The Law of the King

Deuteronomy 17

Moses gives rules for judging cases of idolatry on the testimony of two or three witnesses and for bringing difficult legal cases to the priests and judge at the place the Lord chooses. He also sets conditions for a future king of Israel, who must be chosen from among the brethren, must not multiply horses, wives, or wealth, and must keep and read a copy of this law all his days.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHOU shalt not sacrifice to the Lord thy God a young bull, or a sheep, in which there is a blemish—any defect; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

BrentonThou shalt not sacrifice to the Lord thy God a calf or a sheep, in which there is a blemish, or any evil thing; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

GreekΟὐ θύσεις Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου μόσχον ἢ πρόβατον, ἐν ᾧ ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῷ μῶμος, πᾶν ῥῆμα πονηρόν· ὅτι βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου ἐστίν.

KJVThou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

JPSThou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God an ox, or a sheep, wherein is a blemish, even any evil thing; for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

ThomsonIf there be found in any of thy cities which the Lord thy God giveth thee, a man, or a woman, who shall do evil in the sight of the Lord thy God, to transgress His covenant, and they have gone,

BrentonAnd if there should be found in any one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God gives thee, a man or a woman who shall do that which is evil before the Lord thy God, so as to transgress his covenant,

GreekἘὰν δὲ εὑρεθῇ ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεών σου, ὧν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι, ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνὴ ὃς ποιήσει τὸ πονηρὸν ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, παρελθεῖν τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ,

KJVIf there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

JPSIf there be found in the midst of thee, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing His covenant,

Thomsonand served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or the moon, or any of the whole host of heaven, which He hath not commanded thee,

Brentonand they should go and serve other gods, and worship them, the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which he commanded thee not to do,

Greekκαὶ ἐλθόντες λατρεύσωσι θεοῖς ἑτέροις, καὶ προσκυνήσωσιν αὐτοῖς, τῷ ἡλίῳ, ἢ τῇ σελήνῃ, ἢ παντὶ τῶν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ἂ οὐ προσέταξέ σοι,

KJVAnd hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;

JPSand hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have commanded not;

Thomsonand information be given thee, and thou hast made strict inquiry, and behold the thing hath been actually done, and such an abomination hath been committed in Israel,

Brentonand it be told thee, and thou shalt have enquired diligently, and, behold, the thing really took place, this abomination has been done in Israel;

Greekκαὶ ἀναγγελῇ σοι καὶ ἐκζητήσῃς σφόδρα, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀληθῶς γέγονε τὸ ῥῆμα, γεγένηται τὸ βδέλυγμα τοῦτο ἐν Ἰσραήλ·

KJVAnd 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:

JPSand it be told thee, and thou hear it, then shalt thou inquire diligently, and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel;

Thomsonthou shalt bring out that man, or that woman, and you shall stone them with stones, till they die.

Brentonthen shalt thou bring out that man, or that woman, and ye shall stone them with stones, and they shall die.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξάξεις τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐκεῖνον, ἢ τὴν γυναῖκα ἐκείνην, καὶ λιθοβολήσετε αὐτοὺς ἐν λίθοις, καὶ τελευτήσουσιν.

KJVThen shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

JPSthen shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, who have done this evil thing, unto thy gates, even the man or the woman; and thou shalt stone them with stones, that they die.

ThomsonOn the testimony of two or three witnesses the guilty person shall be put to death; but shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

BrentonHe shall die on the testimony of two or three witnesses; a man who is put to death shall not be put to death for one witness.

GreekἘπὶ δυσὶ μάρτυσιν ἢ ἐπὶ τρισὶ μάρτυσιν ἀποθανεῖται· ὁ ἀποθνήσκων οὐκ ἀποθανεῖται ἐφʼ ἑνὶ μάρτυρι.

KJVAt the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

JPSAt the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

ThomsonAnd the hand of the witness shall be upon him, among the first, to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of the people. So thou shalt remove the wickedness from among you.

BrentonAnd the hand of the witnesses shall be upon him among the first to put him to death, and the hand of the people at the last; so shalt thou remove the evil one from among yourselves.

GreekΚαὶ ἡ χεὶρ τῶν μαρτύρων ἔσται ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐν πρώτοις θανατῶσαι αὐτὸν, καὶ ἡ χεὶρ τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων· καὶ ἐξαρεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν.

KJVThe 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.

JPSThe hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee.

Thomson—

BrentonAnd if a matter shall be too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, and between cause and cause, and between stroke and stroke, and between contradiction and contradiction, matters of judgment in your cities;

GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀδυνατήσῃ ἀπὸ σοῦ ῥῆμα ἐν κρίσει ἀναμέσον αἷμα αἵματος, καὶ ἀναμέσον κρίσις κρίσεως, καὶ ἀναμέσον ἁφὴ ἁφῆς, καὶ ἀναμέσον ἀντιλογία ἀντιλογίας, ῥήματα κρίσεως ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀναστὰς ἀναβήσῃ εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐκεῖ,

KJVIf there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

JPSIf there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, even matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose.

Thomsonand there come to the priests, the Levites, or to the judge, whoever he may be in those days, and they shall inquire, and declare to thee the sentence of judgment,

Brentonthen thou shalt arise and go up to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, and thou shalt come to the priests the Levites, and to the judge who shall be in those days, and they shall search out the matter and report the judgment to thee.

Greekκαὶ ἐγεύσῃ πρὸς τὸνς ἱερεῖς τοὺς Λευίτας, καὶ πρὸς τὸν κριτὴν ὃς ἂν γένηται ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, καὶ ἐκζητήσαντες ἀναγγελοῦσί σοι τὴν κρίσιν.

KJVAnd thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

JPSAnd thou shall come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days; and thou shalt inquire; and they shall declare unto thee the sentence of judgment.

Thomsonand thou shalt act according to what they declare to thee from the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen, and thou shalt be careful to do according to what is expounded to thee for law.

BrentonAnd thou shalt act according to the thing which they shall report to thee out of the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, and thou shalt observe to do all whatsoever shall have been by law appointed to thee.

GreekΚαὶ ποιήσεις κατὰ τὸ πρᾶγμα ὃ ἂν ἀναγγείλωσί σοι ἐκ τοῦ τόπου, οὗ ἐὰν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, καὶ φυλάξῃ ποιῆσαι πάντα ὅσα ἂν νομοθετηθῇ σοι.

KJVAnd thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:

JPSAnd thou shalt do according to the tenor of the sentence, which they shall declare unto thee from that place which the LORD shall choose; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they shall teach thee.

ThomsonAccording to the law, and according to the sentence of judgment, which they tell thee, thou shalt do. Thou shalt not deviate from what they tell thee, either to the right, or to the left.

BrentonThou shalt do according to the law and to the judgment which they shall declare to thee: thou shalt not swerve to the right hand or to the left from any sentence which they shall report to thee.

GreekΚατὰ τὸν νόμον καὶ κατὰ τὴν κρίσιν ἣν ἂν εἴπωσί σοι, ποιήσεις· οὐκ ἐκκλινεῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ ῥήματος οὗ ἐὰν ἀναγγείλωσί σοι δεξιὰ οὐδὲ ἀριστερά.

KJVAccording to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.

JPSAccording to the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do; thou shalt not turn aside from the sentence which they shall declare unto thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.

ThomsonAnd if any man act presumptuously, so as not to hearken to the priest who hath stood to minister to the name of the Lord thy God; or to the judge who may be in those days; that man shall be put to death. So thou shalt remove the evil person from among Israel;

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekΚαὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ, ὥστε μὴ ὑπακοῦσαι τοῦ ἱερέως τοῦ παρεστηκότος λειτουργεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, ἢ τοῦ κριτοῦ ὃς ἂν ἠ· ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος, καὶ ἐξαρεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

Thomsonand all the people, when they hear, will be struck with awe, and no more act presumptuously.

BrentonAnd all the people shall hear and fear, and shall no more commit impiety.

GreekΚαὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἀκούσας φοβηθήσεται, καὶ οὐκ ἀσεβήσει ἔτι.

KJVAnd all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

JPSAnd all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

ThomsonAnd when thou art come to the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and hast taken possession of it, and dwelt therein, if thou shouldst say, I will set a chief over me, as the other nations around me do;

BrentonAnd when thou shalt enter into the land which the Lord thy God gives thee, and shalt inherit it and dwell in it, and shalt say, I will set a ruler over me, as also the other nations round about me;

GreekἘὰν δὲ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι, καὶ κληρονομήσῃς αὐτὴν, καὶ κατοικήσῃς ἐπʼ αὐτὴν, καὶ εἴπῃς, καταστήσω ἐπʼ ἐμαυτὸν ἄρχοντα, καθὰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ μου·

KJVWhen thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;

JPSWhen thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein; and shalt say: ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me’;

Thomsonthou shalt surely set, as chief over thee, him whom the Lord thy God shall choose. Thou shalt appoint one of thy brethren chief over thee. Thou shalt not be at liberty to set a stranger over thee, because he is not thy brother.

Brentonthou shalt surely set over thee the ruler whom the Lord God shall choose: of thy brethren thou shalt set over thee a ruler; thou shalt not have power to set over thee a stranger, because he is not thy brother.

Greekκαθιστῶν καταστήσεις ἐπὶ σεαυτὸν ἄρχοντα, ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς αὐτόν· ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου καταστήσεις ἐπὶ σεαυτὸν ἄρχοντα· οὐ δυνήσῃ καταστῆσαι ἐπὶ σεαυτὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀλλότριον, ὅτι οὐκ ἀδελφός σου ἐστί.

KJVThou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

JPSthou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose; one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee; thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee, who is not thy brother.

ThomsonBecause he is not to multiply cavalry for himself, he must not even cause his people to go back to Egypt; in order that he may not multiply his cavalry, the Lord indeed hath said, You shall not henceforth return that way any more.

BrentonFor he shall not multiply to himself horses, and he shall by no means turn the people back to Egypt, lest he should multiply to himself horses; for the Lord said, Ye shall not any more turn back by that way.

GreekΔιότι οὐ πληθυνεῖ ἑαυτῷ ἵππον, οὐδὲ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃ τὸν λαὸν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ὅπως μὴ πληθύνῃ αὑτῷ ἵππον· ὁ δὲ Κύριος εἶπεν, οὐ προσθήσεσθε ἀποστρέψαι τῇ ὁδῷ ταύτῃ ἔτι.

KJVBut he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

JPSOnly he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses; forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you: ‘Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.’

ThomsonNeither shall he multiply wives to himself; that his heart may not turn aside; nor shall he greatly multiply for himself silver and gold.

BrentonAnd he shall not multiply to himself wives, lest his heart turn away; and he shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

GreekΚαὶ οὐ πληθυνεῖ ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκας, ἵνα μὴ μεταστῇ αὐτοῦ καρδία· καὶ ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον οὐ πληθυνεῖ ἑαυτῷ σφόδρα.

KJVNeither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

JPSNeither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

ThomsonAnd when he is settled in his government, he shall write for himself this repetition of the law in a book, from that which is in the custody of the priests, the Levites.

BrentonAnd when he shall be established in his government, then shall he write for himself this repetition of the law into a book by the hands of the priests the Levites;

GreekΚαὶ ὅταν καθίσῃ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ γράψει αὑτῷ τὸ δευτερονόμιον τοῦτο εἰς βιβλίον παρὰ τῶν ἱερέων τῶν Λευιτῶν,

KJVAnd it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

JPSAnd it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites.

ThomsonAnd he shall keep it by him, and shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord thy God, and to keep all these commandments, and execute all these judgments;

Brentonand it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord thy God, and to keep all these commandments, and to observe these ordinances:

Greekκαὶ ἔσται μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναγνώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μάθῃ φοβεῖσθαι Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, καὶ φυλάσσεσθαι πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας, καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα ποιεῖν·

KJVAnd it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

JPSAnd it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them;

Thomsonthat his heart may not be lifted up above his brethren—that he may not turn aside from these commandments, to the right, or to the left, to the end that he and his sons may long enjoy his government among the children of Israel.

Brentonthat his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, that he depart not from the commandments on the right hand or on the left; that he and his sons may reign long in his dominion among the children of Israel.

Greekἵνα μὴ ὑψωθῇ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ παραβῇ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐντολῶν δεξιὰ ἢ ἀριστερὰ, ὅπως ἂν μακροχρονίσῃ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτοῦ, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ.

KJVThat his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

JPSthat his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left; to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel.