Deuteronomy 21:23 kjv
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 21:23 nkjv
his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
Deuteronomy 21:23 niv
you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 21:23 esv
his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 21:23 nlt
the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession.
Deuteronomy 21 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us...cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. | Fulfillment in Christ, bearing the curse. |
| Josh 8:29 | ...king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening... | OT application: removal before nightfall. |
| Josh 10:26-27 | ...hanged them on five trees...At sunset...took them down... | OT application: compliance with the law. |
| Num 35:33-34 | You shall not pollute the land in which you live...blood pollutes the land. | Land defilement principle from murder. |
| Lev 18:25 | And the land became unclean...the land vomited out its inhabitants. | Land defiled by abominable practices. |
| Lev 20:22 | You shall therefore keep all my statutes...that the land will not vomit you out. | Land's holiness tied to obedience to God's laws. |
| Deut 4:21 | The LORD was angry...swore I would not go over the Jordan. | The land as a divine inheritance and promise. |
| Deut 6:18 | Do what is right...that it may go well with you and that you may possess the good land... | Land as blessing tied to righteous conduct. |
| Deut 12:9-10 | ...go over the Jordan and live in the land...he will give you rest... | The promised land as a place of rest and inheritance. |
| 2 Sam 21:10 | Rizpah...kept birds from them by day, and beasts by night. | Importance of protecting human remains (context of hanged bodies). |
| 2 Sam 21:12-14 | David took the bones of Saul...and Jonathan...buried them. | Importance of honorable burial, even for those under disfavor. |
| Jer 2:7 | And when you entered, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. | Land defiled by Israel's unfaithfulness. |
| Eze 36:17-18 | ...defiled it by their ways and their deeds...I poured out my wrath upon them. | Land defiled by the sinful actions of the inhabitants. |
| Ezra 9:11 | ...the land to which you are going to possess is a land unclean with the impurity of the peoples... | Awareness of pagan defilement and need for purity. |
| John 19:31 | Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and they taken away. | New Testament echo: urgency to remove bodies from the cross for Sabbath. |
| John 19:38-42 | Joseph of Arimathea...took the body of Jesus...laid it in his own new tomb. | New Testament fulfillment of prompt burial after crucifixion ("on a tree"). |
| Acts 5:30 | The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. | NT understanding of Christ's death as being "hung on a tree." |
| Acts 10:39 | ...Jesus whom they put to death by hanging him on a tree. | Repeated NT emphasis on Jesus' death on a "tree." |
| Acts 13:29 | And when they had carried out all that was written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. | Explicit connection of burial to Christ's death on the "tree." |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree... | The "tree" as the means by which Christ took on the curse/sins. |
| Col 2:14 | ...canceling the record of debt...nailing it to the cross. | Figurative language associating the cross/tree with abolition of curse/debt. |
| Gen 40:19 | Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and hang you on a tree... | Earlier mention of "hanging on a tree," illustrating the ancient practice. |
Deuteronomy 21 verses
Deuteronomy 21 23 Meaning
Deuteronomy 21:23 commands that the body of an executed criminal, displayed by being hung on a tree, must not remain there overnight but must be buried on the same day. The reason provided is that such a person is "accursed of God," and leaving the body exposed would defile the land that the LORD God has given as a holy inheritance to His people. This law emphasizes the sanctity of God's land, the divine judgment associated with the capital crime, and the dignity even of a condemned body through proper burial.
Deuteronomy 21 23 Context
Deuteronomy 21 provides a series of diverse laws regulating various aspects of Israelite community life and the handling of justice. Verses 22-23 specifically deal with the rare and extreme case of a capital offender, condemned to death for a crime "worthy of death," whose body is then hung on a tree as a public spectacle, possibly for deterrent or public shaming. It is crucial to note that hanging on a tree was typically not the method of execution in Israel, but rather a post-mortem display of an executed body.
The historical and cultural context involves the practices of ancient Near Eastern nations, where leaving executed bodies exposed to birds and beasts of prey for prolonged periods was common, often as a means of further desecrating the condemned or to assert total dominance. In direct contrast, Israel's law limits this exposure, underscoring a distinct understanding of the sanctity of human life (even a criminal's remains), the importance of proper burial, and particularly the holiness of the land promised by God. This limitation implicitly served as a polemic against the prolonged desecration seen in surrounding cultures, emphasizing God's concern for order and dignity even in death, and protecting the sacredness of the inherited land from ritual pollution.
Deuteronomy 21 23 Word analysis
- his body: Refers to the physical remains of the condemned person. This emphasizes the tangible aspect of the human form, which, though having committed a capital crime, still warrants a level of regulated treatment in death within God's covenant.
- shall not remain: An imperative, emphasizing the strict prohibition and urgency. There is no permissible duration for exposure past daylight hours.
- all night: (Hebrew: laylah). Specifically from sunset to sunrise. This strict time limit means the body cannot remain exposed overnight.
- upon the tree: (Hebrew: `ets). Literally "on the wood" or "on the tree." This refers to the gallows or pole on which the body was suspended after execution, for public display. It's not necessarily the means of death but the post-mortem treatment. This is the crucial link to the New Testament's understanding of Christ's crucifixion as being "hung on a tree."
- but thou shalt in any wise bury him: (Hebrew: qavor tiqberennu - a strong emphasis through verb reduplication, meaning "you shall surely bury him"). This is a direct, emphatic command to ensure burial occurs on the same day. This stresses the obligation and necessity of burial.
- that day: Specifies the strict timeframe for burial – before the sun sets.
- (for he that is hanged: (Hebrew: ki qilelat 'elohim talui). This clause, presented as a theological rationale, explains why the body must be removed promptly. The one displayed as hanged is significant. It is a sign.
- is accursed of God;: (Hebrew: qilelat 'elohim - literally "a curse of God" or "divine curse"). This is the theological heart of the verse. It does not mean the act of hanging causes the curse; rather, the hanging (display of public shame for a capital offense) is a sign that the person was already divinely condemned for their egregious sin. They were under God's ultimate judgment. To leave such a person's body exposed would extend this public display of divine judgment, which itself carries a defiling spiritual weight. This divine curse is the primary reason the body must not defile the land.
- that thy land be not defiled,: (Hebrew: lo' tetame' et 'artsakha). The act of leaving a divinely cursed body exposed would bring ritual impurity (tame') upon the land. The land itself is a sacred space, part of God's covenant with Israel. Defilement of the land jeopardizes God's presence and blessings.
- which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.: This final phrase reinforces the sanctity and special status of the land. It is not mere territory but a sacred trust, a divinely granted possession (nachalah). Maintaining its purity is a direct reflection of respecting the Giver of the land.
Deuteronomy 21 23 Bonus section
The practice described in Deuteronomy 21:22-23 is not "execution by hanging" as we might understand it (e.g., modern gallows), but rather the public display of a body that has already been executed by another means, such as stoning. The body would then be suspended on a tree or pole. This distinction is vital because it means the "curse" is not inherent in the method of execution, but rather that the individual was already deemed worthy of death by capital crime, thus signifying them as under God's severe displeasure or curse, hence their public display. This "sign" of the curse necessitates rapid removal to prevent ritual contamination of the land.
Furthermore, this law underscores the high value placed on the land of Israel, not just as a physical space but as a sacred trust, a reflection of God's dwelling among His people. Any act, even related to the disposal of human remains, that could bring ritual defilement was seen as directly affronting God's holiness and His presence in the land. This elevates the spiritual significance of clean and appropriate land stewardship within the covenant community.
Deuteronomy 21 23 Commentary
Deuteronomy 21:23 stands as a pivotal biblical statement on divine justice, land sanctity, and the profound theological meaning attached to the "tree." The command for immediate burial of one "hanged" after execution highlights God's demand for ritual purity and respect even for the remains of a criminal. The phrase "accursed of God" signifies that the severe punishment and public display are clear evidence of God's direct judgment against their egregious sin. Prolonged exposure of such a body would cause deep spiritual and ritual defilement to the very land given by Yahweh as a holy inheritance.
This verse uniquely prepares the way for understanding the significance of the cross. Centuries later, Paul cites this verse in Galatians 3:13 to explain how Christ, though innocent, "became a curse for us" by being "hanged on a tree." Jesus' crucifixion, a Roman form of execution, inadvertently mirrored the Old Testament display of an accursed person. However, through this voluntary act, Christ absorbed the curse of the Law (which applies to all who do not perfectly obey) on behalf of humanity. Thus, what was a sign of divine condemnation in the Old Testament became, in Christ, the means of ultimate redemption, allowing believers to be released from the curse and receive the Spirit. The quick burial of Jesus, prompted by Jewish law, further echoes this Deuteronomic command, demonstrating divine providence in ensuring even His body was handled according to scriptural principles, preventing lingering defilement and fulfilling prophecy.