Deuteronomy 17 17

Deuteronomy 17:17 kjv

Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 17:17 nkjv

Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.

Deuteronomy 17:17 niv

He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 17:17 esv

And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 17:17 nlt

The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.

Deuteronomy 17 verses

Deuteronomy 17 17 Meaning

Deuteronomy 17:17 lays down specific prohibitions for the future king of Israel concerning the multiplication of wives, and of silver and gold. These restrictions are given to safeguard the king's heart from turning away from God, ensuring his steadfast loyalty and preventing the temptations of idolatry, corruption, and self-reliance that come with excessive indulgence and wealth. The focus is on preserving his spiritual fidelity and moral leadership within the covenant community.

Deuteronomy 17 17 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 17 sets out specific regulations for Israel's future leadership. Following the establishment of laws for judges and priests, verses 14-20 delineate the character and conduct expected of a king, should Israel choose to have one. This section is part of the "Deuteronomic Code" where Moses instructs Israel on how to live in the Promised Land under God's covenant. The laws for the king contrast sharply with the prevailing norms of Ancient Near Eastern monarchs, who typically accumulated large armies, many wives, and vast wealth as symbols of power and indicators of divine favor. Deuteronomy's king is to be chosen by God, "from among your brothers," emphasizing solidarity with his people, and is specifically prohibited from practices that would lead him away from dependence on YHWH. These prohibitions (multiplying horses, wives, silver/gold) are designed to prevent the king from becoming prideful, oppressive, and most importantly, from apostasy by mirroring pagan rulers rather than living under God's law. The immediate preceding verse, Deut 17:16, prohibits the king from multiplying horses, directly linked to relying on military strength instead of God and avoiding contact with Egypt, a hub of horse trade and idolatry. Thus, verse 17 extends this theme of guarding the king's heart from spiritual and worldly entanglements.

Deuteronomy 17 17 Word analysis

• Neither: Denotes a strict negative command, reinforcing the prohibitive nature of the verse. It's an emphatic negation, applying equally to both parts of the command.

• shall he multiply: (Hebrew: לֹא יַרְבֶּה - lo yarbeh). The verb רָבָה (rabah) means "to be much, great, increase, multiply." The negative command lo yarbeh implies "not exceedingly multiply" or "not to accumulate in large quantities beyond what is necessary or prudent." It doesn't prohibit having wives or possessing wealth entirely, but the excessive accumulation that leads to danger. This emphasizes a limit, not total absence.

• wives: (Hebrew: נָשִׁים - nashim). Plural for "women" or "wives." In the Ancient Near East, a large harem was a sign of royal power, prestige, and a means of forging political alliances. However, for Israel's king, such a practice posed significant spiritual dangers.

  • Significance: A king multiplying wives, especially foreign ones, often led to the introduction of foreign gods and practices into the kingdom, as exemplified by Solomon (1 Ki 11:1-8). It also contravenes God's original design for marriage as monogamous (Gen 2:24, Matt 19:4-6) and could lead to favoritism, jealousy, and neglecting his primary role as servant of the covenant. The "turning away of his heart" is explicitly linked to this.

• to himself: (Hebrew: לֽוֹ - lo). A dative pronominal suffix, literally "to him" or "for himself." It underscores the personal acquisition and potential self-serving motive behind such multiplication, rather than for the good of the kingdom under God.

• that his heart turn not away: (Hebrew: לְבָבוֹ לֹא יָסוּר - levavoh lo yasar). This is the explicit theological rationale for the prohibition.

  • Heart: (Hebrew: לֵבָב - levav). In biblical thought, the "heart" signifies the seat of intellect, will, emotion, conscience, and moral character—the entire inner being and the center of spiritual allegiance.
  • Turn away: (Hebrew: סוּר - sur). To deviate, depart, or turn aside from the right path or from loyalty to God. This phrase highlights the profound danger posed by accumulating women and wealth: it threatens the king's spiritual fidelity and moral integrity, diverting him from the core covenant relationship with YHWH. This "turning away" could manifest as idolatry, pride, or tyranny.

• neither shall he greatly multiply: (Hebrew: מְאֹד יַרְבֶּה־לּוֹ - me'od yarbeh-llo). Reinforces the prior "not multiply," adding מְאֹד (me'od), meaning "very, greatly, exceedingly." This intensifies the prohibition on accumulating large quantities, particularly of material possessions.

• to himself silver and gold: (Hebrew: כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב - keseph v'zahav). Referring to general wealth and riches.

  • Significance: Excessive wealth, like horses and wives, represented typical trappings of ANE kings and could foster self-reliance, pride, and oppression of the populace (Psa 49:6-7, Prov 11:28, 1 Tim 6:9-10). It can shift the king's trust from God to his possessions, leading to injustice and neglect of divine law. It undermines the unique nature of Israelite kingship, which should be characterized by humility and dependence on YHWH's provision and guidance.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away": This pairing directly links polygyny and large harems with the spiritual apostasy of the king. It posits a cause-and-effect relationship, predicting that an excessive number of wives would lead the king away from devoted worship and obedience to God, often due to their foreign religious influences (as seen with Solomon). The focus is not on mere quantity but on the spiritual consequence.
  • "neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold": This phrase establishes a similar prohibition regarding excessive personal wealth. The repetition of "multiply" and the strong qualifier "greatly" underscore the importance of this boundary. It speaks to the corrupting influence of riches, warning that vast wealth could tempt the king to trust in his possessions rather than in God, leading to pride, oppression, and a deviation from justice.

Deuteronomy 17 17 Bonus section

The principles in Deuteronomy 17:17 underscore God's concern not just for the king's behavior but for his inner condition. The prohibitions are means to an end: to preserve the purity of his heart and loyalty to YHWH. This establishes a precedent that true leadership in God's eyes flows from a Spirit-directed heart, rather than outward displays of power and opulence. The command "that his heart turn not away" implicitly speaks to the core purpose of all commands – to keep humanity in right relationship with their Creator. This law is counter-cultural, proposing a model of leadership radically different from the common understanding of royalty in antiquity. The limitations are designed to maintain a dependency on God, ensuring the king serves the law, rather than becoming law unto himself, a crucial distinction in the theocracy. The verse reflects a recurring Deuteronomic theme of choosing life and blessing through obedience, contrasted with death and curse from disobedience and spiritual declension.

Deuteronomy 17 17 Commentary

Deuteronomy 17:17 offers profound spiritual insights for leadership and individuals, moving beyond the literal prohibitions to reveal the principles of true fidelity to God. The verse is not merely a set of rules but a preventive measure, safeguarding the king's heart, the very core of his spiritual being and decision-making. By restricting the multiplication of wives and wealth, God establishes boundaries to protect the king from the common pitfalls of human power.

Excessive wives often led to spiritual compromise through foreign influences and divided affections, eroding the exclusive loyalty due to YHWH. Similarly, vast accumulation of silver and gold fosters self-sufficiency and reliance on human resources rather than divine provision. This shift in trust inevitably breeds pride, oppression, and an abandoning of the king's role as God's humble steward. The "heart turning away" is the central concern, implying a departure from covenant loyalty, leading to idolatry or a pursuit of worldly ideals.

This law distinguishes Israel's divinely appointed monarch from the powerful, often tyrannical, rulers of the surrounding nations who measured greatness by the size of their harems, armies, and treasuries. Israel's king was to rule by divine law, not personal whim, relying on God's strength and living a life exemplifying the covenant, embodying humility and trust in God. Solomon's reign stands as a poignant historical testament to the tragic consequences of disregarding these very prohibitions, which led to the spiritual decay of the kingdom (1 Ki 11). For all believers, this verse serves as a timeless warning against the idols of power, lust, and greed, urging vigilance over the heart as the wellspring of life.

Examples for practical usage:

• A leader in any sphere must guard their heart against relationships that compromise their spiritual values or lead to divided loyalties.
• Individuals should avoid the relentless pursuit of wealth, recognizing that materialism can subtly replace God as the object of trust and devotion, leading to a spiritual "turning away."