New English Translation
Deuteronomy 23:3
3An Ammonite or Moabite may not enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall ever do so,
Deuteronomy 23:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever:
- New International Version (NIV)No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever,
Context of Deuteronomy 23:3
1A man with crushed or severed genitals may not enter the assembly of the Lord. 2A person of illegitimate birth may not enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation no one related to him may do so. An Ammonite or Moabite may not enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall ever do so, 4for they did not meet you with food and water on the way as you came from Egypt, and furthermore, they hired Balaam son of Beor of Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you. 5But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam and changed the curse to a blessing, for the Lord your God loves you.
Read all of Deuteronomy 23Deuteronomy 23:3 word by word
לֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א עַמּוֹנִ֛י וּמוֹאָבִ֖י בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם דּ֣וֹר עֲשִׂירִ֔י לֹא־יָבֹ֥א לָהֶ֛ם בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- An Ammoniteעַמּוֹנִי‛ammônîy · AmmonH5984
- or Moabiteמוֹאָבִיmô'âbîy mô'âbîyâh mô'âbîyth · MoabiteH4125
- shall not enterבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into the congregationקָהָלqâhâl · assemblyH6951
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- even to their tenthעֲשִׂירִי‛ăώîyrîy · tenthH6224
- generationדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
- forעַד‛ad · tillH5704
- everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 23:3
- Ruth 4:6The guardian said, “Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it.”
- Nehemiah 4:3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
- Nehemiah 13:1On that day the book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people. They found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite may ever enter the assembly of God,
- Isaiah 56:3No foreigner who becomes a follower of the Lord should say, ‘The Lord will certainly exclude me from his people.’ The eunuch should not say, ‘Look, I am like a dried-up tree.’”
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 23:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3An Ammonite or Moabite - These nations were subjected for their impiety and wickedness, (see Deuteronomy 23:4; and Deuteronomy 23:5;), to peculiar disgrace, and on this account were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites. But this did not disqualify them from being proselytes: Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was married to Boaz, and she became one of the progenitors of our Lord. Even to their tenth generation - That is, for ever, as the next…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-5Verses 3-5 This law forbids only the naturalization of those against whom it is directed. It does not forbid their dwelling in the land; and seems to refer rather to the nations than to individuals. It was not understood at any rate to interdict marriage with a Moabitess; compare Rth 1:4 ; Rth 4:13 . Ruth however, and her sister were doubtless proselytes. Deuteronomy 23:4 Compare the marginal reference. The Moabites and the Ammonites are to be regarded as…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3No Ammonite or Moabite: The Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Lot (see study notes on 2:9, 19). Their origin came from an unlawful family relationship. Later, these nations refused to let Israel pass through their land during the wilderness journey (23:4). The phrase even to the tenth generation does not mean only ten literal generations. It refers to a very long or indefinite period of time.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 23:3
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
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