Deuteronomy 17:4
in Deuteronomy 17and 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,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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,
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:
⋯
This verse in Deuteronomy 17
Commentary
6 notes on this verseIf it be told thee - In a private way by any confidential person. And thou hast heard of it; so that it appears to be notorious, very likely to be true, and publicly scandalous. And hast inquired diligently - sought to find out the truth of the report by the most careful examination of persons reporting, circumstances of the case, etc. And, behold, it be true - the report is not founded on vague rumor, hearsay, or malice. And the thing certain - substantiated by the fullest evidence. Then shalt thou bring forth that man, Deu 17:
This site's exposition
If a man or woman among you in one of the towns
on Deuteronomy 17:2-4
The offence is idolatry, filed as “transgressing His covenant”. Matthew Henry reads it as breaking the terms on which Israel was taken as a people.
This site's exposition
you must investigate it thoroughly
Adam Clarke separates the stages: a private report, a thing heard in public, then a careful investigation of the persons reporting and the circumstances. The case goes forward only if the report is true and the evil has happened in Israel.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently,....
Idolatry was bad enough in any, but it was particularly abominable in Israel, a people so blessed with peculiar discoveries of the will and favour of the only true and living God.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
If there be found among you . . . man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness--The grand object contemplated in choosing Israel was to preserve the knowledge and worship of the one true God; and hence idolatry of any kind, whether of the heavenly bodies or in some grosser form, is called "a transgression of His covenant." No rank or sex could palliate this crime.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהֻֽגַּד־ | vehugad- | and it will be told | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לְךָ֖ | lekha | to <the> you | ||
| וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּ | veshamaeta | and you will hear | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֣ | vedarashta | and you will investigate | H1875 → | 164 times |
| הֵיטֵ֔ב | heitev | thoroughly <do well> | H3190 → | 117 times |
| וְהִנֵּ֤ה | vehineh | and there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| אֱמֶת֙ | ʾemet | truth | H571 → | 127 times |
| נָכ֣וֹן | nakhon | [is] certain | H3559 → | 217 times |
| הַדָּבָ֔ר | hadavar | the matter | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה | neestah | it has been done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה | hatoevah | the abomination | H8441 → | 117 times |
| הַזֹּ֖את | hazot | <the> this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | beyisrael | in Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וְהֻֽגַּד־and it will be told
vehugad-H5046 →370 times
לְךָ֖to <the> you
lekha
וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּand you will hear
veshamaetaH8085 →1159 times
וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֣and you will investigate
vedarashtaH1875 →164 times
הֵיטֵ֔בthoroughly <do well>
heitevH3190 →117 times
וְהִנֵּ֤הand there!
vehinehH2009 →843 times
אֱמֶת֙truth
ʾemetH571 →127 times
נָכ֣וֹן[is] certain
nakhonH3559 →217 times
הַדָּבָ֔רthe matter
hadavarH1697 →1440 times
נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛הit has been done
neestahH6213 →2628 times
הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥הthe abomination
hatoevahH8441 →117 times
הַזֹּ֖את<the> this
hazotH2063 →603 times
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃in Israel
beyisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
- Romans 11:33–34
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
- Job 11:7–8
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 38:4
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- Job 42:3
You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
- Deuteronomy 29:29
Through
John 7:51“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Deuteronomy 1:17
Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I…
- Deuteronomy 19:15–19
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or…
- Proverbs 18:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.