Deuteronomy 21 21

Deuteronomy 21:21 kjv

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Deuteronomy 21:21 nkjv

Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.

Deuteronomy 21:21 niv

Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.

Deuteronomy 21:21 esv

Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Deuteronomy 21:21 nlt

Then all the men of his town must stone him to death. In this way, you will purge this evil from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid.

Deuteronomy 21 verses

Deuteronomy 21 21 Meaning

Deuteronomy 21:21 describes the ultimate societal consequence for a persistently defiant son whose parents have brought him before the elders, accused of gluttony and drunkenness. If found guilty after proper judicial process, he is to be publicly stoned to death by the men of his city. This act serves to purge grave moral evil from the community, demonstrating the severe repercussions of flagrant covenant rebellion, so that all of Israel will witness the judgment and be filled with reverent fear, thus maintaining social and spiritual purity within the nation.

Deuteronomy 21 21 Context

Deuteronomy 21:21 is the concluding verse of the statute concerning the "stubborn and rebellious son" (Deut 21:18-21). The preceding verses describe the parents bringing their son, who is accused of persistent disobedience, being a glutton and a drunkard, and refusing to listen to their discipline, before the city elders at the gate. This process emphasizes due legal procedure and communal involvement, preventing arbitrary parental action or personal vengeance. The son is portrayed as a menace to his family and, by extension, to the stability and holiness of the Israelite community, embodying persistent rebellion against God's appointed authorities (parents) and against the communal standards of righteousness. The severe punishment highlights the high value placed on family order, respect for parental authority, and the maintenance of a pure society in ancient Israel as a covenant nation under God. It's often seen less as a commonly executed law and more as a powerful deterrent, underscoring the extreme consequences of ultimate spiritual and social rebellion against divine and human authority. Rabbinic tradition heavily restricted its practical application, rendering it almost impossible to execute, focusing on its theoretical impact and deterrent nature.

Word Analysis

• And all the men of his city:

  • And: Links to the preceding verses, indicating the culmination of the legal process.
  • all the men (wəḵol-’anšê - וכל־אנשי): Signifies collective responsibility. The judgment is not just by elders but publicly executed by the community, emphasizing communal consent and ownership of the law and its enforcement. This prevents personal vendetta and underscores it as a societal action.
  • his city (‘îrô - עירו): Reinforces local, communal jurisdiction. The punishment is meted out where the transgression originated, demonstrating visible accountability.

• shall stone him with stones, that he die:

  • shall stone (sāqəlûhû - סקלהו): Stoning was a prescribed method of capital punishment in Israel for grave sins (e.g., blasphemy, idolatry, false prophecy, Sabbath breaking). It symbolized community condemnation and the removal of the transgressor from their midst. It's a public, visible act designed for deterrence.
  • with stones (ba’ăbānîm - באבנים): Plural form emphasizing the multitude of stones, indicating the lethal intent and the collective participation in ensuring death.
  • that he die (wāmēt - ומת): Direct and uncompromising, leaving no room for leniency or mere injury. The purpose is utter eradication.

• so shalt thou put away evil from among you:

  • so shalt thou put away (ûbā‘artā - ובערת): Hebrew ba'ar often means "to burn" or "to consume," but in this context, "to purge," "eradicate," "remove completely." It implies a thorough cleansing. This is a common phrase in Deuteronomy used for rooting out various forms of wickedness (e.g., Deut 13:5; 17:7; 19:19). It emphasizes the legislative goal of maintaining national purity and holiness before God.
  • evil (hārā‘ - הרע): Not just "bad behavior" but deep-seated "moral wickedness," "corruption," "wickedness," or "calamity" resulting from sin. The persistent rebellion of the son is considered a moral contagion that must be removed lest it infect the whole community. This evil threatens the covenant relationship between Israel and God.
  • from among you (miqqirbeḵā - מקרבך): Refers to the collective body of Israel. The implication is that allowing such deep-seated rebellion to fester would corrupt the entire nation, breaking their covenant with God and bringing His judgment.

• and all Israel shall hear, and fear:

  • and all Israel (wəḵol-yiśrā’ēl - וכל־ישראל): Refers to the entire covenant community, not just the local city. The intent is broad national impact.
  • shall hear (yišmā‘û - ישמעו): To hear implies understanding and acknowledgment of the law's gravity and God's justice. It leads to knowledge of the consequences.
  • and fear (wəyirā’û - ויראו): This "fear" (yirah) is not merely terror but a reverent awe and obedience towards God and His laws. It promotes a fear of incurring divine displeasure and prompts adherence to the covenant, thereby serving as a powerful deterrent against similar offenses. This phrase highlights the pedagogic function of public judgment, aiming to cultivate obedience and holiness.

Deuteronomy 21 21 Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:21 concludes a statute that is exceptionally severe yet profoundly significant for understanding God's standards for His covenant people. It addresses extreme and incorrigible rebellion against parental authority, leading to public profligacy, which is viewed not merely as a family matter but as a threat to the moral fabric of the entire Israelite society. The call for public execution by stoning, involving the entire city, underscores the communal responsibility for maintaining the holiness and order commanded by God. This severe measure is explicitly aimed at "putting away evil" from their midst, signifying the purification of the land from deep-seated corruption that could invite divine wrath upon the entire nation. The purpose is deterrence: "all Israel shall hear, and fear," which cultivates reverent obedience to God and His laws, reinforcing social cohesion and preventing the spread of sin. While rabbinic interpretations often highlight the rarity, if not theoretical impossibility, of this law's execution due to stringent conditions, its very presence in the Torah emphasizes the sacredness of family order, the seriousness of flagrant defiance against authority, and God's demand for holiness within His people.

Bonus Section

• This law, though seemingly harsh, emphasizes parental authority and the early inculcation of discipline within the family unit as foundational to societal order and righteousness.
• The elaborate legal process (parents bringing the son before elders at the city gate, defining "glutton and drunkard") ensures due process and prevents vigilantism, showcasing a structured legal system in ancient Israel.
• Scholarly interpretations often suggest this law functioned primarily as a hyper-vigilant deterrent, indicating the grave danger of unchecked youthful rebellion spiraling into complete societal disruption rather than being a frequently implemented form of punishment. Its severity serves as a boundary marker for acceptable behavior within the covenant community.