Deuteronomy 29 17

Deuteronomy 29:17 kjv

And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)

Deuteronomy 29:17 nkjv

and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them?wood and stone and silver and gold);

Deuteronomy 29:17 niv

You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 29:17 esv

And you have seen their detestable things, their idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, which were among them.

Deuteronomy 29:17 nlt

You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold.

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 17 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:17 vividly reminds the Israelites that they had personally witnessed the corrupting and loathsome pagan practices and idol worship of the nations around them, specifically listing the materials these inert deities were made from: common wood and stone, alongside valuable silver and gold. This serves as a potent reminder of the worthlessness of such objects and the abhorrence in which the living God holds idolatry, thereby establishing a firm basis for the covenant warnings that follow.

Deuteronomy 29 17 Context

Deuteronomy 29 is part of Moses' concluding discourse on the plains of Moab, where the Israelites renewed their covenant with God before entering the promised land of Canaan. Moses is speaking to the new generation who, although familiar with the events, did not directly experience the Exodus. He meticulously recounts God's faithful leading, His judgment upon Egypt (verse 16: "you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we passed through the midst of the nations..."), and reminds them of the paganism they personally witnessed during their forty-year journey in the wilderness and their encounters with nations like Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Verse 17 directly follows this historical recall, stressing that their exposure to idolatry was not theoretical but a tangible reality. This immediate historical backdrop sets the stage for Moses' solemn warnings against turning away from the living God to embrace such futile and detestable practices, which would result in severe covenant curses outlined in the subsequent verses. This passage also functions as a powerful polemic against the supposed power or legitimacy of these pagan deities, contrasting them starkly with the Lord Yahweh, who had powerfully delivered Israel.

Deuteronomy 29 17 Word analysis

• וַתִּרְאוּ (Vattir'u): "And you have seen" or "you have perceived."
  • Significance: This is more than a casual observation; it implies a clear perception, understanding, and recognition. Moses emphasizes that the Israelites had a direct, eyewitness experience of these detestable practices, leaving them without excuse if they were to later engage in similar idolatry.
• אֶת־שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם (et-shikutzaihem): "their detestable things" or "their abominations."
  • Significance: Shikutz (שִׁקּוּץ) denotes something disgusting, defiling, or abhorrent, often specifically referring to objects of pagan worship. Its use here highlights God's utter repugnance towards idolatry, emphasizing its defiling nature contrary to His holiness.
• וְאֵת גִּלֻּלֵיהֶם (v'et gilluleihem): "and their idols" or "their dung-gods."
  • Significance: Gillul (גִּלּוּל) is a particularly contemptuous term for idols, often translated as "worthless things" or, derisively, "dung-pellets." Primarily used in the prophetic books, especially Ezekiel, it underscores the utter futility, impotence, and vile nature of these human creations compared to the sovereign God. Its pairing with shikutzim intensifies the scorn and denunciation of pagan worship.
• עֵץ (eitz): "wood."
  • Significance: Indicates the common, perishable, and mundane nature of one of the materials used for idols. It contrasts with the divine essence of God, who is spirit and creator.
• וָאֶבֶן (va'even): "and stone."
  • Significance: Another fundamental, lifeless material. Stone idols, though durable, are inert, further emphasizing the deadness and inability of such worshipped objects to respond, see, or act.
• כֶּסֶף (kesef): "silver."
  • Significance: A precious metal. This highlights the human expenditure of valuable resources, craftsmanship, and effort in creating objects of worship that are inherently useless, demonstrating misguided devotion.
• וְזָהָב (v'zahav): "and gold."
  • Significance: The most precious metal. The inclusion of gold underscores the considerable wealth and status that people sometimes invested in these false deities, yet despite their material value, these objects remained lifeless and powerless.

Word-group analysis

• "their detestable things and their idols": The juxtaposition of shikutzim and gillulim emphasizes the dual horror of pagan worship—it is both morally repugnant in its practices (abominable) and spiritually empty in its objects (worthless idols). This double denunciation underlines the profound spiritual offense of idolatry in God's sight.
• "wood and stone, silver and gold": This comprehensive list details the range of materials used in idol construction, from the most basic to the most valuable. It systematically deconstructs the perceived majesty of idols by exposing their purely material, human-made origin. The catalogue demonstrates that regardless of cost or craftsmanship, idols remain inert objects, incapable of true divine intervention or relationship.
• "which were among them": This phrase highlights the tangible presence and proximity of these idols and practices within the pagan cultures encountered by Israel. It was not abstract knowledge but an observed reality, strengthening the warning against adopting such practices, as their inherent futility and offense against God were plainly evident.

Deuteronomy 29 17 Bonus section

• Polemics against Polytheism: The specific enumeration of idol materials acts as a subtle but powerful polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of surrounding nations. By reducing their "gods" to mere physical substances (wood, stone, silver, gold), Moses systematically dismantles the illusion of their divinity, contrasting them sharply with the formless, invisible, yet living and active God of Israel. This prefigures later prophetic declarations found in Psalms 115 and Isaiah 44.
• The "Root of Bitterness" Precursor: The verses immediately following Deut 29:17, particularly verse 18 ("make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison"), directly link this past observation of idolatry to the future potential for apostasy within Israel. Verse 17 highlights what they saw, while verse 18 warns against what they might become if that seed of paganism takes root within their own community.

Deuteronomy 29 17 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:17 serves as a crucial historical and moral grounding for the covenant renewal in Moab. Moses, speaking on behalf of God, brings to the forefront the Israelites' undeniable sensory experience of paganism. They had seen firsthand the vile and worthless objects of worship of the Egyptians and the nations they traversed – crude wooden and stone figures alongside intricately crafted silver and gold effigies. This was not a rumor or a distant report, but a vivid reality witnessed during their journey. By recalling this visual experience, Moses eliminated any excuse of ignorance for future idolatry. The emphasis on "detestable things" and "dung-gods" profoundly underscores the divine abhorrence for such practices, mocking their worth and contrasting their inert nature with the living, active God who had delivered Israel. This verse powerfully sets the stage for the solemn warnings that follow, impressing upon the covenant people the absolute necessity of undivided allegiance to Yahweh and the severe consequences of spiritual apostasy. It highlights that the physical materials used for idols, whether humble or precious, cannot imbue them with divine power or life, underscoring their utter powerlessness compared to the Almighty.