Keraia
Deuteronomy 13

Deuteronomy 13:9

Idolaters to Be Put to Death · Deuteronomy 13:1–11
Read Deuteronomy 13

Translations

Modern
Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.
Traditional
But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
Literal
…but you must surely kill him. Your hand shall be the first against him to put him to death, and the hand of all the people afterward.
Latin
…sed statim interficies: sit primum manus tua super eum, et postea omnis populus mittat manum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.

Notes

Deuteronomy 13:9

Your hand must be the first against him: Because the guilty person could be someone from your own family, this command was very difficult. It tested how deeply a person was committed to worship the Lord alone (13:6).

God required his people to love and obey him above all else. Their love for God had to come before their love for family members and friends (Matthew 10:34–39).

Deuteronomy 13:1–18

Prophets who tried to lead Israel away from the one true God committed treason, which was punishable by death. No other religion demanded exclusive worship of their national gods. As a result, such severe penalties for worshiping other gods were unknown in the ancient Near East.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Apostasy

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Biblical Concept of Law Courts and Trials Covenant Criminal Law and Punishment Deuteronomy, Book of Prophet, Prophetess

Topics

Fellowship with the Wicked Forbidden Friendship: General Scriptures Concerning Marriage: Obligations Under, Inferior to Duty to God Punishment: Death Penalty for Prophesying Falsely, or Propagating False Doctrines Punishment: Death Penalty: Executed by the Accusing Witnesses Punishment: Death Penalty: Executed by the Entire Congregation Punishments were Inflicted by the People Punishments were Inflicted by the Witnesses Witness: Required to Throw the First Stone in Executing the Sentence