Deuteronomy 17 12

Deuteronomy 17:12 kjv

And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:12 nkjv

Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:12 niv

Anyone who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God is to be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:12 esv

The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:12 nlt

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 17 verses

Deuteronomy 17 12 Meaning

Deuteronomy 17:12 decrees a death penalty for any individual who acts presumptuously, wilfully refusing to obey the authoritative ruling of the priest or the judge appointed by the LORD. This severe punishment is mandated to eradicate such defiance from the Israelite community, thereby maintaining social order, communal purity, and reverence for God's divine law as conveyed through His appointed representatives.

Deuteronomy 17 12 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 17 is part of a series of laws concerning the governance and judicial system for Israel once they entered the promised land. Following guidelines for the appointment and conduct of a future king (v.14-20) and a warning against unlawful worship (v.2-7), verses 8-13 establish the procedure for resolving legal disputes too difficult for local judges. Such complex cases were to be brought before the Levitical priests and the designated judge at the central place of worship (which would become Jerusalem). Their collective decision, based on the divine law, was final and authoritative. Verse 12 directly addresses the consequence for anyone who defiantly challenges this ultimate, God-ordained judicial authority. Historically, Israel was designed as a theocracy, where God ruled through specific representatives, making rebellion against them tantamount to rebellion against God himself, necessitating extreme measures to preserve order and divine favor.

Deuteronomy 17 12 Word analysis

• And the man (ish - אִישׁ) that will do presumptuously (bezadon - בְּזָדוֹן),

  • man (ish): Refers to any specific individual, highlighting that this judgment applies universally, regardless of status.
  • do presumptuously (bezadon): This is a critical term, derived from the root zadon, meaning deliberate, intentional, arrogant, or rebellious sin. It explicitly differentiates this sin from unintentional errors or sins committed out of ignorance (shegagah), for which different provisions (like sin offerings) were made. Presumption here implies conscious defiance and contempt for the divine instruction or established order.

• and will not hearken (shama - שָׁמַע) unto the priest (kohen - כֹּהֵן) that standeth to minister (amad - עָמַד) there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge (shophet - שֹׁפֵט),

  • hearken (shama): This verb means more than just to hear; it encompasses the idea of obeying, listening intently, understanding, and complying. A refusal to "hearken" signifies active disobedience and defiance.
  • priest (kohen): Refers to a member of the Levitical priesthood, specifically those authorized to interpret the Law, instruct the people, and pronounce judgment in legal matters alongside the civil judge, representing the divine will in the religious sphere.
  • minister (amad): To stand, indicating a fixed and authoritative position of service and responsibility. "Before the LORD thy God" underscores that their authority is divinely derived; they speak not on their own behalf, but as agents of the LORD.
  • judge (shophet): Represents the civil judicial authority, tasked with applying the Mosaic Law in practical disputes and upholding justice within the community. The inclusion of both priest and judge signifies the dual, yet unified, nature of divine authority over spiritual and civil matters in Israel.

• even that man shall die (yumat - יוּמַת):

  • shall die (yumat): A strong declaration of capital punishment. This is not a natural death, but a divinely ordained judicial execution. It conveys the ultimate and irreversible consequence for undermining the fundamental judicial and religious order established by God. The severity reflects the high stakes involved in preserving national covenant integrity.

• and thou shalt put away evil (bi'arta hara' - בִּעַרְתָּ הָרָע) from Israel.

  • put away evil (bi'arta hara'): An imperative phrase commonly used in Deuteronomy. The verb bi'ar means to purge, consume, exterminate, or remove entirely. "Evil" (hara') here refers not only to the individual sinner but to the wicked deed itself and the corrupting influence it would have on the entire community. This act of executing judgment serves both as a purification, cleansing the community from moral and spiritual contamination, and as a stark warning, intended to instill fear and obedience in others (v.13).

Deuteronomy 17 12 Bonus section

• The law in Deuteronomy 17:12 highlights a core aspect of ancient Israelite jurisprudence: the importance of a final judicial authority. Without it, disagreements would endlessly perpetuate, potentially leading to anarchy or fragmented tribal justice, undermining the unity and effectiveness of the nation's theocratic government.
• This command to "put away evil" is repeated throughout Deuteronomy for various serious offenses (e.g., Deut 13:5; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7). This reiteration emphasizes the collective responsibility of the Israelite community to maintain moral and spiritual purity by confronting and removing flagrant wickedness from its midst.
• While the literal capital punishment of this law is tied to the unique Old Testament Mosaic Covenant, the underlying principles resonate through Christian thought: the serious nature of rebellion against God's truth, the importance of spiritual and moral discernment, the necessity of leadership, and the call for the spiritual body to address grievous sin (though by New Covenant means, as seen in Matt 18:15-20, 1 Cor 5:13). The shift from physical to spiritual judgments and excommunication in the New Covenant reflects the deeper spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, yet the core need for order, truth, and purging of unrepentant evil remains.

Deuteronomy 17 12 Commentary

Deuteronomy 17:12 is a stringent decree designed to ensure the stability and holiness of ancient Israel under God's covenant. It targets intentional and arrogant defiance against the highest established legal and religious authorities – the priests and judges – whose rulings were understood as God's own voice within the judicial system. The specific sin is not an error of ignorance, but a "presumptuous" act, signifying a willful, deliberate rebellion rooted in pride and contempt for God's divine order.

The death penalty prescribed here underscores the extreme gravity of such a transgression. It served a dual purpose: first, it purged the corrupting influence from the community. In a covenant nation, allowing blatant rebellion against divine law to persist unpunished would defile the land and potentially invite God's wrath upon the entire nation. Second, it acted as a profound deterrent. The clear, immediate consequence for such defiance would instill "fear" in others (v.13), discouraging similar acts and promoting respectful adherence to the established laws. This law reflects the foundational principle that obedience to God's instituted authority is paramount for a community blessed by Him, reinforcing that disrespect for these human arbiters was, at its core, disrespect for the LORD Himself.