Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 17:8–12

⁸If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. ⁹You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case.

¹⁰You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, ¹¹according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you.

¹²But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

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 17:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a case	דָבָ֜ר	ḏā·ḇār	Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
is too difficult	יִפָּלֵא֩	yip·pā·lê	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6381 be surpassing, extraordinary
for you	מִמְּךָ֨	mim·mə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
to judge	לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט	lam·miš·pāṭ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4941 judgment
whether	דִּבְרֵ֥י	diḇ·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1697 speech, word
the controversy	רִיבֹ֖ת	rî·ḇōṯ	Noun - masculine plural	H7379 strife, dispute
within your gates	בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ	biš·‘ā·re·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H8179 gate
is regarding	בֵּֽין־	bên-	Preposition	H996 interval, space between
bloodshed	דָּ֨ם׀	dām	Noun - masculine singular	H1818 blood
lawsuits	דִּ֣ין	dîn	Noun - masculine singular	H1779 judgment
or assaults	נֶ֙גַע֙	ne·ḡa‘	Noun - masculine singular	H5061 stroke, plague, mark, plague-spot
you must go up	וְעָלִ֔יתָ	wə·‘ā·lî·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the place	הַמָּק֔וֹם	ham·mā·qō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
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
will choose	יִבְחַ֛ר	yiḇ·ḥar	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H977 choose

Deuteronomy 17:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
You are to go	וּבָאתָ֗	ū·ḇā·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the Levitical	הַלְוִיִּ֔ם	hal·wî·yim	Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H3881 Levite
priests	הַכֹּהֲנִים֙	hak·kō·hă·nîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3548 priest
and to	וְאֶל־	wə·’el-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H413 motion to
the judge	הַשֹּׁפֵ֔ט	haš·šō·p̄êṭ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8199 judge, govern
who	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
presides at that	הָהֵ֑ם	hā·hêm	Article; Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
time	בַּיָּמִ֣ים	bay·yā·mîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
Inquire of them	וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֙	wə·ḏā·raš·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H1875 resort to, seek
and they will give	וְהִגִּ֣ידוּ	wə·hig·gî·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H5046 be conspicuous
you	לְךָ֔	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
a verdict	דְּבַ֥ר	də·ḇar	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1697 speech, word
in the case	הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃	ham·miš·pāṭ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4639 deed, work

Deuteronomy 17:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
You must abide by	וְעָשִׂ֗יתָ	wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
the verdict	הַדָּבָר֙	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
they give	יַגִּ֣ידֽוּ	yag·gî·ḏū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
you	לְךָ֔	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
at	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the place	הַמָּק֣וֹם	ham·mā·qō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
the LORD	יְהוָ֑ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
will choose	יִבְחַ֣ר	yiḇ·ḥar	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H977 choose
Be careful	וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣	wə·šā·mar·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
to do	לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
everything	כְּכֹ֖ל	kə·ḵōl	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
they instruct you	יוֹרֽוּךָ׃	yō·w·rū·ḵā	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; second person masculine singular	H3384 throw, shoot

Deuteronomy 17:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
according	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
to the terms	פִּ֨י	pî	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
of law	הַתּוֹרָ֜ה	hat·tō·w·rāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8451 direction, instruction, law
they give	יוֹר֗וּךָ	yō·w·rū·ḵā	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; second person masculine singular	H3384 throw, shoot
and the verdict	הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט	ham·miš·pāṭ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4941 judgment
they proclaim	יֹאמְר֥וּ	yō·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Do not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
turn aside	תָס֗וּר	ṯā·sūr	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H5493 turn aside
to the right	יָמִ֥ין	yā·mîn	Noun - feminine singular	H3225 right hand
or to the left	וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃	ū·śə·mōl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H8040 the left
from	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the decision	הַדָּבָ֛ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
they declare	יַגִּ֥ידֽוּ	yag·gî·ḏū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
to you	לְךָ֖	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular

Deuteronomy 17:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the man	וְהָאִ֞ישׁ	wə·hā·’îš	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
who	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
acts	יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה	ya·‘ă·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
presumptuously	בְזָד֗וֹן	ḇə·zā·ḏō·wn	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H2087 insolence, presumptuousness
refusing	לְבִלְתִּ֨י	lə·ḇil·tî	Preposition-l	H1115 not, except
to listen	שְׁמֹ֤עַ	šə·mō·a‘	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8085 hear
either to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the priest	הַכֹּהֵן֙	hak·kō·hên	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3548 priest
who stands	הָעֹמֵ֞ד	hā·‘ō·mêḏ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
there	שָׁם֙	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
to serve	לְשָׁ֤רֶת	lə·šā·reṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H8334 minister, serve
the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
or	א֖וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the judge	הַשֹּׁפֵ֑ט	haš·šō·p̄êṭ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8199 judge, govern
must be put to death	וּמֵת֙	ū·mêṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
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 Israel	מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	mî·yiś·rā·’êl	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel