King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Justice, only justice, you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land ADONAI your God is giving you.
Berean Standard Bible:
Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
American Standard Version:
That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That which is altogether{H6664} just{H6664} shalt thou follow{H7291}, that thou mayest live{H2421}, and inherit{H3423} the land{H776} which the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430} giveth{H5414} thee.
Cross-References (KJV):
Philippians 4:8
- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
Micah 6:8
- He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Ezekiel 18:9
- Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he [is] just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
Romans 10:5
- For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Ezekiel 18:5
- But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
Deuteronomy 25:13
- ¶ Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
Deuteronomy 25:16
- For all that do such things, [and] all that do unrighteously, [are] an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 16:20
Deuteronomy 16:20 is part of the Law of Moses, specifically within the Deuteronomic Code, which is found in the book of Deuteronomy. This book is presented as a series of speeches given by Moses to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
**Themes:**
1. **Justice:** The primary theme of Deuteronomy 16:20 is the pursuit of justice. The verse emphasizes that the Israelites should follow what is right and just in order to live and prosper in the land God is giving them. This reflects the broader Deuteronomic theme of ethical living as a condition for dwelling in the Promised Land.
2. **Divine Command:** The command to follow justice is tied to God's will. Obedience to divine law is not only a moral obligation but also a means of maintaining a right relationship with God.
3. **Covenant Relationship:** The verse reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. God promises the land to the Israelites, but their continued occupation of it is contingent upon their obedience to God's commands, particularly those concerning justice.
4. **Life and Land:** The promise of life and the inheritance of the land are conditional on the people's adherence to justice. This connects to the Deuteronomic theme that blessings (life and land) are linked to obedience, while curses result from disobedience.
**Historical Context:**
Deuteronomy is set in the final days of Moses' leadership, just before the Israelites cross the Jordan River into Canaan. The book is a restatement of the law for a new generation that did not experience the exodus from Egypt. It aims to prepare them for life in the land of Canaan, emphasizing the importance of loyalty to Yahweh and the need for a just society.
The historical context of this verse is thus the transition period for the Israelites as they move from a nomadic life in the wilderness to a settled life in the Promised Land. The laws and exhortations in Deuteronomy, including the command in 16:20, are meant to guide the establishment of a society that reflects God's holiness and justice.
In summary, Deuteronomy 16:20 encapsulates the Deuteronomic emphasis on justice as a foundational principle for the Israelite community's life in the Promised Land, which is intrinsically linked to their covenantal relationship with God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6664
There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֶדֶק
Transliteration: tsedeq
Pronunciation: tseh'-dek
Description: from צָדַק; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity; [idiom] even, ([idiom] that which is altogether) just(-ice), (un-)right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness). - Strong's Number: H7291
There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָדַף
Transliteration: râdaph
Pronunciation: raw-daf'
Description: a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by); chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r). - Strong's Number: H2421
There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָיָה
Transliteration: châyâh
Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole. - Strong's Number: H3423
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַשׁ
Transliteration: yârash
Pronunciation: yaw-rash'
Description: or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin; cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, [idiom] without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) [phrase] magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.