Deuteronomy 23:6 kjv
Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.
Deuteronomy 23:6 nkjv
You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.
Deuteronomy 23:6 niv
Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.
Deuteronomy 23:6 esv
You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days forever.
Deuteronomy 23:6 nlt
As long as you live, you must never promote the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites or Moabites.
Deuteronomy 23 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 23:3 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD... | Immediate context of national exclusion. |
| Dt 23:4 | ...because they did not meet you with food and water on the way... | Explains the reason for the command: their historical hostility. |
| Num 22:5-6 | Balaam, son of Beor, whose people are at Pethor...come now, curse this people. | Moabites' direct hiring of Balaam to curse Israel. |
| Jud 3:12-14 | Eglon king of Moab, he strengthened against Israel... | Moabite oppression of Israel after the Judges. |
| 1 Sam 11:1-2 | Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-Gilead... | Ammonite aggression against Israel, seeking to blind eyes. |
| 2 Chr 20:1-2 | The people of Moab and Ammon, and with them some of the Meunites, came... | Ammon and Moab's coalition against Judah in King Jehoshaphat's time. |
| Neh 13:1-3 | ...on that day they read from the Book of Moses...Ammonite and Moabite... | Nehemiah applies Dt 23:3-5 to cleanse the temple from Tobiah (Ammonite). |
| Ezra 9:1-2 | ...not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands...Ammonites, Moabites... | Warnings against intermarriage with surrounding nations including Moabites/Ammonites. |
| Lev 20:26 | You shall be holy to me, for I am holy, and I have separated you... | Principle of Israel's separation and distinctness from surrounding peoples. |
| Ps 34:14 | Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. | Contrast: Command to seek peace internally or with God-fearing individuals. |
| Jer 29:7 | But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile... | Contrast: Command to seek welfare even for foreign cities in specific circumstances. |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | New Testament emphasis on peaceful relations with most. |
| Mt 5:44 | But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... | New Testament teaching on love for personal enemies. |
| Lk 6:27-28 | Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you... | Reinforces the NT teaching on responding to hatred with love. |
| Rom 12:20 | If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if thirsty, give him drink... | Specific instruction on practical kindness towards personal enemies. |
| Isa 15:1 | An oracle concerning Moab. | Prophetic judgment against Moab. |
| Jer 48:1 | Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts... | Further prophetic judgment against Moab. |
| Jer 49:1 | Concerning the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD... | Prophetic judgment against Ammon. |
| Ezek 25:1-7 | A prophecy concerning Ammon...I will deliver you to the people of the East... | Prophetic judgment against Ammon and Moab for rejoicing in Israel's downfall. |
| Ruth 1:4 | ...they took Moabite wives: the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. | Illustration: While nations were banned, individuals (like Ruth) could convert and join Israel. |
| Mt 1:5 | ...Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth... | Shows Ruth, a Moabite, became an ancestress of David and Jesus through conversion. |
| Eph 2:14-16 | For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one... | In Christ, the barrier between Jew and Gentile is broken for those in Him. |
| Acts 15:10-11 | ...why are you putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples... | New covenant inclusion of Gentiles into God's assembly without Old Covenant ritual exclusions. |
Deuteronomy 23 verses
Deuteronomy 23 6 Meaning
Deuteronomy 23:6 prohibits the Israelites from actively seeking the peace and prosperity of the Ammonites and Moabites throughout their entire existence. This command signifies a permanent, divinely sanctioned state of non-cooperation and disengagement from their national well-being, distinct from universal commands for peace or individual interaction.
Deuteronomy 23 6 Context
Deuteronomy 23 establishes rules for inclusion and exclusion from "the assembly of the LORD" (Dt 23:1-8), largely focusing on ritual purity, physical integrity, and the lineage of foreigners. Verses 3-6 specifically address the perpetual exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from the assembly. This exclusion stems directly from their historical hostility during Israel's wilderness journey from Egypt to the promised land. They refused basic provisions (food and water) and actively conspired to bring curses upon Israel (by hiring Balaam). This was seen as a profound betrayal and an act of malice against God's chosen people, distinguishing them from other foreign nations mentioned in the surrounding verses. Therefore, the command in verse 6 to not seek their peace or prosperity is a direct consequence and practical application of their perpetual exclusion, reinforcing the covenant community's separation from those who showed unrepentant enmity towards God's plan.
Deuteronomy 23 6 Word analysis
- You (לֹא): The "you" is singular, referring to each Israelite but also collectively to the nation of Israel as a corporate body. It implies a personal and national responsibility.
- shall not seek (תִדְרֹ֣שׁ, tidrosh): From the Hebrew root darash (דָּרַשׁ), meaning to inquire, consult, investigate, ask, require, or demand. In this context, it implies an active, intentional pursuit or cultivation. The negative ("shall not") creates a strong prohibition against actively pursuing their well-being, not just passively neglecting it. It's a command for strategic non-engagement in their national development or security.
- their peace (שְׁלֹמָ֔ם, shəlomam): From shalom (שָׁלוֹם), meaning completeness, soundness, welfare, prosperity, peace. It encompasses wholeness in every sense: physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being; internal tranquility and external security. This isn't merely about absence of conflict, but active flourishing.
- nor their prosperity (וְטוֹבָתָ֖ם, v'tovadam): From tovah (טוֹבָה), meaning good, welfare, prosperity, advantage. It is closely linked with shalom, often denoting material good, success, or favorable circumstances. The combination "peace nor prosperity" emphasizes the comprehensive well-being of the nation as a whole.
- all your days (כָּל־יָמֶ֖יךָ, kol-yamikha): Emphasizes the entire lifespan of individuals and successive generations within Israel. It signifies a continuous, ongoing application of this command.
- forever (לְעוֹלָֽם, l'olam): This term, when used with "all your days," strongly denotes perpetuity, for all time, unending. It stresses the permanent nature of this decree concerning the national policy towards the Ammonites and Moabites due to their foundational enmity towards God's people during a critical covenant event.
Words-group analysis
- "shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity": This phrase outlines the active refusal of diplomatic ties, political alliances, or any policies that would directly contribute to the national flourishing, stability, or advantage of Ammon and Moab. It’s not a command for individual malice but for a national policy of non-assistance or endorsement of their societal health and power. This serves to protect Israel's distinct identity and guard against potential spiritual and physical compromise.
- "all your days forever": This emphatic double temporal clause ("all your days" and "forever") underscores the perpetual and enduring nature of the prohibition. It indicates that the historical grievance was not a temporary transgression but rooted in an ingrained, foundational opposition to God's chosen people that justified a permanent national stance.
Deuteronomy 23 6 Bonus section
The exclusion and prohibition against seeking their peace/prosperity were largely to prevent future apostasy through cultural intermingling and spiritual syncretism, ensuring the purity and distinctiveness of God's covenant people in the land. The perpetual nature signifies that God's justice regarding their fundamental treachery remains, distinguishing these specific nations from others. While the specific ethnic command doesn't apply directly to nations in the New Covenant, the underlying principle of discernment concerning groups or systems fundamentally opposed to God's truth and His people remains relevant in a spiritual sense.
Deuteronomy 23 6 Commentary
Deuteronomy 23:6 stands as a clear command against cultivating peace or prosperity with the Ammonite and Moabite nations. This was not a general condemnation of all foreigners, but a specific, lasting decree rooted in their particular historical acts of hostility during Israel's exodus, most notably hiring Balaam to curse Israel and denying basic humanitarian aid. Their actions directly attacked God's redemptive purpose for Israel. Therefore, God commanded Israel to maintain a stance of perpetual non-cooperation with their national well-being, effectively barring alliances, economic aid, or any action that would strengthen these nations. This reflected divine judgment upon their persistent malice and protected Israel from external corruption and the dilution of their unique covenant identity.
It is crucial to understand that while this command applied to the nations of Ammon and Moab in their corporate capacity, it did not necessarily prohibit individual Ammonites or Moabites from converting to the Israelite faith and integrating into the community (as seen in the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who became an ancestress of King David and Christ). The principle emphasizes distinguishing between active enemies of God's covenant purpose and individual repentant hearts. In the New Testament, while general commands encourage peace and love toward all, even personal enemies, this specific Old Testament national prohibition reminds us that some spiritual battles involve resisting systems or forces that are intrinsically opposed to God's kingdom.