Deuteronomy 17:12
New International Version
Anyone who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God is to be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

New Living Translation
Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel.

English Standard Version
The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

New King James Version
Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel.

New American Standard Bible
But the person who acts insolently by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, nor to the judge, that person shall die; so you shall eliminate the evil from Israel.

NASB 1995
“The man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, nor to the judge, that man shall die; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.

NASB 1977
“And the man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, nor to the judge, that man shall die; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to minister to Yahweh your God, or to the judge, that man shall die; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.

Amplified Bible
The man who acts presumptuously and insolently by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, nor to the judge, that man shall die; so you shall remove the evil from Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving the LORD your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving the LORD your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

American Standard Version
And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before Jehovah thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

English Revised Version
And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If anyone deliberately disobeys the priest (who serves the LORD your God) or the judge, that person must die. You must get rid of this evil in Israel.

Good News Translation
Anyone who dares to disobey either the judge or the priest on duty is to be put to death; in this way you will remove this evil from Israel.

International Standard Version
If a man presumptuously disregards the priest who is serving the LORD your God there or the judge, that person must die so you will purge evil from Israel.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The person who pays no attention to the priest currently serving the LORD your God there, or to the verdict--that person must die, so that you may purge evil from Israel.

New Heart English Bible
The man who does presumptuously, in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken to the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or to the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt remove the evil from Israel.

World English Bible
The man who does presumptuously in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before Yahweh your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die. You shall put away the evil from Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the man who acts with presumption, so as not to listen to the priest (who is standing to serve your God YHWH there), or to the judge, even that man has died, and you have put away evil from Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
And the man who acteth with presumption, so as not to hearken unto the priest (who is standing to serve there Jehovah thy God), or unto the judge, even that man hath died, and thou hast put away the evil thing from Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the man which shall do in pride not to hear to the priest, he standing to serve there Jehovah thy God, or to the judge, and that man shall die: and put thou away evil from Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he that will be proud, and refuse to obey the commandment of the priest, who ministereth at that time to the Lord thy God, and the decree of the judge, that man shall die, and thou shalt take away the evil from Israel:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But whoever will be arrogant, unwilling to obey the order of the priest who ministers at that time to the Lord your God, and the decree of the judge, that man shall die. And so shall you take away the evil from Israel.

New American Bible
Anyone who acts presumptuously and does not obey the priest who officiates there in the ministry of the LORD, your God, or the judge, shall die. Thus shall you purge the evil from Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
As for anyone who presumes to disobey the priest appointed to minister there to the LORD your God, or the judge, that person shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the man who will do presumptuously, and will not hearken to the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or to the judge, that man shall be put to death; you shall destroy the evildoers from Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a man who will act with presumption and will not listen to the Priest who stands to serve there before LORD JEHOVAH your God, or to the Judge, that man will be killed, and so destroy the workers of evil from Israel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die; and thou shalt exterminate the evil from Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the man whosoever shall act in haughtiness, so as not to hearken to the priest who stands to minister in the name of the Lord thy God, or the judge who shall preside in those days, that man shall die, and thou shalt remove the evil one out of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Courts of Law
11according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you. 12But 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. 13Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will no longer behave arrogantly.…

Cross References
Romans 13:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Numbers 15:30-31
But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people. / He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.”

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

Proverbs 24:21-22
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious. / For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?

Matthew 23:2-3
“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Acts 23:5
“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

Exodus 22:28
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

Leviticus 24:15-16
And you are to tell the Israelites, ‘If anyone curses his God, he shall bear the consequences of his sin. / Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.

2 Chronicles 19:6-7
Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment. / And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

Ecclesiastes 8:2-5
Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God. / Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. / For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” ...

John 19:11
Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

1 Timothy 5:19-20
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. / But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

Titus 3:1
Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,


Treasury of Scripture

And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not listen to the priest that stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die: and you shall put away the evil from Israel.

will do

Deuteronomy 13:5,11
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee…

Numbers 15:30
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Ezra 10:8
And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

Jeremiah 25:3
From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

the priest

Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

Deuteronomy 18:5,7
For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever…

Luke 10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

that man

Hebrews 10:28
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

thou shalt

Deuteronomy 17:7
The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

Deuteronomy 13:5
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Proverbs 21:11
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

Jump to Previous
Acts Contempt Death Die Ear Evil Exterminate Hearken Hearkening Israel Judge Listening Minister Ministering Presumptuously Pride Priest Purge Remove Serve Shows Standeth Stands
Jump to Next
Acts Contempt Death Die Ear Evil Exterminate Hearken Hearkening Israel Judge Listening Minister Ministering Presumptuously Pride Priest Purge Remove Serve Shows Standeth Stands
Deuteronomy 17
1. The things sacrificed must be sound
2. Idolaters must be slain
8. Hard controversies are to be determined by the priests and judges
12. The one who shows contempt for the judge must die
14. The election
16. and duty of a king














But the man who acts presumptuously
The Hebrew word for "presumptuously" is "זָדוֹן" (zadown), which conveys a sense of arrogance or willful defiance. In the context of ancient Israel, acting presumptuously was not merely a personal failing but a direct challenge to the divinely established order. This phrase underscores the seriousness of rebellion against God's appointed leaders, emphasizing that such actions are not just personal sins but threats to the community's spiritual health.

by refusing to listen
The phrase "refusing to listen" translates from the Hebrew "לֹא יִשְׁמַע" (lo yishma), which implies a deliberate choice to ignore or disobey. Listening, in the biblical sense, often involves obedience and submission. This refusal is a conscious decision to reject divine authority, highlighting the importance of heeding God's word as delivered through His chosen representatives.

to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God
The priesthood in Israel was established by God to mediate between Him and the people. The phrase "stands there to serve" indicates a position of divine appointment and responsibility. The priests were not merely religious functionaries but were seen as standing in the presence of God, serving as His mouthpiece. This underscores the gravity of ignoring their counsel, as it was tantamount to ignoring God Himself.

or to the judge
Judges in Israel were appointed to interpret and apply God's law. They were seen as instruments of divine justice. The inclusion of judges alongside priests in this verse highlights the comprehensive nature of God's governance over Israel, encompassing both religious and civil spheres. Disobedience to the judge was a rejection of God's justice and order.

must be put to death
The severity of the punishment—death—reflects the seriousness with which God views rebellion against His established order. In the theocratic society of ancient Israel, such rebellion was seen as a cancer that could spread and corrupt the entire community. The death penalty served as a deterrent and a means of preserving the holiness and integrity of the nation.

You must purge the evil from Israel
The phrase "purge the evil" comes from the Hebrew "וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע" (u'viarta hara), which means to remove or eradicate. This command reflects the necessity of maintaining the purity and sanctity of the community. In a broader spiritual sense, it serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance against sin and rebellion, both individually and corporately, to ensure that the community remains aligned with God's will.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the man
וְהָאִ֞ישׁ (wə·hā·’îš)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

acts
יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

presumptuously,
בְזָד֗וֹן (ḇə·zā·ḏō·wn)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2087: Insolence, presumptuousness

refusing
לְבִלְתִּ֨י (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

to listen
שְׁמֹ֤עַ (šə·mō·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

either to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the priest
הַכֹּהֵן֙ (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

who stands
הָעֹמֵ֞ד (hā·‘ō·mêḏ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

there
שָׁם֙ (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

to serve
לְשָׁ֤רֶת (lə·šā·reṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

your God,
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

or
א֖וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the judge,
הַשֹּׁפֵ֑ט (haš·šō·p̄êṭ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

must be put to death.
וּמֵת֙ (ū·mêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

You must purge
וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ (ū·ḇi·‘ar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

the evil
הָרָ֖ע (hā·rā‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

from Israel.
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (mî·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 17:12 The man who does presumptuously in not (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 17:11
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