Deuteronomy 17:11 kjv
According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
Deuteronomy 17:11 nkjv
According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you.
Deuteronomy 17:11 niv
Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.
Deuteronomy 17:11 esv
According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left.
Deuteronomy 17:11 nlt
After they have interpreted the law and declared their verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way.
Deuteronomy 17 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 1:17 | "You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid..." | Judges' impartiality, part of God's justice. |
| Dt 4:2 | "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it..." | Prohibition against altering God's commands. |
| Dt 5:32 | "You shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside..." | Command for strict adherence to the Law. |
| Dt 17:9 | "You shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days..." | Defines the authority to be consulted. |
| Dt 17:12 | "The man who acts presumptuously, by not listening to the priest... shall die..." | Consequence for disobedience to authority. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law... do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left..." | Echoes the "not turn" injunction for Joshua. |
| Prov 4:27 | "Do not turn to the right or the left; turn your foot from evil." | Wisdom literature's call for straight path. |
| 2 Chr 19:8 | "Moreover in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests... for the judgment of the LORD..." | Implementation of this judicial structure. |
| Ezek 44:24 | "In a dispute, they shall take their stand as judges; they shall judge it according to My judgments..." | Priests as judges enforcing God's judgments. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | Priests' role as custodians of knowledge. |
| Matt 23:2-3 | "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So do and observe whatever they tell you..." | New Testament recognition of seated authority. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | Principle of submission to appointed authority. |
| Rom 13:2 | "Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God..." | Reiteration of the consequences of resistance. |
| Tit 3:1 | "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work..." | Exhortation to Christian obedience to authority. |
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls..." | Applies principle to spiritual leadership. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him..." | Implicitly contrasts with leaning on self-will. |
| Jer 42:5-6 | "Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God..." | Commits to absolute obedience, whether convenient or not. |
| Ps 119:101 | "I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word." | Commitment to follow God's word strictly. |
| 1 Pet 2:13 | "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake..." | Submission to human authority for divine purpose. |
| Js 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Emphasizes acting on received instruction. |
| Lk 6:46 | "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" | The Lord's emphasis on obedience to His words. |
| Dt 12:32 | "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take from it." | Another instance of strict adherence to law. |
Deuteronomy 17 verses
Deuteronomy 17 11 Meaning
Deuteronomy 17:11 mandates absolute obedience to the authoritative rulings handed down by the central Levitical priests and judges in matters of legal and religious dispute. It emphasizes that the people must act in strict accordance with their judgments and teachings, without deviating whatsoever from the pronounced decree, whether to the right or to the left. This ensures the unity of divine law application and prevents individual arbitrary interpretations or disobedience.
Deuteronomy 17 11 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 17 outlines laws concerning Israel's future leadership—its judges, kings, and their responsibilities to the Law. This particular verse (17:11) falls within the section detailing the highest judicial authority (verses 8-13), a system for adjudicating difficult cases. It describes an appeals court of sorts, comprising Levitical priests and a presiding judge at "the place which the LORD shall choose" (later identified as Jerusalem, where the Tabernacle/Temple would be). The preceding verses (8-10) explain when people are to come to this court (for cases too difficult for local judges), and who comprises the court. Verse 11, therefore, serves as the instruction for the people: they must comply with the authoritative verdict of this divinely instituted judicial body. Historically, this framework aimed to establish a consistent, unified application of divine law across Israel, preventing legal anarchy or subjective interpretations once they settled in the Promised Land. It affirmed God's Torah as supreme and established a final earthly voice for its interpretation.
Deuteronomy 17 11 Word analysis
- According to the sentence: (Hebrew: al-pi) - Literally, "by the mouth of." Signifies the direct, authoritative verbal pronouncement or decree. This emphasizes the spoken word from an official capacity as having divine weight.
- of the law: (Hebrew: ha-torah) - "The teaching" or "instruction." This refers not merely to legal statutes, but the entire body of divine revelation and guidance given to Israel through Moses. The sentence is derived from and in accordance with this comprehensive divine instruction.
- which they shall teach: (Hebrew: yora'u) - From yarah, meaning to teach, instruct, or point the way. It highlights the didactic role of the priests and judges – they are imparting divine truth and its application. Their function is to illuminate and convey God's will.
- thee: The singular pronoun emphasizes individual responsibility and accountability before the divine judgment, applied to each Israelite.
- and according to the judgment: (Hebrew: ve-al ha-mishpat) - Mishpat refers to a specific judicial decision, a verdict, or an act of justice. While torah is the broad instruction, mishpat is the concrete ruling applied to a case. This phrase underlines that obedience extends to both the general instruction and the specific adjudication.
- which they shall tell thee: (Hebrew: yomiru l'cha) - From amar, to say, to declare. This reiterates the authoritative pronouncement aspect. The ruling is clearly articulated.
- thou shalt do: (Hebrew: ta'aseh) - From asah, meaning to make, perform, or execute. This is a direct command for active obedience and implementation of the decision. It's not enough to just hear or know; one must perform.
- thou shalt not decline: (Hebrew: lo tasur) - From sur, meaning to turn aside, deviate, or depart. This is a strong, unequivocal prohibition against any form of departure from the received instruction. It forbids rebellion, neglect, or subjective alteration.
- from the sentence: (Hebrew: min ha-davar) - From davar, "the word" or "the matter." This refers back to the authoritative pronouncement or ruling. It ensures that no part of the given word is to be neglected.
- which they shall shew thee: (Hebrew: yaggidu leka) - From nagad, meaning to make known, declare, or report. This further reinforces the clarity and official nature of the communication of the judgment. It's a declared word.
- to the right hand, nor to the left: (Hebrew: yamin u-smol) - An idiom found throughout Scripture (e.g., Josh 1:7; Prov 4:27). It means without any deviation whatsoever, to either extreme. It conveys absolute, undeviating obedience, preventing any personal adjustment, interpretation, or rationalization that would steer away from the prescribed path. This includes not adding to or subtracting from the divine command.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "According to the sentence... and according to the judgment...": This parallel phrasing emphasizes that both the overarching instruction (torah) and the specific verdict (mishpat) handed down by the appointed authority carry divine weight and demand identical, complete adherence. It means conformity to both general principles and specific applications.
- "which they shall teach thee... which they shall tell thee... which they shall shew thee": The repeated emphasis on "they shall teach/tell/shew" highlights that the authority lies in the office and the divine message being conveyed, rather than the personal wisdom of the individuals. It is the transmission of God's word through His appointed channels.
- "thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline...": These two imperatives form a stark contrast. The positive command "do" is immediately reinforced by the strong negative prohibition "do not decline." This underscores the critical importance of full compliance and the danger of any departure.
- "to the right hand, nor to the left": This common biblical idiom is a powerful descriptor of absolute, undivided conformity. It is a pictorial representation of a path that is strictly followed without wavering. Any turning is seen as a deviation from God's way.
Deuteronomy 17 11 Bonus section
The institution described in Dt 17:8-13 (of which verse 11 is a part) reveals God's meticulous provision for maintaining order and justice in Israel. It foreshadows the need for spiritual and legal leadership throughout history. The ultimate source of law remains God Himself, making the human arbiters merely agents. Their authority is derivative, not inherent. This ensures that legal precedent and judgment do not evolve solely according to human reason or political expediency, but remain anchored to the unchanging divine revelation. This concept implicitly challenges any worldview where human legislation or tradition could supersede divine mandates or where individuals could self-determine justice outside of God's appointed channels. It highlights the biblical understanding that true freedom and righteousness come through faithful adherence to divine truth, as mediated through chosen instruments.
Deuteronomy 17 11 Commentary
Deuteronomy 17:11 is foundational for understanding the administration of God's law in Israel and highlights several critical principles. First, it underscores the divine authority invested in the established judicial and religious system. The pronouncements are "according to the law" and "judgment," not personal whims, ensuring that the rulings are derivative of God's own will. Second, it demands unquestioning obedience from the people. The triple emphasis on the judicial body teaching, telling, and showing, combined with the command "thou shalt do" and the strict prohibition "thou shalt not decline," paints a clear picture: the ultimate purpose of this system is to ensure the unified application and consistent obedience to God's Torah. This centralized authority was crucial to prevent internal fragmentation, conflicting rulings, and individual defiance that would undermine the very fabric of the theocratic society. The idiom "to the right hand, nor to the left" vividly portrays a path of meticulous adherence, emphasizing that any deviation, no matter how slight, from the God-ordained standard, constitutes disobedience. It is not about perfect people but about perfect adherence to a system that funnels the divine will to the congregation, ultimately for their protection and blessedness. The implication for believers is that genuine submission to God often involves submission to legitimate, God-ordained authorities who faithfully declare His word and will.