Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 17:14–20
14When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.
16But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ 17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.
18When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. 20Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.
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 17:14
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| you enter | תָבֹ֣א | ṯā·ḇō | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| the land | הָאָ֗רֶץ | hā·’ā·reṣ | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H776 earth, land |
| that | אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| the LORD | יְהוָ֤ה | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
| your God | אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ | ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā | Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular | H430 God |
| is giving | נֹתֵ֣ן | nō·ṯên | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular | H5414 give, put, set |
| you | לָ֔ךְ | lāḵ | Preposition; second person masculine singular | |
| and have taken possession of it | וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ | wî·riš·tāh | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular; third person feminine singular | H3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess |
| and settled | וְיָשַׁ֣בְתָּה | wə·yā·šaḇ·tāh | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | H3427 sit, remain, dwell |
| in it | בָּ֑הּ | bāh | Preposition; third person feminine singular | |
| and you say | וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ | wə·’ā·mar·tā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| Let us set | אָשִׂ֤ימָה | ’ā·śî·māh | Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular | H7760 put, place, set |
| a king | מֶ֔לֶךְ | me·leḵ | Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| over us | עָלַי֙ | ‘ā·lay | Preposition; first person common singular | H5921 height |
| like all | כְּכָל־ | kə·ḵāl- | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| the nations | הַגּוֹיִ֖ם | hag·gō·w·yim | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H1471 nation, people |
| around us | סְבִיבֹתָֽי׃ | sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯāy | Adverb; first person common singular | H5439 circuit, round about |
Deuteronomy 17:15
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| you are to appoint | שׂ֣וֹם | śō·wm | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute | H7760 put, place, set |
| over yourselves | עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ | ‘ā·le·ḵā | Preposition; second person masculine singular | H5921 height |
| the king | מֶ֔לֶךְ | me·leḵ | Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| whom | אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ’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 |
| shall choose | יִבְחַ֛ר | yiḇ·ḥar | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H977 choose |
| Appoint | תָּשִׂ֤ים | tā·śîm | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | H7760 put, place, set |
| a king | מֶ֔לֶךְ | me·leḵ | Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| from among | מִקֶּ֣רֶב | miq·qe·reḇ | Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct | H7130 inward part, midst |
| your brothers | אַחֶ֗יךָ | ’a·ḥe·ḵā | Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular | H251 brother |
| you are not | לֹ֣א | lō | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| to set | לָתֵ֤ת | lā·ṯêṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H5414 give, put, set |
| over yourselves | עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ | ‘ā·le·ḵā | Preposition; second person masculine singular | H5921 height |
| a foreigner | אִ֣ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| is | הֽוּא׃ | hū | Pronoun - third person masculine singular | H1931 he, she |
| not | לֹֽא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| one of your brothers | אָחִ֖יךָ | ’ā·ḥî·ḵā | Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular | H251 brother |
Deuteronomy 17:16
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| But | רַק֮ | raq | Adverb | H7535 thin |
| must not | לֹא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| acquire many | יַרְבֶּה־ | yar·beh- | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7235 be, or become, much, many, great |
| horses | סוּסִים֒ | sū·sîm | Noun - masculine plural | H5483 swallow or swift |
| for himself | לּ֣וֹ | lōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| send the people | הָעָם֙ | hā·‘ām | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H5971 people |
| back | יָשִׁ֤יב | yā·šîḇ | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7725 turn back, return |
| to Egypt | מִצְרַ֔יְמָה | miṣ·ray·māh | Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular | H4714 Egypt, Egyptians |
| to | לְמַ֖עַן | lə·ma·‘an | Conjunction | H4616 purpose, intent |
| acquire more | הַרְבּ֣וֹת | har·bō·wṯ | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | H7235 be, or become, much, many, great |
| horses | ס֑וּס | sūs | Noun - masculine singular | H5483 swallow or swift |
| for the LORD | וַֽיהוָה֙ | Yah·weh | Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
| has said | אָמַ֣ר | ’ā·mar | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| You are | תֹסִפ֗וּן | ṯō·si·p̄ūn | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural; Paragogic nun | H3254 add |
| never | לֹ֣א | lō | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| to go back | לָשׁ֛וּב | lā·šūḇ | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H7725 turn back, return |
| that | הַזֶּ֖ה | haz·zeh | Article; Pronoun - masculine singular | H2088 this, that |
| way | בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ | bad·de·reḵ | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular | H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner |
| again | עֽוֹד׃ | ‘ō·wḏ | Adverb | H5750 a going round, continuance |
Deuteronomy 17:17
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| He must not | וְלֹ֤א | wə·lō | Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| take many | יַרְבֶּה־ | yar·beh- | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7235 be, or become, much, many, great |
| wives | נָשִׁ֔ים | nā·šîm | Noun - feminine plural | H802 woman, wife, female |
| for himself | לּוֹ֙ | lōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| lest | וְלֹ֥א | wə·lō | Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| his heart | לְבָב֑וֹ | lə·ḇā·ḇōw | Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H3824 inner man, mind, will, heart |
| go astray | יָס֖וּר | yā·sūr | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H5493 turn aside |
| He must not | לֹ֥א | lō | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| accumulate | יַרְבֶּה־ | yar·beh- | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7235 be, or become, much, many, great |
| for himself | לּ֖וֹ | lōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| large amounts | מְאֹֽד׃ | mə·’ōḏ | Adverb | H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly |
| of silver | וְכֶ֣סֶף | wə·ḵe·sep̄ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H3701 silver, money |
| and gold | וְזָהָ֔ב | wə·zā·hāḇ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H2091 gold |
Deuteronomy 17:18
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When he is seated | כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ | ḵə·šiḇ·tōw | Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular | H3427 sit, remain, dwell |
| on | עַ֖ל | ‘al | Preposition | H5921 height |
| his royal | מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ | mam·laḵ·tōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H4467 kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign |
| throne | כִּסֵּ֣א | kis·sê | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3678 seat |
| he must write | וְכָ֨תַב | wə·ḵā·ṯaḇ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | H3789 write |
| for himself | ל֜וֹ | lōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| a copy | מִשְׁנֵ֨ה | miš·nêh | Noun - masculine singular construct | H4932 double, copy, second |
| of this | הַזֹּאת֙ | haz·zōṯ | Article; Pronoun - feminine singular | H2063 this |
| instruction | הַתּוֹרָ֤ה | hat·tō·w·rāh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H8451 direction, instruction, law |
| on | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| a scroll | סֵ֔פֶר | sê·p̄er | Noun - masculine singular | H5612 missive, document, writing, book |
| in the presence | מִלִּפְנֵ֥י | mil·lip̄·nê | Preposition-m, Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct | H6440 face, before |
| of the Levitical | הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ | hal·wî·yim | Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural | H3881 Levite |
| priests | הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים | hak·kō·hă·nîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H3548 priest |
Deuteronomy 17:19
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| It is to remain | וְהָיְתָ֣ה | wə·hā·yə·ṯāh | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| with him | עִמּ֔וֹ | ‘im·mōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | H5973 with |
| and he is to read | וְקָ֥רָא | wə·qā·rā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| from it | ב֖וֹ | ḇōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| all | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| the days | יְמֵ֣י | yə·mê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H3117 day |
| of his life | חַיָּ֑יו | ḥay·yāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H2416 alive, living |
| so that | לְמַ֣עַן | lə·ma·‘an | Conjunction | H4616 purpose, intent |
| he may learn | יִלְמַ֗ד | yil·maḏ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3925 exercise in, learn |
| to fear | לְיִרְאָה֙ | lə·yir·’āh | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singular | H3372 fear |
| the LORD | יְהוָ֣ה | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
| his God | אֱלֹהָ֔יו | ’ĕ·lō·hāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H430 God |
| by carefully observing | לִ֠שְׁמֹר | liš·mōr | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H8104 keep, watch, preserve |
| all | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| the words | דִּבְרֵ֞י | diḇ·rê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H1697 speech, word |
| of this | הַזֹּ֛את | haz·zōṯ | Article; Pronoun - feminine singular | H2063 this |
| instruction | הַתּוֹרָ֥ה | hat·tō·w·rāh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H8451 direction, instruction, law |
| and these | הָאֵ֖לֶּה | hā·’êl·leh | Article; Pronoun - common plural | H428 these |
| statutes | הַחֻקִּ֥ים | ha·ḥuq·qîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H2706 something prescribed, a statute or due |
Deuteronomy 17:20
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then his heart | לְבָבוֹ֙ | lə·ḇā·ḇōw | Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H3824 inner man, mind, will, heart |
| will not | לְבִלְתִּ֤י | lə·ḇil·tî | Preposition-l | H1115 not, except |
| be exalted | רוּם־ | rūm- | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H7311 be high, exalted, rise |
| above | מִן־ | min- | Preposition | H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not |
| his countrymen | מֵֽאֶחָ֔יו | mê·’e·ḥāw | Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H251 brother |
| and he will not | וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י | ū·lə·ḇil·tî | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | H1115 not, except |
| turn aside | ס֥וּר | sūr | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H5493 turn aside |
| from the commandment | הַמִּצְוָ֖ה | ham·miṣ·wāh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H4687 commandment |
| to the right | יָמִ֣ין | yā·mîn | Noun - feminine singular | H3225 right hand |
| or to the left | וּשְׂמֹ֑אול | ū·śə·mō·wl | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H8040 the left |
| in order that | לְמַעַן֩ | lə·ma·‘an | Conjunction | H4616 purpose, intent |
| he | ה֥וּא | hū | Pronoun - third person masculine singular | H1931 he, she |
| and his sons | וּבָנָ֖יו | ū·ḇā·nāw | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H1121 son |
| may reign | יַאֲרִ֨יךְ | ya·’ă·rîḵ | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H748 be long |
| many years | יָמִ֧ים | yā·mîm | Noun - masculine plural | H3117 day |
| over | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| his kingdom | מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹ | mam·laḵ·tōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H4467 kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign |
| in | בְּקֶ֥רֶב | bə·qe·reḇ | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct | H7130 inward part, midst |
| Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס | yiś·rā·’êl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3478 Israel |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Deuteronomy 17:14 1 Samuel 8:19–20 · 1 Samuel 8:5–7 · 1 Samuel 12:19 · Joshua 1:13
Deuteronomy 17:15 Jeremiah 30:21 · 1 Chronicles 22:10 · 1 Samuel 16:12–13 · 1 Samuel 9:15–17 · 1 Samuel 10:24 · 1 Chronicles 12:23 · 2 Samuel 5:2 · Jeremiah 2:25 · Psalm 2:2 · Psalm 2:6
Deuteronomy 17:16 Isaiah 31:1–3 · Ezekiel 17:15 · Deuteronomy 28:68 · Hosea 11:5 · Psalm 20:7 · 1 Kings 4:26 · Exodus 13:17 · 1 Kings 10:26–28 · Numbers 14:3–4 · Exodus 14:13 · 1 Kings 1:5 · Jeremiah 42:14–16
Deuteronomy 17:17 Nehemiah 13:26 · Proverbs 30:8–9 · Matthew 19:5 · 1 Kings 11:1–4 · Genesis 2:24 · Psalm 62:10 · Malachi 2:15 · 2 Samuel 3:2–5 · Matthew 13:22 · 1 Timothy 6:9 · 1 Timothy 6:17 · Luke 12:15
Deuteronomy 17:18 2 Kings 22:8 · 2 Chronicles 34:15 · 2 Kings 11:12 · Deuteronomy 31:24–26 · Deuteronomy 31:9
Deuteronomy 17:19 Joshua 1:8 · Psalm 119:97–100 · Psalm 1:2 · 2 Timothy 3:15–17 · John 5:39 · Deuteronomy 11:18 · Deuteronomy 4:10 · Deuteronomy 6:6–9
Deuteronomy 17:20 Deuteronomy 5:32 · 1 Kings 15:5 · Isaiah 2:12 · Psalm 131:1–2 · Daniel 5:20–23
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.