Deuteronomy 17:13 kjv
And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
Deuteronomy 17:13 nkjv
And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously.
Deuteronomy 17:13 niv
All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not be contemptuous again.
Deuteronomy 17:13 esv
And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.
Deuteronomy 17:13 nlt
Then everyone else will hear about it and be afraid to act so arrogantly.
Deuteronomy 17 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:10 | "...that they may learn to fear me all the days..." | Importance of learning fear for obedience |
| Deut 5:1 | "...hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules..." | Call to obedient listening to God's law |
| Deut 6:3 | "Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them..." | Connecting hearing with doing and obedience |
| Deut 8:20 | "...just as the nations that the Lord destroyed before you did." | Warning against disobedience and rebellion |
| Deut 13:11 | "And all Israel shall hear and fear, and never again do any such..." | Public fear as a deterrent for apostasy |
| Deut 19:20 | "And the rest of the people shall hear and fear..." | Deterrent effect of judicial punishment |
| Deut 21:21 | "And all the men of his city shall stone him to death...So you..." | Public execution for severe crimes, general deterrence |
| Ex 19:5 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant..." | Covenantal obedience hinges on hearing and doing |
| Num 15:30-31 | "But the person who does anything with a high hand...he reviles the Lord..." | Definition and consequence of presumptuous sin |
| Ps 19:13 | "Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins..." | Prayer for protection from defiant sin |
| Ps 111:10 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." | Fear of God as foundation of wisdom and obedience |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." | Connecting fear of God with understanding |
| Isa 2:10-11 | "...from before the terror of the Lord, and from the glory..." | Universal fear and awe at God's coming judgment |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness..." | Equating rebellion with grave sin |
| Jer 44:10 | "...They have not been humbled, nor to this day have they feared..." | Consequence of persistent disobedience, lack of fear |
| Acts 5:11 | "And great fear came upon the whole church..." | Public display of God's judgment leading to fear |
| Acts 9:31 | "So the church...walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort..." | Fear of the Lord contributing to church growth |
| Rom 13:1-2 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities...whoever resists..." | Respect for governing authorities appointed by God |
| Rom 13:3-4 | "...he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid..." | Civil authority as a deterrent against evil |
| 1 Tim 5:20 | "As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all..." | Public rebuke for public deterrence |
| Heb 10:26-27 | "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge..." | Warning against deliberate and presumptuous sin |
| Jas 4:17 | "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him..." | Knowing what is right and presuming not to do it |
Deuteronomy 17 verses
Deuteronomy 17 13 Meaning
Deuteronomy 17:13 articulates the divine purpose behind the stern judgment prescribed in the preceding verse for defying the high judicial authority established in Israel. It declares that the public witnessing of justice being carried out will instill a profound fear and reverence in the entire community, thereby deterring any future presumptuous and rebellious acts against God's appointed order.
Deuteronomy 17 13 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 17 sets forth specific laws concerning leadership roles within Israel, including those for a king (vv. 14-20) and for the highest court of appeal (vv. 8-13). Verses 8-13 establish a supreme judicial system to handle cases that are too difficult for local courts to decide. These matters are to be brought to the Levitical priests and the judge who serves in that era, whose decision is to be final and binding. Verse 12 explicitly states the severe consequence – death – for any person who acts presumptuously by refusing to obey the verdict of this highest tribunal, whether the priest's or the judge's. Deuteronomy 17:13 directly follows this, articulating the underlying purpose for such a severe punishment: to serve as a powerful public deterrent. Historically, this system underscored theocratic order, preventing anarchy and ensuring justice was administered with divine authority in mind, thus maintaining the covenant community's integrity.
Deuteronomy 17 13 Word analysis
"And all the people" (וְכָל-הָעָם - vekol-ha'am): This phrase highlights the comprehensive nature of the target audience. It signifies that the consequence of defying the established judicial authority is not a private matter, but a public spectacle and lesson for the entire covenant community of Israel, regardless of status. It emphasizes the communal impact of justice.
"shall hear" (יִשְׁמְעוּ - yishme'u): From the Hebrew root שָׁמַע (shama'). This word carries a much deeper meaning than merely perceiving sound. In a Deuteronomic context, shama' signifies not just listening, but also understanding, internalizing, heeding, and actively obeying. It implies attentive reception leading to appropriate response and commitment to God's will.
"and fear" (וְיִרְאוּ - veyire'u): From the Hebrew root יָרֵא (yare'). This denotes a profound sense of reverential awe, respect, and dread. It is not merely terror but a holy fear born of understanding God's ultimate authority, His justice, and the serious consequences of defying His commands or His ordained representatives. This fear is a deterrent and a cornerstone of godly living.
"and do no more presumptuously" (וְלֹא יְזִידוּן עוֹד - velo yezidun od):
- "presumptuously": From the Hebrew root זִיד (zid), meaning to act defiantly, stubbornly, insolently, or with deliberate, "high-handed" rebellion against authority or God's law. It distinguishes accidental transgression from intentional, willful disobedience that demonstrates contempt for divine or divinely-appointed human authority. This kind of sin is grave because it attacks the very foundation of divine order.
- "no more" (od): This indicates the cessation and future prevention of such rebellious behavior. The severe judicial action is intended to break the pattern of defiance and establish lasting compliance within the society.
Word-group analysis: "And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously." This sequence outlines the precise mechanism by which the judicial sentence achieves its larger societal goal. The "hearing" implies not just the awareness of the event but understanding its implications; this understanding then leads to "fear"—a reverential awe for divine justice—which ultimately prevents future "presumptuous" acts. This is a pedagogical process through public display of justice, ensuring that divine authority is respected and societal order is maintained through deterrent example. It reveals a divinely instituted chain of cause and effect: clear, public justice (for the presumptuous act) leads to public witnessing (hearing), which engenders proper reverence (fear), resulting in ongoing societal obedience and stability (no more presumptuously).
Deuteronomy 17 13 Bonus section
The concept of "presumptuous sin" as identified by zid (זִיד) is critical throughout Scripture, distinguishing it from unintentional sin. Unintentional sins could be atoned for through specific offerings (e.g., Lev 4-5), but presumptuous sin, born of a "high hand" or deliberate contempt for God's law and authority, often carried a direct, severe penalty because it struck at the heart of the covenant. This verse applies that severity to contempt of judicial authority, treating it as rebellion against God's own system. The public nature of the judgment served a pedagogical role vital for communal well-being and maintaining moral purity in ancient Israel, which functioned as a theocracy. This principle finds echoes in New Testament teachings concerning civil government's role in punishing evildoers to deter crime (Rom 13) and in the church's practice of public rebuke for certain persistent sins (1 Tim 5:20) to maintain purity and warn others.
Deuteronomy 17 13 Commentary
Deuteronomy 17:13 functions as the rationale for the capital punishment decreed in verse 12 for high-handed rebellion against the supreme judicial authority. The verse explains that the primary purpose of such severe, public justice is not solely punitive but preventative and didactic. By witnessing the dire consequences of defiance, the entire community of Israel is intended to internalize the seriousness of disregarding God's ordained system of justice. The public "hearing" signifies more than mere passive listening; it demands an active comprehension of the judgment's weight. This understanding is designed to cultivate "fear"—a reverent awe of God and His established order, leading people to respect legitimate authority and abide by His laws. Consequently, the people will be deterred from ever acting "presumptuously," meaning with defiant, deliberate rebellion against the Lord's commands or His appointed judges. This principle highlights that divine law aims for societal order, spiritual integrity, and collective adherence to the covenant, utilizing even severe measures as a teaching tool to ensure the community remains distinct and holy unto the Lord.