Deuteronomy 23 3

Deuteronomy 23:3 kjv

An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:

Deuteronomy 23:3 nkjv

"An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever,

Deuteronomy 23:3 niv

No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, not even in the tenth generation.

Deuteronomy 23:3 esv

"No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever,

Deuteronomy 23:3 nlt

"No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 23 verses

Deuteronomy 23 3 Meaning

Deuteronomy 23:3 stipulates a perpetual exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from full participation in the assembly of the Lord, meaning they could not join the community of Israel in its formal gatherings, communal life, and sacred rituals. This prohibition was to extend indefinitely, symbolically represented by "even to their tenth generation," signifying a complete and lasting ban from a position of covenant fellowship and privilege.

Deuteronomy 23 3 Context

Deuteronomy 23 falls within a section of detailed laws concerning the holiness and purity of the Israelite community, outlining various requirements for entry into "the assembly of the Lord." This chapter addresses different groups—eunuchs, those of illegitimate birth, Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Egyptians—and their specific levels of permitted interaction or exclusion. Verses 3-6 directly address the Ammonites and Moabites, explaining their severe and lasting exclusion due to their specific hostile actions against Israel during their Exodus from Egypt: withholding sustenance and hiring Balaam to curse them (Deut 23:4-5). This stands in contrast to the Edomites and Egyptians, who are permitted entry after the third generation (Deut 23:7-8), indicating a unique severity for Ammon and Moab. The broader context of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches by Moses to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, reiterating God's law and covenant expectations before they enter the Promised Land, emphasizing holiness, distinctiveness, and obedience.

Deuteronomy 23 3 Word analysis

• Ammonite (Ammoni / עַמּוֹנִי) / Moabite (Mo'avi / מוֹאָבִי):

  • Meaning: Descendants of Lot (Gen 19:30-38). They inhabited regions east of the Jordan River.
  • Significance: Identified as specific people groups with a documented history of animosity towards Israel (Num 22:3-6, Judg 3:12-14, 1 Sam 11:1-2). Their lineage itself (born of incest) was seen as less pure, though their national hostility was the primary cause for exclusion.
  • Contrast: Distinguished from Edomites (descendants of Esau) and Egyptians, who, despite past conflict, were granted more lenient terms for inclusion.

• shall not enter (lo-yavo / לֹא־יָבֹא):

  • Meaning: A strong, prohibitive command. Lo is a firm negation.
  • Significance: Indicates a complete ban from certain privileges or participation.

• the congregation of the Lord (qehal YHWH / קְהַל יְהוָה):

  • Meaning: This term refers to the formal assembly or community of Israel as God's covenant people.
  • Significance: It implies not just access to physical land, but participation in public worship, civil legal processes, and the full rights and privileges of citizenship within theocratic Israel, particularly intermarriage and voting rights in tribal assemblies. It denotes belonging to the sacred covenant community. This was the place where God's presence dwelled and where His people gathered to hear His word and perform His commands.

• tenth generation (asiri dor / עֲשִׂירִי דּוֹר):

  • Meaning: Literally "tenth generation."
  • Significance: While literally meaning ten generations, it is widely understood idiomatically as "forever" or "permanently." This expression implies an indefinite, unending exclusion, signifying the severe and lasting nature of their offense against Israel, as divinely ordained.

• forever (le'olam / לְעוֹלָם):

  • Meaning: An emphatic term meaning "for all time," "perpetually," or "eternally."
  • Significance: Reinforces and clarifies the "tenth generation" phrase, leaving no doubt about the absolute and permanent nature of the exclusion for these specific nations.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter":

  • Significance: Establishes the specific subjects of the prohibition and the direct consequence. This isn't a suggestion but a divine decree, highlighting God's standard for His covenant community. The specific naming of these two groups underscores their distinct culpability for historical actions (Deut 23:4-5).

• "into the congregation of the Lord":

  • Significance: Defines the realm of exclusion. It's not necessarily a ban from physical entry into the land, but from the spiritual and civic fellowship of God's covenant people. This implies no rights in the religious or civil life of Israel. It emphasizes the concept of Israel as a set-apart, holy people in covenant relationship with God, maintaining boundaries from nations whose hostility stemmed from a rejection of Israel's God or God's purposes.

• "even to their tenth generation shall they not enter... forever.":

  • Significance: Stresses the complete and unending nature of the exclusion. The dual expression tenth generation and forever emphatically conveys permanence. It serves as a reminder to Israel of the lasting consequences of actions taken against God's people and God's plan. It also reflects a judicial decree with perpetual ramifications, though divine grace can operate beyond such statutes, as seen in the story of Ruth.

Deuteronomy 23 3 Bonus section

The severe and specific exclusion of Ammon and Moab underscores the gravity of their actions as a violation of basic human hospitality and active opposition to God's chosen people at a pivotal moment in their history. The prohibition also prevented a mingling of "holy seed" with these particular nations whose origins (from Lot's incestuous relations) and continuous pagan practices were especially anathema to Israel's covenant purity. The Ruth narrative serves as a prime example of individual redemption within the scope of a broader national law. It suggests that while the national exclusion remained, God's grace provided a way for those who truly turned to Him to be integrated, demonstrating that the heart condition was paramount. The ultimate fulfillment of this concept is seen in the New Covenant, where ethnic or national distinctions for full inclusion in the spiritual "congregation of the Lord" (the Church) are abolished through Christ (Gal 3:28).

Deuteronomy 23 3 Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:3 delivers a striking prohibition, marking Ammonites and Moabites for permanent exclusion from the assembly of the Lord. This strict law wasn't arbitrary but rooted in their specific historical aggressions and spiritual animosity towards Israel during the Exodus. Their failure to offer essential provisions like bread and water and their hiring of Balaam to curse Israel demonstrated a profound lack of brotherly care and a direct challenge to God's chosen people.

The "assembly of the Lord" signified more than a physical gathering; it encapsulated the full communal, legal, and spiritual life of the covenant nation. Exclusion meant no participation in its worship, no rights in its legal proceedings, and, importantly, no intermarriage that would allow their bloodlines to merge into the tribes of Israel, maintaining the purity and distinctiveness of God's people.

The phrase "tenth generation... forever" signifies absolute perpetuity, a declaration of a lasting separation, unlike the temporary exclusions applied to Edomites and Egyptians. However, this divine decree is beautifully tempered by the biblical narrative itself. The inclusion of Ruth, a Moabite woman, into the lineage of David and ultimately Christ, powerfully illustrates God's sovereign grace and redemption. Ruth's individual faith and loyal commitment to God and Israel superseded the national decree. This shows that while the national-level prohibition remained as a testament to past sins and a safeguard for covenant holiness, individual repentance and true devotion to the God of Israel could lead to profound personal reconciliation and inclusion in God's redemptive plan.

Practically, this verse reminds believers:

1. Consequences of Opposition: Actions against God's people can have long-lasting consequences.
2. Holiness of the Church: God requires holiness in His people and their gatherings.
3. God's Sovereignty and Grace: While boundaries were clear under the Old Covenant, God's grace always provided a pathway for individuals to be grafted in through faith, regardless of their background, culminating in the New Covenant's open invitation to all nations (Eph 2:11-22).