Deuteronomy 17:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Likewise, he is not to acquire many wives for himself, so that his heart will not turn away; and he is not to acquire excessive quantities of silver and gold.

Berean Standard Bible:

He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Neither shall he multiply^{H7235} wives^{H802} to himself, that his heart^{H3824} turn^{H5493} not away: neither shall he greatly^{H3966} multiply^{H7235} to himself silver^{H3701} and gold^{H2091}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 17:17

Deuteronomy 17:17 is part of a section of the book that outlines laws for future kings of Israel. The historical context of this verse is rooted in the covenant between God and Israel, as Moses prepares the people to enter the Promised Land and sets forth the governance structure for when they establish themselves in Canaan.

**Themes:**

1. **Limitation of Royal Power:** The verse reflects a concern for the potential abuse of power by the king. By prohibiting the accumulation of excessive wealth and multiple wives, the law aims to prevent the king from becoming too powerful or from being led astray by his desires.

2. **Monotheism and Idolatry:** The injunction against multiple wives, particularly foreign ones, is tied to the risk of idolatry. Foreign wives could influence the king and the nation towards the worship of other gods, which was a persistent issue in Israel's history.

3. **Righteous Leadership:** The verse emphasizes the need for the king to be a model of righteousness and piety. By adhering to these restrictions, the king would ideally remain humble and focused on justice and the welfare of his people, rather than personal gain.

4. **Economic Justice:** The prohibition against accumulating large amounts of silver and gold speaks to economic justice and the dangers of wealth disparity. It suggests a model of kingship that is not oriented towards self-enrichment at the expense of the populace.

**Historical Context:**

Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches by Moses before the Israelites cross into Canaan. It is a restatement of the law for a new generation, emphasizing the importance of loyalty to God and the covenant. The laws for kingship would have been an innovation for the Israelites, who had not had a monarchy before. This passage reflects both a practical wisdom gained from the experiences of surrounding nations and a theological perspective that sees the king as servant of Yahweh, subject to the Torah like any other Israelite.

The historical audience would have been aware of the dangers of kings who amassed wealth and wives, as these practices often led to political instability, social injustice, and religious apostasy—all of which were seen as detrimental to the covenant relationship between Israel and God. The verse thus serves as a guide to maintain the unique identity and faithfulness of the Israelite monarchy.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7235
   There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָבָה
   Transliteration: râbâh
   Pronunciation: raw-baw'
   Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
   
2. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3824
   There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵבָב
   Transliteration: lêbâb
   Pronunciation: lay-bawb'
   Description: from לָבַב; used also like לֵב; the heart (as the most interior organ); [phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5493
   There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סוּר
   Transliteration: çûwr
   Pronunciation: soor
   Description: or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3966
   There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְאֹד
   Transliteration: mᵉʼôd
   Pronunciation: meh-ode'
   Description: from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3701
   There are 343 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֶּסֶף
   Transliteration: keçeph
   Pronunciation: keh'-sef
   Description: from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling).
   
7. Strong's Number: H2091
   There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָהָב
   Transliteration: zâhâb
   Pronunciation: zaw-hawb'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather.