Deuteronomy 17:4
2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
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
- and 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,
- KJV
- And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
- WEB
- and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Israel,
- ASV
- and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, then shalt thou inquire diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel,
- DARBY
- and it be told thee, and thou hearest of it; then thou shalt make thorough inquiry, and if it be truth [and] the thing be certain, that this abomination hath been wrought in Israel,
- BLB
- and it is told to you and you hear [it], you shall inquire diligently. And if indeed true the thing is established—this abomination has been done in Israel—
- ÅB
- og dette blir meldt deg, og du får høre om det, da skal du nøye granske saken; og er det da sannhet, er det sikkert og visst at denne styggedom er gjort i Israel,
- OTB
- og det blir fortalt deg og du hører om det, må du undersøke grundig. Hvis det viser seg å være sant at en slik avskyelig ting har blitt gjort i Israel,
- B1930
- og dette blir meldt dig, og du får høre om det, da skal du nøie granske saken; og er det da sannhet, er det sikkert og visst at denne vederstyggelighet er gjort i Israel,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 13:12–14
If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
Read in contextJohn 7:51
Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
Read in contextDeuteronomy 19:18
And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Read in contextProverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Read in context