Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 17:1–7

¹You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep with any defect or serious flaw, for that is detestable to the LORD your God.

²If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant ³and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven— which I have forbidden— ⁴and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly.

If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel, ⁵you must bring out to your gates the man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you must stone that person to death. ⁶On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness. ⁷The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. So you must purge the evil from among you.^a

Footnotes

a 17:7 Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13|1CO 5:13

Read all of Deuteronomy 17

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Deuteronomy 17:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
You shall not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
sacrifice	תִזְבַּח֩	ṯiz·baḥ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H2076 slaughter for sacrifice
to the LORD	לַיהוָ֨ה	Yah·weh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
an ox	שׁ֣וֹר	šō·wr	Noun - masculine singular	H7794 head of cattle
or a sheep	וָשֶׂ֗ה	wā·śeh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H7716 one of a flock, a sheep (or goat)
with any defect	מ֔וּם	mūm	Noun - masculine singular	H3971 blemish, defect
serious	רָ֑ע	rā‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
flaw	דָּבָ֣ר	dā·ḇār	Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
for	כִּ֧י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
that	הֽוּא׃ס	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
is detestable	תוֹעֲבַ֛ת	ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8441 abomination
to the LORD	יְהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God

Deuteronomy 17:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a man	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
or	אוֹ־	’ōw-	Conjunction	H176 or
woman	אִשָּׁ֗ה	’iš·šāh	Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
among you	בְקִרְבְּךָ֙	ḇə·qir·bə·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7130 inward part, midst
in one	בְּאַחַ֣ד	bə·’a·ḥaḏ	Preposition-b; Number - masculine singular construct	H259 one
of the towns	שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ	šə·‘ā·re·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H8179 gate
that	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
gives	נֹתֵ֣ן	nō·ṯên	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לָ֑ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person masculine singular
is found	יִמָּצֵ֤א	yim·mā·ṣê	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4672 attain to, find
doing	יַעֲשֶׂ֧ה	ya·‘ă·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
evil	הָרַ֛ע	hā·ra‘	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
in the sight	בְּעֵינֵ֥י	bə·‘ê·nê	Preposition-b; Noun - cdc	H5869 eye
of the LORD	יְהוָֽה־	Yah·weh-	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
by transgressing	לַעֲבֹ֥ר	la·‘ă·ḇōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
His covenant	בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃	bə·rî·ṯōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1285 covenant

Deuteronomy 17:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and going	וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
to worship	וַֽיַּעֲבֹד֙	way·ya·‘ă·ḇōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5647 work, serve
other	אֲחֵרִ֔ים	’ă·ḥê·rîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H312 another
gods	אֱלֹהִ֣ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
bowing down	וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ	way·yiš·ta·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7812 bow down
to them	לָהֶ֑ם	lā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
or to the sun	וְלַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ׀	wə·laš·še·meš	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
or	א֣וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
moon	לַיָּרֵ֗חַ	lay·yā·rê·aḥ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3394 moon
or	א֛וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
any	לְכָל־	lə·ḵāl	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
of the host	צְבָ֥א	ṣə·ḇā	Noun - common singular construct	H6635 army, war, warfare
of heaven	הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
which	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I have forbidden	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not

Deuteronomy 17:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and if it is reported	וְהֻֽגַּד־	wə·hug·gaḏ-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
and you hear about it	וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּ	wə·šā·mā·‘ə·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H8085 hear
you must investigate it	וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֣	wə·ḏā·raš·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H1875 resort to, seek
thoroughly	הֵיטֵ֔ב	hê·ṭêḇ	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
If	וְהִנֵּ֤ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
the report	הַדָּבָ֔ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
is	נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה	ne·‘eś·ṯāh	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H6213 do, make
true	אֱמֶת֙	’ĕ·meṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
and such	הַזֹּ֖את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
an abomination	הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה	hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8441 abomination
has happened in Israel	בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	bə·yiś·rā·’êl	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel

Deuteronomy 17:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
you must bring out	וְהֽוֹצֵאתָ֣	wə·hō·w·ṣê·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
your gates	שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ	šə·‘ā·re·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H8179 gate
the man	הָאִ֣ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
or	אוֹ֩	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
woman	הָאִשָּׁ֨ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
who	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
has done	עָ֠שׂוּ	‘ā·śū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6213 do, make
this	הַזֶּה֙	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
evil	הָרָ֤ע	hā·rā‘	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
thing	הַדָּבָ֨ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
and you must stone that person	וּסְקַלְתָּ֥ם	ū·sə·qal·tām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H5619 stone, put to death by stoning
to death	וָמֵֽתוּ׃	wā·mê·ṯū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H4191 die

Deuteronomy 17:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
On	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the testimony	פִּ֣י׀	pî	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
of two	שְׁנַ֣יִם	šə·na·yim	Number - md	H8147 two
or	א֛וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
three	שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה	šə·lō·šāh	Number - masculine singular	H7969 a three, triad
witnesses	עֵדִ֗ים	‘ê·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5707 witness
a man shall be put to death	יוּמַ֣ת	yū·maṯ	Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
but he shall not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
be executed	יוּמַ֔ת	yū·maṯ	Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the testimony	פִּ֖י	pî	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
of a lone	אֶחָֽד׃	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
witness	עֵדִ֖ים	‘ê·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5707 witness

Deuteronomy 17:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The hands	יַ֣ד	yaḏ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of the witnesses	הָעֵדִ֞ים	hā·‘ê·ḏîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5707 witness
shall be	תִּֽהְיֶה־	tih·yeh-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the first	בָרִאשֹׁנָה֙	ḇā·ri·šō·nāh	Preposition-b, Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H7223 former, first, chief
in putting him to death	לַהֲמִית֔וֹ	la·hă·mî·ṯōw	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H4191 die
and after that	בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֑ה	bā·’a·ḥă·rō·nāh	Preposition-b, Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H314 coming after
the hands	וְיַ֥ד	wə·yaḏ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the people	הָעָ֖ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
So you must purge	וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥	ū·ḇi·‘ar·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H1197 burn, consume
the evil	הָרָ֖ע	hā·rā‘	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
from among you	מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃פ	miq·qir·be·ḵā	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7130 inward part, midst