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 when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself a copy of this Torah on a scroll, from what is before the Levitical kohanim. 19It will remain with him, and he will read in it all the days of his life, in order to learn to fear Adonai his God and keep all the words of this Torah and these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his brothers, and he will not turn from the commandment to the right or to the left—so that he may prolong his days in his kingship, he and his sons, 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• That his heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
• be not lifted upרוּםrûm · to exaltH7311
• above his brethrenאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• and that he turn not asideסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• from the commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• the right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• the leftשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
• to the end that he may prolongאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
• daysיוֹםyôm · day: alwaysH3117
• in his kingdomמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
• he, and his childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• in the midstקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:20

• Deuteronomy 8:2You are to remember all the way that Adonai your God has led you these 40 years in the wilderness—in order to humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His mitzvot or not.
• 2 Kings 14:10You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become arrogant. Glory and stay at home! Why should you provoke trouble and cause your own downfall—you and Judah with you?”
• 2 Chronicles 25:19You say, ‘Behold, I have defeated Edom.’ So now your heart has become arrogant and proud. Stay home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah with you?”
• 2 Chronicles 26:16But when he became strong, his heart grew so haughty that he acted corruptly. For he trespassed against Adonai his God by entering into the Temple of Adonai to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
• 2 Chronicles 32:25But Hezekiah did not respond according to the favor done to him. His heart became haughty, so wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
• 2 Chronicles 33:12In his distress, he entreated Adonai his God and greatly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.
• 2 Chronicles 34:27because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against the inhabitants , and you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes, and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ says Adonai.
• Psalms 131:1A Song of Ascents. Of David. Adonai, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes lofty, nor do I go after things too great or too difficult for me.
• Isaiah 2:12For the day of Adonai-Tzva’ot will be against anyone proud and haughty, against anyone lifted up—he will be humbled,
• Daniel 5:20But when his heart became haughty and his spirit hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
• Habakkuk 2:4Behold, the puffed up one— his soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his trust.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7even in the extraordinary quality of the revelations. So that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me—a a messenger of satan to torment me, so I would not exalt myself.
• 1 Peter 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
• Deuteronomy 4:2You must not add to the word that I am commanding you or take away from it—in order to keep the mitzvot of Adonai your God that I am commanding you.
• Deuteronomy 12:25You are not to eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, when you do what is right in Adonai’s eyes.

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