Deuteronomy 21:18

16 when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife.

17 Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined,

19 his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown,

20 and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”

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
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined,
KJV
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
WEB
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not listen to them,
ASV
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, that will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and, though they chasten him, will not hearken unto them;
DARBY
If a man have an unmanageable and rebellious son, who hearkeneth not unto the voice of his father, nor unto the voice of his mother, and they have chastened him, but he hearkeneth not unto them;
BLB
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not listen to the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and they have disciplined him and he will not listen to them,
ÅB
Når en mann har en ustyrlig og gjenstridig sønn, som ikke vil lyde sin far og mor, og som, endog de tukter ham, er ulydig mot dem,
OTB
Hvis en mann har en trassig og opprørsk sønn som ikke adlyder sin far og mor og ikke vil høre på dem når de irettesetter ham,
B1930
Når en mann har en ustyrlig og gjenstridig sønn, som ikke vil lyde sin far og mor, og som, endog de tukter ham, er ulydig mot dem,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Leviticus 19:3

    Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 20:12

    Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

    Read in context
  • Amos 4:11–12

    “Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 12:9–11

    Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 23:13–14

    Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 30:17

    As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 1:2

    Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.

    Read in context
  • Ephesians 6:1–3

    Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

    Read in context