Deuteronomy 24 17

Deuteronomy 24:17 kjv

Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:

Deuteronomy 24:17 nkjv

"You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow's garment as a pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:17 niv

Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:17 esv

"You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow's garment in pledge,

Deuteronomy 24:17 nlt

"True justice must be given to foreigners living among you and to orphans, and you must never accept a widow's garment as security for her debt.

Deuteronomy 24 verses

Deuteronomy 24 17 Meaning

Deuteronomy 24:17 forbids two specific acts of injustice against vulnerable groups within Israelite society. First, it prohibits the perversion or distortion of justice for the sojourner (resident alien) and the fatherless (orphan). This means ensuring fair legal proceedings and righteous outcomes for those without tribal or familial support to advocate for them. Second, it specifically prohibits taking a widow's garment as a pledge. This is a severe economic exploitation, as a garment was often a poor person's only blanket and essential for survival, indicating that taking basic necessities from the most vulnerable was an abominable act in God's sight. The verse encapsulates God's demand for a just and compassionate society that protects the rights and needs of its weakest members.

Deuteronomy 24 17 Context

Deuteronomy 24:17 is embedded within a broad section of miscellaneous civil and social laws (chapters 23-25) given by Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab before their entry into Canaan. These laws build upon earlier commandments, providing specific applications of the covenant stipulations. This particular chapter focuses on matters of interpersonal justice, social responsibility, and protecting the weakest members of society, reflecting God's holy character and His desire for Israel to be a just nation unlike their pagan neighbors. Historically, these injunctions were designed to prevent Israel from adopting the exploitative practices common in ancient Near Eastern societies and to cultivate a community based on compassion, fairness, and righteousness, rooted in their own memory of oppression in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 24 17 Word analysis

• You shall not pervert (תַּטֶּה tateh): This Hebrew verb means to bend, turn aside, or twist. It denotes a deliberate act of corruption, preventing the straight and just course of judgment. It signifies an intentional deviation from what is right or equitable.

• the justice (מִשְׁפָּט mishpat): Refers to judgment, right, or due process. It encompasses both the act of legal decision-making and the fair, righteous outcome that should result from it. Perverting mishpat means rendering a verdict that is fundamentally unjust or biased.

• due to the sojourner (גֵּר ger): This term identifies a non-Israelite resident who lives within the Israelite community, often without ancestral land or tribal rights. Sojourners were typically economically and socially vulnerable, dependent on the hospitality and justice system of the host nation. God's law commands their protection, a distinctive feature from surrounding cultures.

• or of the fatherless (יָתוֹם yatom): Refers to an orphan, specifically one who has lost their father. In ancient patriarchal societies, the father was the primary provider, protector, and legal representative. Thus, the fatherless were extremely vulnerable to exploitation and destitution, highlighting God's special care for those lacking familial defense.

• nor take (תַּחְבֹּל takhbol): Meaning to seize or take a pledge/collateral for a loan. While taking pledges was a common economic practice, the Law often set limits on what could be taken and how, to prevent exploitation. The verb implies a grasping or taking hold.

• a widow's (אַלְמָנָה almanah): Refers to a woman whose husband has died. Like the fatherless, widows were among the most vulnerable, often losing legal status, property rights, and economic security upon the death of their husband, leaving them dependent on communal care.

• garment (שִׂמְלָה simlah): An outer cloak or general covering. In the ancient world, for many poor people, this single garment served as both daywear and a blanket for warmth at night. Taking it as a pledge was an act of extreme cruelty, denying a person their basic comfort and survival.

• "pervert the justice due to the sojourner or of the fatherless": This phrase underlines the command for judicial impartiality. It means no discrimination in court or legal matters against the ger or yatom, who might lack the influence or connections to secure a fair hearing. This principle prevents any abuse of legal power against the socially disadvantaged.

• "nor take a widow's garment as a pledge": This specific prohibition is a direct practical injunction against a common yet deeply oppressive act. It goes beyond a general command for fairness to pinpoint an act that would plunge a widow into absolute destitution and potential death. This specific rule reflects divine empathy for the most economically vulnerable and provides them immediate, tangible protection from the merciless practices of usury and debt collection.

Deuteronomy 24 17 Bonus section

• Echo of Israel's History: The repeated emphasis on the sojourner (גֵּר ger) in Mosaic Law often ties back to Israel's own experience as "sojourners" and oppressed slaves in Egypt. Deut 10:19 explicitly states, "Love the sojourner therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." This shared historical experience was intended to cultivate empathy and generosity, forming the ethical bedrock for their treatment of foreign residents within their own land.
• Divine Redeemer: The vulnerability of the "fatherless" (יָתוֹם yatom) is not just an appeal to human kindness; it often carries the implicit theological truth that God himself acts as their ultimate "Redeemer" (goel). In Prov 23:10-11, it is warned, "Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you." This indicates that mistreating the fatherless means encountering God's direct, fierce advocacy on their behalf.
• Foundation for Prophetic Teaching: These foundational laws in the Torah became the very criteria by which prophets later judged Israel's faithfulness. When Isaiah (Isa 1:17) or Jeremiah (Jer 22:3) call Israel to "seek justice" and "defend the rights of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow," they are echoing and applying the timeless principles laid out in Deuteronomy, highlighting that true worship is inseparable from practical social righteousness.
• Pledges as a Test of Humanity: The rule regarding the garment pledge from a widow showcases a sophisticated understanding of poverty. While debt and pledges were normal, certain items (like a garment or a millstone - Deut 24:6) were considered so essential for survival that withholding them was tantamount to destroying a person's life. The explicit targeting of a "widow" highlights how greed can lead to taking advantage of those utterly stripped of all protections, reducing humanity to a mere transaction.

Deuteronomy 24 17 Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:17 is a pivotal verse illuminating the moral fabric God intended for Israel. It showcases the divine imperative for social justice, specifically guarding against two common abuses of power: legal corruption and economic exploitation. The prohibition against perverting justice for the sojourner and the fatherless commands impartial treatment in all legal dealings, emphasizing that access to fairness is not contingent on one's social standing or influence. This speaks to the integrity of Israel's legal system as a reflection of God's own righteousness. The additional prohibition against taking a widow's garment as a pledge is a deeply compassionate regulation. It acknowledges the extreme vulnerability of the widow, often at the mercy of others for her survival. Taking her garment, her most basic and often only source of warmth, transforms a legal debt into a life-threatening act of oppression. These laws distinguish Israel's ethical code from many ancient societies, where the powerful routinely exploited the weak. For Israel, reflecting God's heart for the defenseless was a cornerstone of their covenant fidelity, meant to foster a holy community where divine love for all humanity, especially the marginalized, was evident.