Deuteronomy 21:23
New International Version
you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

New Living Translation
the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession.

English Standard Version
his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

New American Standard Bible
his body is not to be left overnight on the tree, but you shall certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

NASB 1995
his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.

NASB 1977
his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.

Legacy Standard Bible
his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (because cursed of God is he who is hanged), so that you do not make unclean your land which Yahweh your God gives you as an inheritance.

Amplified Bible
his body shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall most certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed by God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.

Christian Standard Bible
you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
you must not leave it there overnight. Bury it the same day, because the dead body of a criminal hanging on a tree will bring God's curse on the land. The LORD your God is giving this land to you, so don't make it unclean by leaving the bodies of executed criminals on display.

English Revised Version
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 the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
never leave his dead body hung on a pole overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone whose body is hung on a pole is cursed by God. The land that the LORD your God is giving you must never become unclean.

Good News Translation
it is not to remain there overnight. It must be buried the same day, because a dead body hanging on a post brings God's curse on the land. Bury the body, so that you will not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

International Standard Version
his body must not remain overnight on the tree. You must bury him that same day, because cursed of God is the one who has been hanged on a tree. Don't defile your land that the LORD is about to give you as your inheritance."

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
his body must not remain all night on the tree; instead you must make certain you bury him that same day, for the one who is left exposed on a tree is cursed by God. You must not defile your land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

New Heart English Bible
his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for everyone who hangs on a tree is cursed by God; that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 may not be defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

World English Bible
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 Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
his corpse does not remain on the tree, for you certainly bury him in the day—for he who is hanged [becomes] a curse of God—and you do not defile your ground which your God YHWH is giving to you [for] an inheritance.”

Young's Literal Translation
his corpse doth not remain on the tree, for thou dost certainly bury him in that day -- for a thing lightly esteemed of God is the hanged one -- and thou dost not defile thy ground which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee -- an inheritance.

Smith's Literal Translation
His carcass shall not pass the night upon the tree; for burying, ye shall bury him in that day, for he being hung is the curse of God; and thou shalt not defile thy land which Jehovah thy God gave to thee an inheritance.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
His body shall not remain upon the tree, but shall be buried the same day: for he is accursed of God that hangeth on a tree: and thou shalt not defile thy land, which the Lord thy God shall give thee in possession.

Catholic Public Domain Version
his corpse shall not remain on the tree. Instead, he shall be buried on the same day. For he who hangs from a tree has been cursed by God, and you shall not defile your land, which the Lord your God will give to you as a possession.”

New American Bible
his corpse shall not remain on the tree overnight. You must bury it the same day; anyone who is hanged is a curse of God. You shall not defile the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you as a heritage.

New Revised Standard Version
his corpse must not remain all night upon the tree; you shall bury him that same day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you for possession.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury him the same day (for he who shall revile God shall be crucified), and you shall not defile your land, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
His corpse will not remain on the wood but bury it on that day, because whoever curses God shall be hangedcrucified, and you shall not defile your land that LORD JEHOVAH your God gives to you as an inheritance.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 a reproach unto God; that thou defile not thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but ye shall by all means bury it in that day; for every one that is hanged on a tree is cursed of God; and ye shall by no means defile the land which the Lord thy God gives thee for an inheritance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Cursed is Anyone Hung on a Tree
22If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, 23you 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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

Acts 5:30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.

Acts 10:39
We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,

1 Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

Matthew 27:5
So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

1 Corinthians 15:3
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Isaiah 53:9
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Genesis 40:19
Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.”

2 Samuel 21:6
let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” “I will give them to you,” said the king.

2 Samuel 21:9
And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.


Treasury of Scripture

His body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that your land be not defiled, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.

he that is hanged is accursed of God.

John 19:31
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Deuteronomy 7:26
Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Numbers 25:4
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

thy land

Leviticus 18:25
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

Numbers 35:33,34
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it…

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Deuteronomy 21
1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder
10. The usage of a captive taken to wife
15. The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection
18. A rebellious son is to be stoned to death
22. The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree














you must not leave his body on the tree overnight
In ancient Israelite culture, the act of leaving a body exposed was seen as a profound dishonor. The Hebrew word for "leave" (תָּלָה, talah) implies a hanging or suspension, often associated with execution. The command to not leave the body overnight reflects a deep respect for the deceased and a recognition of human dignity, even in death. This practice ensured that the community maintained purity and avoided the defilement associated with death, which was considered ritually unclean.

Be sure to bury him that same day
The directive to bury the body "that same day" underscores the urgency and importance of maintaining ritual cleanliness and respect for the dead. The Hebrew word for "bury" (קָבַר, qabar) is a common term for interment, emphasizing the need for a proper and timely burial. This practice aligns with the broader biblical theme of honoring the dead and ensuring that the land remains undefiled, reflecting God's holiness and the sanctity of life.

because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse
The phrase "hung on a tree" (עַל־עֵץ, al-etz) is significant in biblical law, symbolizing a person who has been judged and condemned. The notion of being "under God’s curse" (קִלְלַת אֱלֹהִים, qelalat Elohim) indicates divine judgment and separation from God's blessing. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Christ's crucifixion is seen as Him taking on the curse for humanity's sin (Galatians 3:13). Theologically, this highlights the gravity of sin and the need for atonement.

You must not defile the land
The command to avoid defiling the land (לֹא תְטַמֵּא, lo tetame) reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The land is a gift from God, and maintaining its purity is a sign of obedience and reverence. Defilement, often associated with sin and impurity, disrupts the harmony between God, His people, and the land. This principle underscores the importance of holiness and the community's responsibility to uphold God's standards.

the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance
The phrase "the LORD your God" (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, Yahweh Eloheikha) emphasizes the personal and covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The land as an "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה, nachalah) signifies a divine gift, a fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs. This inheritance is not merely a physical territory but a sacred space where God's people are to live out their covenantal identity. The land's sanctity is a constant reminder of God's faithfulness and the call to live in accordance with His will.

Verse 23. - He that is hanged is accursed of God; literally, a curse of God. Some take this as meaning an insult to God, a contemning of him, "since man his image is thus given up to scorn and insult" (Rashi). But the more probable meaning is "a curse inflicted by God," which the transgressor is made to endure (cf. Galatians 3:13). That thy land be not defiled. The land was defiled, not only by sins committed by its inhabitants, but also by the public exposure of criminals who had been put to death for their sins (cf. Leviticus 18:24, 25; Numbers 35:33, 34). On this law Joshua acted (cf. Joshua 8:29; Joshua 10:26, 27).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
you must not leave
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the body
נִבְלָת֜וֹ (niḇ·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5038: A flabby thing, a carcase, carrion, an idol

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the tree
הָעֵ֗ץ (hā·‘êṣ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

overnight,
תָלִ֨ין (ṯā·lîn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3885: To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate

but
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you must be sure to bury
קָב֤וֹר (qā·ḇō·wr)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6912: To inter

him
הַה֔וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

that day,
בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

anyone who is hung on a tree
תָּל֑וּי (tā·lui)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 8518: To suspend

is under God’s
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

curse.
קִלְלַ֥ת (qil·laṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7045: Vilification

You must not
וְלֹ֤א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

defile
תְטַמֵּא֙ (ṯə·ṭam·mê)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

the land
אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ (’aḏ·mā·ṯə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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

is giving
נֹתֵ֥ן (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you
לְךָ֖ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

as an inheritance.
נַחֲלָֽה׃ (na·ḥă·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:23 His body shall not remain all night (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 21:22
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