God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 23:21
21If you make a vow to the Lord your God, don’t avoid keeping it. The Lord your God expects you to keep it. You would be guilty of a sin if you didn’t.
Deuteronomy 23:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
- New International Version (NIV)If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.
Context of Deuteronomy 23:21
19Never charge another Israelite any interest on money, food, or anything else that is borrowed. 20You may charge a foreigner interest, but not an Israelite. Then the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do once you’ve entered the land and taken possession of it. If you make a vow to the Lord your God, don’t avoid keeping it. The Lord your God expects you to keep it. You would be guilty of a sin if you didn’t. 22If you didn’t make a vow, you would not be guilty. 23Make sure you do what you said you would do ⌞in your vow⌟. You freely chose to make your vow to the Lord your God.
Read all of Deuteronomy 23Deuteronomy 23:21 word by word
כִּֽי־תִדֹּ֥ר נֶ֙דֶר֙ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תְאַחֵ֖ר לְשַׁלְּמ֑וֹ כִּֽי־דָּרֹ֨שׁ יִדְרְשֶׁ֜נּוּ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְ וְהָיָ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- When thou shalt vowנָדַרnâdar · to vowH5087
- a vowנֶ֫דֶרneder nêder · vowH5088
- unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- thy Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- thou shalt not slackאָחַר'âchar · to delayH309
- to payשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
- will surelyדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
- it of thee; and it would be sinחֵטְאchêţ' · sinH2399
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 23:21
- Deuteronomy 23:18Never bring gifts or money earned by prostitution into the house of the Lord your God as an offering you vowed to give. These earnings are disgusting to the Lord your God.
- Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear,
- Genesis 35:1Then God said to Jacob, “Go to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there. I am the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”
- Leviticus 27:2“Tell the Israelites: If any of you makes a special vow ⌞to give a person⌟ to the Lord, you may give money instead of the person.
- Numbers 30:2If a man makes a vow to the Lord that he will do something or swears an oath that he won’t do something, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do.
- Psalms 56:12I am bound by my vows to you, O God. I will keep my vows by offering songs of thanksgiving to you.
- Psalms 66:13I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will keep my vows to you,
- Psalms 76:11Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them. Let everyone around him bring gifts to the one who must be feared.
- Psalms 116:18I will keep my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
- Ecclesiastes 5:4When you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it because God doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise.
- Jonah 1:16The men were terrified of the Lord. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord.
- Jonah 2:9But I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving. I will keep my vow. Victory belongs to the Lord!”
- Nahum 1:15There on the mountains are the feet of a messenger who announces the good news: “All is well!” Celebrate your festivals, Judah! Keep your vows! This wickedness will never pass your way again. It will be completely removed.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 23:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21When thou shalt vow, etc. - See on Numbers 30:2; (note), etc.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 It is honourable to shelter and protect the weak, provided they are not wicked. Proselytes and converts to the truth, should be treated with particular tenderness, that they may have no temptation to return to the world. We cannot honour God with our substance, unless it be honestly and honourably come by. It must not only be considered what we give, but how we got it. Where the borrower gets, or hopes to get, it is just that the lender…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2221-22. When thou shalt vow a vow--(See on Nu 30:2).Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 23:21
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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