New Living Translation
Deuteronomy 21:18
18“Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him.
Deuteronomy 21:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
- New International Version (NIV)If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them,
Context of Deuteronomy 21:18
16When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son. 17He must recognize the rights of his oldest son, the son of the wife he does not love, by giving him a double portion. He is the first son of his father’s virility, and the rights of the firstborn belong to him. “Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him. 19In such a case, the father and mother must take the son to the elders as they hold court at the town gate. 20The parents must say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’
Read all of Deuteronomy 21Deuteronomy 21:18 word by word
כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה לְאִ֗ישׁ בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֔עַ בְּק֥וֹל אָבִ֖יו וּבְק֣וֹל אִמּ֑וֹ וְיסְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- have a stubbornסָרַרsârar · to rebelH5637
- and rebelliousמָרָהmârâh · to rebelH4784
- sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- which will not obeyשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: obeyH8085
- the voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- of his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- of his motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
- when they have chastenedיָסַרyâsar · to disciplineH3256
- him, will not hearkenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:18
- Proverbs 28:24Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.
- Proverbs 30:11Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother.
- Isaiah 1:2Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the Lord says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me.
- Deuteronomy 27:16‘Cursed is anyone who dishonors father or mother.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
- Exodus 20:12“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
- Exodus 21:15“Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death.
- Leviticus 19:3“Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the Lord your God.
- Leviticus 21:9“If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by becoming a prostitute, she also defiles her father’s holiness, and she must be burned to death.
- Proverbs 15:5Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.
- Proverbs 20:20If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
- Ezekiel 22:7Fathers and mothers are treated with contempt. Foreigners are forced to pay for protection. Orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed among you.
- Deuteronomy 8:5Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.
- 2 Samuel 7:14I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.
- Proverbs 13:24Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
- Proverbs 19:18Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.
- Proverbs 22:15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The stubborn, rebellious, gluttonous, and drunken son is to be stoned to death - This law, severe as it may seem, must have acted as a powerful preventive of crime. If such a law were in force now, and duly executed, how many deaths of disobedient and profligate children would there be in all corners of the land!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 The formal accusation of parents against a child was to be received without inquiry, as being its own proof. Thus the just authority of the parents is recognized and effectually upheld (compare Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:15, Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9); but the extreme and irresponsible power of life and death, conceded by the law of Rome and other pagan nations, is withheld from the Israelite father. In this, as in the last law, provision is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 Observe how the criminal is here described. He is a stubborn and rebellious son. No child was to fare the worse for weakness of capacity, slowness, or dulness, but for wilfulness and obstinacy. Nothing draws men into all manner of wickedness, and hardens them in it more certainly and fatally, than drunkenness. When men take to drinking, they forget the law of honouring parents. His own father and mother must complain of him to the elders of…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2118-21. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son--A severe law was enacted in this case. But the consent of both parents was required as a prevention of any abuse of it; for it was reasonable to suppose that they would not both agree to a criminal information against their son except from absolute necessity, arising from his inveterate and hopeless wickedness; and, in that view, the law was wise and salutary, as such a person would be a pest and…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 21:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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