Deuteronomy 21 20

Deuteronomy 21:20 kjv

And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

Deuteronomy 21:20 nkjv

And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.'

Deuteronomy 21:20 niv

They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard."

Deuteronomy 21:20 esv

and they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.'

Deuteronomy 21:20 nlt

The parents must say to the elders, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a glutton and a drunkard.'

Deuteronomy 21 verses

Deuteronomy 21 20 Meaning

Deuteronomy 21:20 describes the accusation made by parents to the elders of their city concerning a disobedient son. The parents state that their son is excessively stubborn and rebellious, persistently refusing to listen to and obey their counsel. Furthermore, they accuse him of being a glutton and a drunkard, implying a lifestyle of uncontrolled consumption and irresponsible behavior that brings shame and harm to the family and community. This verse initiates a legal process meant to address extreme cases of filial misconduct within ancient Israelite society.

Deuteronomy 21 20 Context

Deuteronomy 21:20 is part of a series of laws concerning various aspects of Israelite community life, family, and justice. Specifically, verses 18-21 detail the judicial process for a "stubborn and rebellious son." This law addresses extreme cases where a son has progressed beyond normal youthful defiance to a state of incorrigible disobedience, idleness, and vice. It outlines a procedure involving both parents bringing their son to the city elders at the gate (the place of judgment) to formally accuse him. The severity of the potential punishment (death by stoning) underscores the importance of filial obedience and societal order within ancient Israel, where the family unit was foundational to the covenant community. It wasn't about typical teenage rebellion but chronic, severe misconduct threatening the fabric of family and society. Scholars suggest this law might have served more as a deterrent or an example of the utmost gravity of certain behaviors, rather than a commonly enacted legal procedure, emphasizing the deep respect owed to parents and the community.

Deuteronomy 21 20 Word analysis

• And they shall say: Indicates the solemnity of the accusation being brought before the authorized communal leaders. It implies a unified decision by both parents, underscoring the severity of the situation.
• unto the elders of his city: Hebrew: zəqēnîm (זְקֵנִים). These were the wise and experienced leaders who served as local judges and administrators, highlighting the public, legal, and community-wide nature of this indictment. Justice was administered locally.
• This our son: Points to the direct familial bond, yet simultaneously highlights the profound disappointment and societal burden this particular son has become. It underscores the parents' deeply painful and desperate measure.
• is stubborn: Hebrew: sorēr (סוֹרֵר). Root meaning "to turn aside," "to be unruly," "recalcitrant." It implies one who willfully deviates from the right path, is obstinate, intractable, and defies authority. This is not mere disagreement, but a deep-seated resistance to correction and parental instruction. This term is also used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe Israel's stubbornness against God (e.g., Isa 1:23).
• and rebellious: Hebrew: môreh (מֹרֶה). Root meaning "to rebel," "to be contentious," "to contradict." It describes active defiance and insubordination against lawful authority. Paired with sorēr, it signifies an ingrained, defiant, and destructive character, directly linked to a spirit of insurrection against divine and human order (cf. 1 Sam 15:23 where rebellion is likened to witchcraft).
• he will not obey our voice: This phrase explicitly states the consequence of being "stubborn and rebellious"—a persistent refusal to heed parental instruction, counsel, or commands. Voice here signifies authority, instruction, and wisdom. This is not an isolated incident but a chronic pattern of disobedience.
• he is a glutton: Hebrew: zôlēl (זוֹלֵל). Root meaning "to be profligate," "to squander," "to consume lavishly." It implies excessive, uncontrolled, and wasteful consumption of food and, by extension, other resources. It's often associated with idleness and squandering of inheritance. Proverbs 23:20-21 links gluttony with drunkenness, leading to poverty.
• and a drunkard: Hebrew: sōḇê (סֹבֵא). Root meaning "to drink deeply," "to soak oneself." It denotes habitual drunkenness and excessive indulgence in alcohol. In biblical thought, drunkenness is associated with a loss of self-control, immorality, foolishness, and impoverishment, leading to shame and societal disorder (Prov 23:29-35).

Words-group analysis:

• Stubborn and rebellious: This pairing emphasizes a character defect that goes beyond normal childhood testing of boundaries. It speaks of a deep-seated, intractable refusal to submit to authority, mirroring Israel's rebellion against God. Such behavior threatened the patriarchal, hierarchical structure crucial to Israelite society and the stability of the covenant community.
• He will not obey our voice: This phrase highlights the central complaint—the complete breakdown of filial respect and the parental-child relationship based on instruction and obedience. In a society where family was paramount, this breakdown posed a severe threat to social cohesion and the transmission of values.
• He is a glutton, and a drunkard: These terms paint a picture of self-indulgent, unproductive, and socially destructive behavior. It's not just about excessive eating and drinking, but the lifestyle implied: idleness, wastefulness, debauchery, and ultimately, economic drain on the family and community. Such a son would squander family resources and bring disgrace, contributing nothing but chaos. The combined terms describe a person living solely for base appetites, heedless of responsibility.

Deuteronomy 21 20 Bonus section

The Mishnah, particularly in Sanhedrin, delves into rabbinic interpretations of this law, indicating that its application was so strictly conditioned that it was extremely rare, if ever, actually carried out. Requirements included specific forms of public scolding by parents, precise financial squandering for specific gluttonous and drunken activities, and specific ages of the son. Some Jewish commentators see it as a theoretical law designed to convey the immense severity of disrespecting one's parents and indulging in vices that threatened the fabric of Israelite society. It underscores the sanctity of the family unit and the importance of self-control as fundamental to the covenant. This law also showcases the community's role in enforcing justice, as it wasn't left solely to the parents to execute judgment, emphasizing the collective responsibility for moral order.

Deuteronomy 21 20 Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:20 presents a severe indictment reflecting God's profound value for order, respect for authority, and moral integrity within the family and community. This law for a "stubborn and rebellious son" (vv. 18-21) details a last resort for parents dealing with a son whose behavior had become utterly intractable, shameful, and ruinous. It describes not mere teenage defiance, but a son characterized by habitual and destructive rebellion, squandering his family's substance through excessive gluttony and drunkenness.

The process of accusation before the elders at the city gate ensured public accountability and a judicial review, preventing arbitrary parental actions. The descriptors "stubborn" (sorēr) and "rebellious" (moreh) imply a chronic, willful refusal to acknowledge and submit to parental authority, which was seen as an extension of divine authority. When combined with "glutton" (zolel) and "drunkard" (sove), it paints a picture of utter self-indulgence, lack of discipline, and a parasitic existence. Such a lifestyle was economically detrimental to the family, morally scandalous to the community, and indicative of a deeper spiritual rebellion against God's laws concerning self-control and stewardship.

While the severity of the proposed punishment (death by stoning, mentioned in verse 21) shocks modern sensibilities, some scholars suggest this law may have served more as a strong deterrent or a hyperbolic emphasis on the gravity of extreme filial disobedience and moral decay, rather than a frequently executed verdict. It underscored the absolute necessity of parental authority and social responsibility for the preservation of the covenant community. The law sought to prevent the corruption of society by allowing incorrigible individuals to remain unchecked.

Spiritually, this passage highlights that persistent rebellion, rejection of wisdom, and submission to base desires (gluttony, drunkenness) lead to separation and destruction. It underscores the principle that unchecked sin leads to progressively severe consequences. While not advocating stoning in the New Covenant, the principles of filial respect, self-control, and the danger of unchecked indulgence remain paramount. Parents are still called to train their children (Prov 22:6), and children to obey (Eph 6:1), reflecting the divine order and God's desire for flourishing families and communities.