Deuteronomy 18:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For whoever does these things is detestable to ADONAI, and because of these abominations ADONAI your God is driving them out ahead of you.

Berean Standard Bible:

For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.

American Standard Version:

For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For all that do^{H6213} these things are an abomination^{H8441} unto the LORD^{H3068}: and because^{H1558} of these abominations^{H8441} the LORD^{H3068} thy God^{H430} doth drive them out^{H3423} from before^{H6440} thee.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 18:12

Deuteronomy 18:12 is part of a larger section in the book of Deuteronomy that deals with the establishment of proper worship practices for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The verse itself is a condemnation of various pagan practices that were common among the nations that inhabited Canaan before the Israelites.

**Themes:**
1. **Purity of Worship:** The overarching theme of this verse is the purity of worship. God commands the Israelites to avoid the worship practices of the nations they are displacing. This includes various forms of divination and occult practices that were considered detestable to the Lord.

2. **Separation from Paganism:** The Israelites are called to be a distinct people, set apart for God. This involves rejecting the religious and cultural practices of the surrounding nations, which are seen as incompatible with the worship of the one true God.

3. **Moral Purity:** The verse reflects a broader theme of moral purity. The practices mentioned are not only religious but also involve moral compromises that God finds abhorrent.

4. **Divine Justice:** The verse hints at the theme of divine justice, where God drives out the nations because of their abominable practices, underscoring the idea that God judges sin and that moral and religious integrity are important to Him.

**Historical Context:**
Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches by Moses to the Israelites as they stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The book is set in the context of a covenant renewal ceremony and functions as a sort of "second law" or "repetition of the law," which is what "Deuteronomy" means.

The Israelites are about to encounter the religious practices of the Canaanites, which included child sacrifice, divination, witchcraft, and various other pagan rituals. Deuteronomy 18:12 is part of God's instructions to Moses to warn the people against adopting these practices. It is a call to maintain their religious and cultural identity as the people of Yahweh, marked by fidelity to His covenant and laws.

In summary, Deuteronomy 18:12 emphasizes the importance of pure worship and moral conduct according to God's laws, warning the Israelites against the adoption of pagan practices that would lead to their being expelled from the land, just as the Canaanites were.

*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: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
2. Strong's Number: H8441
   There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוֹעֵבַה
   Transliteration: tôwʻêbah
   Pronunciation: to-ay-baw'
   Description: or תֹּעֵבַה; feminine active participle of תַּעָב; properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol; abominable (custom, thing), abomination.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1558
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּלָל
   Transliteration: gâlâl
   Pronunciation: gaw-lawl'
   Description: from גָּלַל; a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of; because of, for (sake).
   
5. 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.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.