Deuteronomy 17 8

Deuteronomy 17:8 kjv

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

Deuteronomy 17:8 nkjv

"If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses.

Deuteronomy 17:8 niv

If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge?whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults?take them to the place the LORD your God will choose.

Deuteronomy 17:8 esv

"If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the LORD your God will choose.

Deuteronomy 17:8 nlt

"Suppose a case arises in a local court that is too hard for you to decide ? for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only of manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such legal cases to the place the LORD your God will choose,

Deuteronomy 17 verses

Deuteronomy 17 8 Meaning

Deuteronomy 17:8 outlines a critical component of Israel's judicial system: a mechanism for handling difficult legal cases that cannot be resolved at the local level. It mandates that when disputes concerning serious matters—such as those involving life and death ("blood"), complex legal claims ("plea"), or severe physical harm ("stroke")—arise within local jurisdictions ("your gates"), the case must be escalated. The disputing parties, or their local judges, are required to bring the unresolved matter to a central religious and judicial authority situated in the place chosen by the Lord. This ensures consistent justice, a unified application of divine law, and a final court of appeal for all the tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 17 8 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 17 falls within Moses's final discourses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter specifically outlines laws concerning kingship, judges, and proper judicial procedure. It serves as a foundational constitutional document, ensuring a divinely sanctioned system of governance and justice for the future nation of Israel. Verse 8 introduces the principle of an appeals court or supreme judicial authority, essential for maintaining legal uniformity and equity across a scattered tribal population. This hierarchical structure anticipates complexities that would arise from various local courts and establishes a final court of appeal at the central sanctuary, ensuring that God's law, given to all Israel, is interpreted and applied consistently and justly throughout the land.

Deuteronomy 17 8 Word analysis

• If there arises: This conditional opening ("Ki yipale" - כִּי יִפָּלֵא) introduces a specific scenario or eventuality. It implies that these difficult situations are expected to occur and require a predefined legal recourse.
• a matter too hard for you to judge: The Hebrew term davar (דָבָר) means "word, thing, matter," denoting a legal case or dispute. Pele' (פֶּלֶא) or Pela' (פלאי) signifies something "difficult, extraordinary, wondrous, beyond human comprehension or decision." This indicates complex cases where local judges face an interpretive or evidentiary impasse, requiring a higher level of wisdom or authority for resolution.
• between blood and blood: Hebrew dam v'dam (דָּם בְּדָם). This phrase specifically refers to capital cases, disputes involving loss of life, homicide (whether intentional murder or accidental manslaughter), or significant bloodshed resulting in severe injury or defilement. It highlights cases where life is at stake or grave physical harm has occurred, carrying extreme legal and ethical implications.
• between plea and plea: Hebrew din v'din (דִּין בְּדִין). Refers to general civil litigations or disputes over property, contracts, financial matters, and other contentious claims where differing legal arguments or evidence leads to disagreement. It represents a broad category of civil lawsuits requiring adjudication.
• or between stroke and stroke: Hebrew nega' v'nega' (נֶגַע בְּנֶגַע). Primarily means disputes arising from physical injuries, assaults, or bodily harm. It can also encompass issues of ritual impurity associated with certain afflictions, such as "leprosy" (nega' tzara'at), which required priestly diagnosis and ruling. It emphasizes matters concerning personal well-being and bodily integrity.
• any contention in your gates: Hebrew rib b'sha'areyka (רִיב בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ). "Contention" (rib) means strife, dispute, or legal conflict. "Your gates" (sha'ar) symbolizes the city's public space, where legal proceedings, business transactions, and public life occurred. This phrase broadly includes any type of dispute that has escalated within the local jurisdiction and proven difficult to settle locally, extending beyond the three specific categories mentioned earlier.
• then you shall arise and go up: This command indicates an immediate and necessary action. "Arise" (קוּם) implies taking prompt, determined initiative. "Go up" ('alah) refers to ascending geographically, typically to a central, elevated location. It stresses the active seeking of a higher legal authority, signifying a required journey to the central sanctuary.
• to the place which the Lord your God chooses: This is the designated central sanctuary—initially the Tabernacle (e.g., Shiloh), and later Jerusalem where the Temple stood. The choice being "the Lord's" imbues the court and its decisions with divine authority and legitimacy, preventing human biases or arbitrary rulings. It underlines the concept of a unified religious and legal center for the entire nation.

Deuteronomy 17 8 Bonus section

This verse implicitly outlines a separation of judicial powers: local courts handle general matters, but a higher tribunal (comprising priests, Levites, and judges) handles exceptionally difficult cases. This structure prevents decentralization from leading to legal chaos or inconsistencies. It demonstrates God's concern not only for abstract laws but for their practical, just application in the daily lives of His people. The "chosen place" eventually evolving to Jerusalem signifies the importance of a single, authoritative spiritual and governmental capital where divine wisdom is consulted for critical legal matters. The establishment of this system can be seen as a preventative measure against a purely tribal-based legal system where justice might vary widely from one region to another, reinforcing national unity under God's law.

Deuteronomy 17 8 Commentary

Deuteronomy 17:8 establishes the crucial framework for an appellate legal system within ancient Israel. This verse recognizes that not all legal disputes can be adequately handled by local courts due to their complexity, the severity of their implications, or a lack of consensus among local judges. By providing a channel for escalation to a supreme authority at the "place which the Lord your God chooses," God ensured that justice was administered consistently and accurately throughout the land, reflecting His divine wisdom and character. This central court, staffed by Levites and judges, ensured that the divine law was applied uniformly, preventing fragmented legal interpretations across the various tribes and safeguarding against local corruption or partiality. The specific categories of "blood," "plea," and "stroke" highlight the paramount importance of cases involving life, property, and physical integrity. This divine design aimed to unify the nation not only religiously but also judicially under a singular, divinely sanctioned legal code, emphasizing that the pursuit of justice was deeply interwoven with the worship and authority of God Himself. It laid the groundwork for future legal institutions, even extending to the functions later adopted by priests, prophets, and eventually, the kings, providing a foundational principle that all authority and final judgment ultimately derive from God.