Deuteronomy 25 2

Deuteronomy 25:2 kjv

And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

Deuteronomy 25:2 nkjv

then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge will cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, with a certain number of blows.

Deuteronomy 25:2 niv

If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves,

Deuteronomy 25:2 esv

then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense.

Deuteronomy 25:2 nlt

If the person in the wrong is sentenced to be flogged, the judge must command him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate to the crime.

Deuteronomy 25 verses

Deuteronomy 25 2 Meaning

Deuteronomy 25:2 prescribes a specific judicial procedure for administering corporal punishment in ancient Israel. It mandates that when an individual is legally found guilty of an offense that warrants flogging, the presiding judge is personally responsible for overseeing the punishment. The condemned person is to be made to lie down, and the flogging is to be administered directly in the judge's presence. Crucially, the number of lashes given must be carefully calculated to be precisely proportionate to the severity of the crime committed. This statute underscores a highly controlled and dignified application of justice, ensuring neither arbitrary abuse nor excessive cruelty, but a balanced adherence to the law's requirement for accountability while preserving, as much as possible, the condemned's basic human dignity within the community.

Deuteronomy 25 2 Context

Deuteronomy 25 is situated within the "Deuteronomic Code," Moses's extensive second address to the Israelites, delivered just before they enter Canaan. This section (Deut 21-25) compiles various civil and ceremonial laws, designed to establish and maintain a righteous and holy community under God's covenant. Chapter 25 specifically covers diverse legal matters, ranging from the limit of lashes, to the levirate marriage, unequal weights, and the command to utterly blot out Amalek. Verse 2 falls under the regulation of judicial procedures, emphasizing the necessity of a just and ordered society. It precedes the crucial injunction in verse 3, which sets an absolute limit on the number of lashes, illustrating a system concerned with both justice and the preservation of human dignity, even for criminals. This commitment to controlled and proportionate punishment distinguished Israelite law from many arbitrary or excessively cruel practices prevalent in the Ancient Near East, underscoring the divine ideal of righteous judgment.

Deuteronomy 25 2 Word analysis

• if the guilty person (וּמַלְקֹות, u'malkot): While literally meaning "and if stripes/blows," this phrase idiomatically introduces the scenario where a person is judicially determined to have committed an offense worthy of physical chastisement. The implied רָשָׁע (rasha - guilty/wicked one) from the preceding context reinforces the person's proven culpability.
• deserves to be beaten (בֶּן הַכֹּות, ben hakkot): This precise Hebrew idiom, "son of blows," confirms a formal legal judgment. It is not a matter of subjective opinion but a legal prescription; the specific crime committed demands this particular corporal punishment.
• the judge (הַשֹׁפֵט, hashofet): Refers to the legitimate, divinely-appointed magistrate who holds legal authority. The focus on the judge highlights the judicial oversight crucial for just administration and sets the process apart from informal retaliation.
• is to make them lie down (וְהִפִּילֹו, v'hippilo): Literally, "he shall make him fall down." This denotes the physical positioning of the condemned, typically prostrate, to prepare for the flogging. This action is part of the formal procedure and symbolizes submission to the legal verdict and the authority of the court.
• and have them flogged (וְהִכָּהוּ, v'hikkahu): This direct verb means "he shall strike him/beat him." It is the instruction for the physical act of administering the lashes, carried out under direct command from the judge.
• in his presence (לְפָנָיו, l'fanav): This critical phrase means "before his face" or "under his direct observation." It dictates that the judge must be physically present and actively witness the entire flogging. This ensures strict adherence to the law's stipulations, preventing arbitrary severity, sadism, or exceeding the decreed number of lashes, thereby protecting the integrity of justice and preventing abuse.
• with the number of lashes (בְּמִסְפַּר מַכֹּות, b'mispar makkot): This emphasizes that the flogging is not to be arbitrary but involves a precise count of the blows. It points directly to the legal limitation that will be elaborated upon in the subsequent verse (Deut 25:3), highlighting that the punishment is controlled and predetermined.
• appropriate for their crime (כְּדֵי רִשְׁעָתוֹ, k'dei rish'ato): Literally "according to the measure of his wickedness/guilt." This core principle of proportionality demands that the punishment precisely matches the severity of the offense. It mandates a careful and just assessment by the judge to ensure that the punishment fits the crime, aligning the penalty with the transgression rather than an arbitrary or emotional reaction.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "if the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge is to make them lie down": This initial clause underscores the systematic and legal nature of the punishment. It begins with a clear verdict of guilt leading to a specifically prescribed form of correction. The act of "lying down" is the formal preparatory step, emphasizing submission to judicial authority and setting the stage for the physical administration of justice.
• "and have them flogged in his presence": This central part highlights both the directness of the punishment and the crucial element of judicial oversight. The judge's personal presence prevents the flogging from devolving into unchecked brutality or a private act of vengeance, guaranteeing transparency, accountability, and adherence to legal limits throughout the administration of the punishment. It acts as a bulwark against cruel and unusual punishment.
• "with the number of lashes appropriate for their crime": This concluding phrase embodies the principle of proportionality, demanding that the punishment be meticulously calculated and directly correlated with the gravity of the transgression. It signifies a measured application of force, implicitly linking to the forthcoming explicit maximum of forty lashes. This requirement demonstrates a divine concern for justice that is neither excessive nor insufficient, aiming for correction and deterrence while preserving human dignity.

Deuteronomy 25 2 Bonus section

The command for the judge's personal oversight in Deuteronomy 25:2 signifies the solemnity of judicial punishment in Israel. It implies that the legal process, even in its most severe applications, was public, transparent, and bound by divine decree, contrasting sharply with arbitrary torture or secret, unchecked violence sometimes found in other ancient societies. This personal accountability placed upon the judge underscored the holiness and justice that God expected from His covenant people's judicial system. Furthermore, this verse lays the groundwork for the immediate follow-up in Deut 25:3, which specifies the absolute maximum of "forty stripes." This limit, which became famously interpreted as "forty less one" (39 lashes) in later Jewish tradition (to avoid inadvertently exceeding the limit by miscounting, as mentioned by Paul in 2 Cor 11:24), profoundly illustrates the precision and self-limitation inherent in God's law. It reflects a core value: while justice must be served, the offender's basic humanity, even in their convicted state, must not be utterly degraded, as this would violate the divine image in humanity and cause the "brother" to seem vile.

Deuteronomy 25 2 Commentary

Deuteronomy 25:2 is a profound testament to the LORD's righteous character and His demand for justice tempered with humanity, even in punitive actions. It firmly establishes corporal punishment within a strict legal framework, preventing the widespread abuse of power prevalent in many ancient cultures. The divine mandate that the judge "make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence" is revolutionary. It places the ultimate accountability for the justice system directly on the presiding legal authority, preventing anonymous brutality or uncontrolled infliction of pain. This requirement for direct judicial oversight safeguards against arbitrary excess, cruelty, and the dehumanization of the condemned, affirming that even a person facing severe judgment remains subject to God's ordained law and a degree of inherent dignity. The instruction to administer lashes "appropriate for their crime" is a foundational statement on proportionate justice. It ensures that punishment is not retributive rage but a calculated response, a key principle underlying the ethical framework of Israelite law and distinct from other codes where severity might be arbitrary or aimed solely at crushing the spirit. This verse ensures that the flogging, though painful and humiliating, serves its legal purpose—correction and deterrence—without violating fundamental limits. This principle translates to contemporary contexts, advocating for fair legal processes, transparent accountability in official actions, and disciplinary measures that are consistently just, proportional, and avoid degrading the inherent worth of individuals, even when holding them accountable for their transgressions.