Deuteronomy 13 11

Deuteronomy 13:11 kjv

And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.

Deuteronomy 13:11 nkjv

So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you.

Deuteronomy 13:11 niv

Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again.

Deuteronomy 13:11 esv

And all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you.

Deuteronomy 13:11 nlt

Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will act so wickedly again.

Deuteronomy 13 verses

Deuteronomy 13 11 Meaning

Deuteronomy 13:11 declares the purpose and expected outcome of executing severe judgment on those who entice Israel to idolatry. The core meaning is that the public and swift administration of justice for such a grievous sin will serve as a powerful deterrent. When the entire community hears about and witnesses the consequences, it will instill a profound awe and dread of God and His law, effectively preventing them from repeating or even considering such wickedness within their midst. It emphasizes corporate responsibility and the necessity of preserving the purity of the nation's faith in Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 13 11 Context

Deuteronomy 13 serves as a foundational warning against the ever-present temptation of idolatry, a direct violation of the first commandment and the core of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. The chapter outlines three scenarios of enticement to worship other gods: through a false prophet or dreamer (vv. 1-5), a close family member or friend (vv. 6-11), or an entire apostate town (vv. 12-18). Verse 11 specifically concludes the section regarding family and friends, emphasizing that the swift execution of those who try to lead others astray—as mandated in the preceding verses (Deut 13:6-10)—is not merely punitive. Rather, it has a crucial didactic and preventive purpose. The historical context is Israel on the cusp of entering Canaan, a land saturated with polytheistic worship practices, which posed a severe threat to their distinct identity and covenant faithfulness. The strong measures outlined here are a direct polemic against syncretism and religious tolerance toward pagan deities, which were common among surrounding nations. Israel's survival as God's covenant people depended on absolute fidelity.

Deuteronomy 13 11 Word analysis

• And all Israel (כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol Yisrael): "All Israel" signifies the entire unified community, emphasizing corporate witness and shared responsibility. It implies that the lesson and the fear will extend beyond just the individuals directly involved in the judgment, reaching every tribe, family, and person. The health and faithfulness of the covenant community relied on collective adherence.
• shall hear (יִשְׁמְעוּ, yishme'u): From the root שָׁמַע (shama), meaning not just passive hearing, but to listen attentively, understand, obey, and heed. This emphasizes that the people are expected to internalize the message and draw the correct conclusions from the executed judgment. It implies active engagement with the consequence.
• and fear (וְיִרְאוּ, veyir'u): From the root יָרֵא (yare), this "fear" is multifaceted. While it includes dread and terror of God's wrath and judgment for disobedience, it also encompasses profound reverence, awe, and submission. It's a positive fear that leads to wisdom, obedience, and life, ensuring Israel respects God's boundaries and avoids similar sins. It's distinct from paralyzing fear; it's a fear that inspires moral action.
• and shall not continue to do (וְלֹא יֹסִיפוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת, ve-lo yosifu la'asot): Literally, "and not add to do." This strong negative expresses prevention and cessation. The severe judgment is meant to decisively end and prevent the recurrence of such wickedness. It implies a break from past sinful patterns, fostering a renewed commitment to ethical and spiritual purity.
• any such wickedness as this (כַּדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה, kaddavar hara' hazzah): "The evil matter, this." Refers specifically to the severe sin of attempting to lure a fellow Israelite away from Yahweh to serve other gods. It encompasses not just the act of idolatry itself but the propagation of it within the community, which strikes at the very heart of the covenant. "Wickedness" (ra') denotes that which is evil, morally wrong, and contrary to God's holy character and law.
• among you (בְּקִרְבֶּךָ, beqirbekha): Literally, "in your midst." This emphasizes that the spiritual purity and integrity of the Israelite community, its internal health and covenant fidelity, are at stake. The "wickedness" is an internal corruption that must be purged from within the collective body of Israel to maintain their distinctness and blessedness as God's chosen nation.

Words-group analysis:

• "And all Israel shall hear and fear": This phrase highlights the corporate nature of the covenant and its consequences. It’s not just about punishing an individual but using that punishment as a public, communal lesson. The act of "hearing" signifies learning and internalizing, while "fear" transitions from initial awe at judgment to ongoing reverence for God and His law.
• "and shall not continue to do any such wickedness as this": This underlines the primary didactic goal of the law: deterrence. The aim is to create a social environment where the grave sin of idolatrous enticement is unthinkable due to its clear, terrible consequences, thus protecting the purity and spiritual integrity of the entire community.
• "such wickedness as this among you": The explicit focus is on internal threats to Israel's monotheistic identity. This evil must not merely be stopped but eradicated from within the community, signifying the high value God places on Israel's exclusive devotion and the grave danger presented by internal spiritual compromise.

Deuteronomy 13 11 Bonus section

The judicial process and subsequent execution described for the enticing idolater were not private affairs but highly public, visible demonstrations to the entire community. This emphasis on "all Israel shall hear and fear" underscores a critical aspect of ancient legal systems and God's covenant with Israel: justice often had a significant public education component. The punishment served a dual purpose: retribution for the specific offense and prevention of similar future offenses by acting as a formidable deterrent. The intensity of this deterrent penalty reveals the extreme importance placed on exclusive worship of Yahweh; no sin was viewed as more egregious than turning away from the one true God and leading others to do the same, as it directly undermined the very foundation of Israel's existence and purpose. The "fear" referred to is ultimately intended to deepen Israel's understanding of and commitment to their covenant obligations, reinforcing that their well-being (Deut 6:24) was directly tied to their fidelity.

Deuteronomy 13 11 Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:11 profoundly expresses the deterrent purpose of divine justice in the context of Israel's covenant. It's not a vengeful command but a safeguarding one. The severity of the prescribed punishment for leading others to idolatry was intended to be a public object lesson, designed to instill "fear" – a reverential awe that cultivates obedience – throughout the entire Israelite community. This fear acts as a powerful brake on further apostasy, ensuring that the covenant with Yahweh remained undefiled. The passage stresses that the collective purity of Israel depended on decisive action against internal spiritual corruption. For Israel, compromising their exclusive loyalty to God was akin to national suicide. The verse illustrates a core biblical principle: clear and swift justice serves as a warning, preserving order and preventing the spread of evil by demonstrating the ultimate authority and unwavering standards of God.

• Example: Just as a community swiftly removing gang activity protects its youth, the severe penalties for idolatry protected Israel's spiritual well-being.
• Example: The public accountability of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 likewise instilled "great fear" in the early church, emphasizing the seriousness of sin within the community.