Deuteronomy 21:23

The cross and atonement Jesus Christ

²¹ Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid.

²² If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree,

you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

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: you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
KJV: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
WEB: his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he who is hanged is accursed of God. Don’t defile your land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.
ASV: his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is accursed of God; that thou defile not thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
DARBY: his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day (for he that is hanged is a curse of God); and thou shalt not defile thy land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
BLB: his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the day—for cursed of God [is] he who is hanged [on a tree]—so that you do not defile the land that YHWH your God is giving to you [as] an inheritance.

ÅB: så skal hans døde kropp ikke bli natten over på treet, men du skal begrave ham samme dag; for forbannet av Gud er den som blir hengt; og du skal ikke gjøre ditt land urent, det som Herren din Gud gir deg til
OTB: må hans kropp ikke bli hengende på treet over natten. Sørg for å begrave den samme dag, for enhver som er hengt er under Guds forbannelse. Du må ikke vanhellige landet Herren din Gud gir deg som arv.
B1930: så skal hans døde kropp ikke bli natten over på treet, men du skal begrave ham samme dag; for forbannet av Gud er den som blir hengt; og du skal ikke gjøre ditt land urent, det som Herren din Gud gir dig til

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Read in context
John 19:31
It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Read in context
Leviticus 18:25
Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.
Read in context
Romans 9:3
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,
Read in context
Numbers 25:4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”
Read in context
Joshua 8:29
He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.
Read in context
Joshua 10:26–27
After this, Joshua struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees and left them there until evening.
Read in context