the congregationקָהָלqâhâl · assemblyH6951
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 23:1
- Leviticus 21:17“Tell Aaron: If any of your descendants (now or in future generations) has a physical defect, he must never bring food to offer to God.
- Leviticus 22:22Never bring the Lord an animal that is blind, has broken bones, cuts, warts, scabs, or ringworm. Never give the Lord any of these in a sacrifice by fire on the altar.
- Galatians 3:28There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.
- Deuteronomy 23:2A man born from an illicit union may not join the assembly of the Lord. No descendant of his may join the assembly of the Lord for ten generations.
- Nehemiah 13:1On that day the Book of Moses was read while the people were listening. They heard the passage that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into God’s assembly.
- Isaiah 56:3Foreigners who have joined the Lord should not say, “The Lord will separate us from his people.” Castrated men should not say, “We’re only dead trees!”
- Lamentations 1:10The enemies laid their hands on all of the city’s treasures. Jerusalem has seen the nations enter the holy place. ‘O Lord, they are the same people you have forbidden to enter your congregation.’
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 23:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Shall not enter into the congregation, etc. - If by entering the congregation be meant the bearing a civil office among the people, such as magistrate, judge, etc., then the reason of the law is very plain; no man with any such personal defect as might render him contemptible in the sight of others should bear rule among the people, lest the contempt felt for his personal defects might be transferred to his important office, and thus his authority be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Compare Leviticus 21:17-24. Such persons, exhibiting a mutilation of that human nature which was made in God‘s image, were rejected from the covenant entirely. However, they could be proselytes (compare Acts 8:27). The Old Testament itself foretells Isaiah 56:3-5 the removal of this ban when under the kingdom of Messiah the outward and emblematic perfection and sanctity of Israel should be fulfilled in their inner meaning by the covenanted presence and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Who are shut out from the congregation. (1-8) Cleanliness enjoined. (15-25) Of fugitive servants, Usury, and other precepts. (9-14) Verses 1-8 We ought to value the privileges of God's people, both for ourselves and for our children, above all other advantages. No personal blemishes, no crimes of our forefathers, no difference of nation, shuts us out under the Christian dispensation. But an unsound heart will deprive us of blessings; and a bad example, or…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Emasculation is the removal of a man’s sexual organs. In the ancient world, it was sometimes linked to pagan rituals and customs. Such practices were deeply offensive to the Lord (compare Isaiah 56:3–4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251-3. He that is wounded ..., shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord--"To enter into the congregation of the Lord" means either admission to public honors and offices in the Church and State of Israel, or, in the case of foreigners, incorporation with that nation by marriage. The rule was that strangers and foreigners, for fear of friendship or marriage connections with them leading the people into idolatry, were not admissible till their…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 23:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 23
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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