Deuteronomy 17:14

12 But 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.

13 Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will no longer behave arrogantly.

When 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,”

15 you 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.

16 But 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.’

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When 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,”
KJV
When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
WEB
When you have come to the land which the LORD your God gives you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, “I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,”
ASV
When thou art come unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me;
DARBY
When thou comest unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are about me;
BLB
When you come into the land that YHWH your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and say, “I will set over myself a king like all the nations that [are] around me,”
ÅB
Når du kommer inn i det land Herren din Gud gir deg, og du eier det og bor i det, og du så sier: Jeg vil sette en konge over meg, slik som alle de folk som bor rundt omkring meg,
OTB
Når du kommer inn i landet som Herren din Gud gir deg og har tatt det i eie og bosatt deg der, og du sier: ‘La oss utnevne en konge over oss som alle nasjonene rundt oss,’
B1930
Når du kommer inn i det land Herren din Gud gir dig, og du eier det og bor i det, og du så sier: Jeg vil sette en konge over mig, likesom alle de folk som bor rundt omkring mig,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 8:19–20

    Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 12:19

    They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

    Read in context
  • Joshua 1:13

    “Remember what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land.’

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 8:5–7

    “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 26:9

    And He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 26:1

    When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and settle in it,

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 11:31

    For you are about to cross the Jordan to enter and possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you. When you take possession of it and settle in it,

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 12:9–10

    For you have not yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you.

    Read in context