Deuteronomy 21 5

Deuteronomy 21:5 kjv

And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:

Deuteronomy 21:5 nkjv

Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of the LORD; by their word every controversy and every assault shall be settled.

Deuteronomy 21:5 niv

The Levitical priests shall step forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings in the name of the LORD and to decide all cases of dispute and assault.

Deuteronomy 21:5 esv

Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of the LORD, and by their word every dispute and every assault shall be settled.

Deuteronomy 21:5 nlt

Then the Levitical priests must step forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in the LORD's name. They are to decide all legal and criminal cases.

Deuteronomy 21 verses

Deuteronomy 21 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 21:5 describes the integral role and divinely appointed authority of the Levitical priests within ancient Israelite society, specifically in the context of ritual cleansing for an unsolved murder. It states that these priests are God’s chosen ministers, tasked with leading worship, conferring blessings, and serving as the final arbiters in both ritual and civil disputes, ensuring that justice and purity are maintained in the land according to divine law.

Deuteronomy 21 5 Context

Deuteronomy 21:5 is part of the instructions regarding how to address a particularly serious matter: the discovery of a murdered person in open country, when the perpetrator is unknown (Dt 21:1-9). This law underscores the sanctity of life and the importance of purging communal guilt to prevent divine judgment. If unpunished, such a death would defile the land and bring divine wrath. In this specific ritual, the elders of the nearest city, alongside the priests, are required to perform a specific ceremony involving a heifer, expressing collective disassociation from the murder and pleading for atonement. Verse 5 explains why the priests are indispensable in this process, highlighting their dual role as religious and judicial authorities chosen by God to maintain communal purity and dispense justice. It embeds the ritual within the broader framework of divine law and its proper application.

Deuteronomy 21 5 Word analysis

• Priests, the sons of Levi (כֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם, kohanim ha-Leviim): This phrase specifically identifies the Aaronic priests who belong to the tribe of Levi. It emphasizes both their specific lineage and their unique, elevated priestly status within the broader Levitical tribe. Their authority in cultic and judicial matters stems from this divinely established heritage.

• Shall come forward (יִגְּשׁוּ, yigg'shu): This verb denotes a deliberate, active approach or drawing near. In this context, it signifies that the priests are not merely present but are actively taking their position, stepping into their authorized role to perform the sacred and legal duties incumbent upon them, particularly for a grave matter like an unsolved murder.

• For the Lord your God has chosen them (כִּי בָם בָּחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, ki vam bachar YHWH Eloheikha): This crucial phrase establishes the divine origin of the priests’ authority. Their selection is not based on human merit or election but on God’s sovereign choice, which imparts inherent legitimacy and divine sanction to their actions and pronouncements.

• To minister to Him (לְשָׁרְתוֹ, l'sharto): Refers primarily to their sacred liturgical duties in the Tabernacle or Temple. This includes offering sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, burning incense, and serving as intermediaries between God and the people in all matters of worship and purity.

• And to bless in the name of the Lord (וּלְבָרֵךְ בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה, u'l'varekh b'shem YHVH): Highlights their unique function as pronouncers of divine favor and blessing upon the people. Invoking the "name of the Lord" signifies acting under His authority and power, making the blessing effectual and divinely guaranteed, as exemplified in the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6.

• And by their word (וְעַל פִּיהֶם, v'al pihem – literally "and according to their mouth"): This emphasizes that their spoken judgment or pronouncement is authoritative and final. Their decrees are considered the very voice of God's law, given their divine election, thus carrying absolute legal and spiritual weight.

• Every dispute (כָּל־רִיב, kol-riv): Encompasses all types of legal conflicts, quarrels, arguments, or litigations. This signifies the broad scope of their judicial competence, covering both civil and possibly religious legal controversies.

• And every assault (וְכָל־נֶגַע, v'kol-nega): This Hebrew word can mean "blow," "strike," "wound," "affliction," or "plague." In the context of Deuteronomy 21:1-9, it most aptly refers to cases involving physical injury, violent acts, or disputes arising from bodily harm or death, consistent with the immediate context of an unsolved murder. It can also, by extension, encompass other significant physical or spiritual blemishes that affect the community’s purity.

• Shall be settled (יִהְיֶה, yihyeh): Means "it shall be" or "it shall come to pass." In this context, it conveys the definitive and conclusive nature of the priests' judgment. Their ruling serves to bring finality, resolution, and rightful justice to the contentious matter at hand.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Priests, the sons of Levi... chosen them to minister to him": This linkage establishes the unique divine calling and inherent authority of the priesthood. Their identity as "sons of Levi" gives them their tribal association, while "priests" specifies their elevated sacred function, uniquely chosen by God for divine service. This highlights the integration of spiritual lineage and vocational mandate.
  • "To bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word every dispute and every assault shall be settled": This sequence reveals the integrated nature of the priestly role. Their capacity to bestow divine blessing, drawing on God's authority ("in the name of the Lord"), is inextricably linked to their judicial function. Their spoken rulings are not merely human decisions but carry divine sanction, resolving all forms of legal and purity-related conflicts. This unity demonstrates the theocratic principle where religious purity and social justice are inseparable.

Deuteronomy 21 5 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of "priests, the sons of Levi" in this verse for a judicial context indicates a unique aspect of Israelite society where the roles of sacred office and civil arbitration were deeply intertwined. Unlike many ancient Near Eastern cultures where distinct secular judiciaries often handled legal disputes, Israel's system retained the clergy in a pivotal adjudicating role for significant matters. This signifies a profound theological premise: that justice itself is a sacred matter, intimately connected with God's holiness and the nation's spiritual purity. The emphasis on "every dispute and every assault" underscores the comprehensive nature of their authority, implying a capacity to address matters from physical injuries and ritual impurities to broader legal contentions, all under the overarching framework of God's revealed law. Their involvement ensures divine legitimacy for communal actions of purification and reconciliation, such as the unique unsolved murder ceremony in which this verse is situated.

Deuteronomy 21 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:5 highlights the unparalleled significance of the Levitical priesthood in the life of Israel, revealing their comprehensive mandate from God. They were more than mere ritual specialists; they were custodians of the divine covenant, instrumental in maintaining both spiritual purity and civil order. Their election by the Lord (YHWH) underscored that their authority was divinely derived, not humanly conferred, lending immense weight to their actions—whether offering sacrifices, pronouncing blessings, or mediating disputes. The fusion of liturgical duties ("to minister to him and to bless") with judicial responsibilities ("by their word every dispute and every assault shall be settled") demonstrates that for ancient Israel, there was no sharp separation between sacred and secular, between ritual atonement and the application of law. All aspects of life were to reflect God's justice and holiness. The priests, through their knowledge of the Torah and their direct relationship with the sanctuary, were uniquely positioned to discern God's will and pronounce judgment, thereby ensuring that communal bloodguilt was averted and divine order upheld. This foundational understanding of their role ensured proper atonement and maintained the integrity of the covenant relationship.