Deuteronomy 17:20

Deuteronomy 17:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
• New International Version (NIV)and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.

Context of Deuteronomy 17:20

18“Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:20 word by word

לְבִלְתִּ֤י רוּם־לְבָבוֹ֙ מֵֽאֶחָ֔יו וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י ס֥וּר מִן־הַמִּצְוָ֖ה יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לְמַעַן֩ יַאֲרִ֨יךְ יָמִ֧ים עַל־מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹ ה֥וּא וּבָנָ֖יו בְּקֶ֥רֶב יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סRead the interlinear

• that his heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
• may not be liftedרוּםrûm · to exaltH7311
• up aboveמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• countrymenאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• and that he may not turnסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• asideסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• from the commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• to the rightיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• or the leftשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
• soמַ֫עַןma‛an · becauseH4616
• that he and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• may continueאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
• longיוֹםyôm · day: alwaysH3117
• in his kingdomמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
• in the midstקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:20

• Deuteronomy 8:2You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
• 2 Kings 14:10You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Enjoy your glory and stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall, and Judah with you?”
• 2 Chronicles 25:19You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?”
• 2 Chronicles 26:16But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.
• 2 Chronicles 32:25But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.
• 2 Chronicles 33:12When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
• 2 Chronicles 34:27“Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.
• Psalms 131:1O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.
• Isaiah 2:12For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is proud and lofty And against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be abased.
• Daniel 5:20But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.
• Habakkuk 2:4“Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
• 1 Peter 5:5You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
• Deuteronomy 4:2You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
• Deuteronomy 5:32So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.
• Deuteronomy 12:25You shall not eat it, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you, for you will be doing what is right in the sight of the Lord.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20He, and his children, in the midst of Israel - From this verse it has been inferred that the crown of Israel was designed to be hereditary, and this is very probable; for long experience has proved to almost all the nations of the world that hereditary succession in the regal government is, on the whole, the safest, and best calculated to secure the public tranquillity.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
• 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 17:20

• Constitution
• King
• Law
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Mouth
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• 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