Deuteronomy 17:9 kjv
And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment:
Deuteronomy 17:9 nkjv
And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment.
Deuteronomy 17:9 niv
Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.
Deuteronomy 17:9 esv
And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision.
Deuteronomy 17:9 nlt
and present them to the Levitical priests or the judge on duty at that time. They will hear the case and declare the verdict.
Deuteronomy 17 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 18:21-26 | "Choose able men from all the people... to judge the people at all times... every difficult case they shall bring to you, but any small case they shall decide themselves." | Jethro's advice: higher authority for hard cases |
| Num 11:16-17 | "Gather for Me seventy men of the elders of Israel... and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you..." | Appointment of elders/judges by divine enablement |
| Deut 1:17 | "You shall not be partial in judgment... you shall hear the small and the great alike... the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it." | Moses as ultimate judge for hard cases |
| Deut 17:10 | "You shall do according to the word that they declare to you from that place that the Lord will choose..." | Commands obedience to their ruling |
| Deut 17:12 | "The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest or the judge... that man shall die." | Penalty for defying central authority |
| Deut 21:5 | "Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to him and to give blessing in the name of the Lord, and by their decision shall every dispute and every assault be settled." | Priests as judges in specific cases |
| Ez 44:24 | "In a dispute, they shall act as judges, and they shall judge it according to my judgments. They shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts..." | Priestly role in judgment and law-keeping |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." | Priests as authoritative interpreters of Torah |
| 2 Chr 19:8-11 | "Moreover, in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel to give judgment for the Lord..." | Example of centralized court in Jerusalem |
| Prov 25:2 | "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." | Kings/leaders seeking out wisdom/justice |
| Isa 33:22 | "For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us." | God as ultimate Judge and Lawgiver |
| Mt 23:2-3 | "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do..." | Christ's instruction on obedience to authority |
| Acts 15:2 | "Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question." | New Testament church seeking council for doctrine |
| Acts 15:6 | "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter." | Early church's supreme council/authority |
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account..." | General Christian principle of submitting to leadership |
| Rom 13:1-7 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | God-ordained civil authority |
| Jas 4:12 | "There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" | God as the singular ultimate Lawgiver and Judge |
| Jn 5:22 | "For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son..." | Jesus as the ultimate divine Judge |
| 1 Cor 6:1-8 | Believers not taking other believers to pagan courts, but judging among themselves. | Church authority in dispute resolution |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry..." | God-given leaders to guide the church |
| Ps 82:1-4 | "God has taken his place in the divine council... 'Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.'" | Divine expectation of righteous human judges |
| Joel 3:12 | "...for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations." | Prophecy of God's ultimate global judgment |
Deuteronomy 17 verses
Deuteronomy 17 9 Meaning
Deuteronomy 17:9 instructs individuals with difficult legal or spiritual matters, unresolvable locally, to seek authoritative clarification from the central religious and judicial authorities. Specifically, it directs them to consult the Levitical priests and the officiating judge, who will provide the definitive "word of judgment" derived from God's law. This established a supreme court-like function to ensure consistent application of the Torah and prevent internal disputes from fracturing the nation's justice system.
Deuteronomy 17 9 Context
Deuteronomy 17 is part of a series of laws concerning Israel's future governance and conduct in the Promised Land. Verses 8-13 specifically establish a centralized judicial system for cases too complex for local courts. This follows laws against idolatry (vv. 2-7) and immediately precedes the regulations for a future king (vv. 14-20). The broader context of Deuteronomy emphasizes faithfulness to God's covenant through obedience to His detailed statutes and judgments, outlining how Israel is to function as a holy nation under God's ultimate authority. Historically, this system was vital for a society moving from a nomadic, tribal structure to a settled, organized nation, preventing societal breakdown due to unresolved disputes.
Deuteronomy 17 9 Word analysis
- And you shall come (וּבָאתָ - uvata): The verb implies a necessary and deliberate action. It's an imperative for the person with the difficult case to proactively seek this higher authority, emphasizing obligation rather than suggestion.
- to the Levitical priests (אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם - el-hakohanim haLeviyim): This specific designation identifies those descended from Levi who served as priests. They were custodians of the Law, teachers of God's ways (Mal 2:7), and involved in discerning God's will and pronouncing judgment in legal, ceremonial, and purity matters (Ez 44:24; Deut 21:5). Their role encompassed the sacred aspect of law.
- and to the judge (וְאֶל־הַשֹּׁפֵט - ve'el hashofet): This refers to the civil authority figure. Coupled with the priests, it forms a combined authority responsible for interpreting and applying the law. This likely implies a designated supreme judge or a panel of judges functioning at the central sanctuary. The dual reference underscores both religious (divine will) and civil (societal order) dimensions of justice.
- who is in office in those days (אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם - asher yihyeh bayamim hahem): This phrase emphasizes the ongoing, continuous nature of this judicial system, transcending specific individuals. It implies institutional permanency and God's provision for leadership across generations, ensuring stability and a constant source of authority for Israel's legal needs.
- and you shall inquire (וְדָרַשְׁתָּ - vedarashta): This verb means "to seek, to consult, to investigate carefully, to diligently search." It implies a formal seeking of an authoritative decision or divine revelation, not just casual advice. It suggests presenting the facts of the case and awaiting a definitive ruling.
- and they will declare to you (וְהִגִּידוּ לְךָ - vehiggidu lekha): The verb signifies making known, announcing, or pronouncing. It's a declaration of a definitive judgment, indicating that the authorities have deliberated and arrived at an official conclusion based on their expertise and interpretation of the law.
- the word of judgment (אֵת דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט - et devar hammishpat): Mishpat refers to judgment, justice, legal decision, or ordinance. "The word of judgment" is the authoritative and final legal ruling in a specific case, establishing what is just and right according to the Torah. It implies a verdict that is legally binding and rooted in divine truth.
- Levitical priests and... judge: This pairing reflects the integration of religious and civil authority within Israel's judicial system, with God's law as the foundation. It establishes a supreme court with both spiritual and practical legal expertise, safeguarding the integrity of justice rooted in God's commandments. This central body acted as the final arbiter for "cases too difficult" for local courts (Deut 17:8), thereby providing judicial unity and consistency throughout the nation.
- in office in those days: This stresses the ongoing provision for competent, divinely sanctioned leadership. It’s a mechanism for continuous administration of God’s law, transcending generations, and establishing an enduring institutional framework.
- you shall inquire, and they will declare... judgment: This highlights a process of authoritative resolution. The individual seeks clarification, and the central body provides an unassailable legal pronouncement. This system prevented individuals from arbitrarily interpreting God's law or settling matters through personal bias.
Deuteronomy 17 9 Bonus section
This verse anticipates the need for a national judiciary that combines religious and secular knowledge. It underlines the Deuteronomic principle that all aspects of Israelite life, including law and governance, were to be explicitly shaped by God's commands. The "Levitical priests" suggest the sacred, divinely revealed aspects of the law, while "the judge" implies its practical application and enforcement in daily life. This dual authority aimed to prevent corruption and ensure judgments reflected God's righteousness, serving as a deterrent against personal interpretations that might undermine divine justice. The Sanhedrin, a later Jewish supreme judicial and legislative body, can be seen as an historical fulfillment of this Deuteronomic principle, continuing the role of adjudicating complex cases based on the Law.
Deuteronomy 17 9 Commentary
Deuteronomy 17:9 is foundational to Israel's centralized justice system, establishing the highest court of appeal. It mandated that difficult, ambiguous, or contested cases—beyond the scope of local resolution—be brought to the central sanctuary. Here, the Levitical priests, guardians and interpreters of God's Law, along with the presiding civil judge, would provide an authoritative and binding verdict. This unified body ensured that all judgments were consistent with the divine statutes of the Torah. The verse emphasizes the necessity of submitting to God-ordained authority for legal and moral clarity, highlighting that societal order and divine justice were to be upheld through prescribed channels. This provision was critical for Israel's judicial integrity and stability as a covenant nation.