King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"A man with crushed or damaged private parts may not enter the assembly of ADONAI.
Berean Standard Bible:
No man with crushed or severed genitals may enter the assembly of the LORD.
American Standard Version:
He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He that is wounded in the stones{H6481}{H1795}, or hath his privy member{H8212} cut off{H3772}, shall not enter{H935} into the congregation{H6951} of the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Galatians 3:28
- There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 56:3
- ¶ Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I [am] a dry tree.
Isaiah 56:4
- For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Deuteronomy 23:2
- A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 23:3
- An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:
Leviticus 21:17
- Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever [he be] of thy seed in their generations that hath [any] blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
Leviticus 21:21
- No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 23:1
Deuteronomy 23:1 is part of a larger section in the book of Deuteronomy that outlines various laws and regulations for the Israelite community. The verse specifically addresses individuals with particular physical injuries, prohibiting those who are "wounded in the stones" (testicles) or have had their "privy member" (penis) cut off from entering the assembly of the Lord, which refers to the religious congregation of Israel.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern understanding of purity, holiness, and the community's relationship with God. In the culture of the time, physical wholeness was often associated with spiritual and ritual fitness. The prohibition may have been intended to maintain the ritual purity of the sanctuary and the assembly, as genital injuries were seen as a form of ritual impurity. This exclusion from the assembly likely meant that such individuals were barred from participating in religious ceremonies and communal worship, which were central to Israelite identity and religious life.
The themes reflected in this verse include the importance of holiness, the connection between physical wholeness and religious participation, and the establishment of boundaries for community membership. It also touches on the broader theme of inclusivity versus exclusivity in religious practice. While the verse may seem harsh or discriminatory by modern standards, it is consistent with the ancient Israelite worldview that emphasized strict adherence to ritual laws as a means of maintaining a distinct and holy community set apart for 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: H6481
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּצַע
Transliteration: pâtsaʻ
Pronunciation: paw-tsah'
Description: a primitive root; to split, i.e. wound; wound. - Strong's Number: H1795
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דַּכָּה
Transliteration: dakkâh
Pronunciation: dak-kaw'
Description: from דָּכָה like דַּכָּא; mutilated; [phrase] wounded. - Strong's Number: H8212
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׇׁפְכָה
Transliteration: shophkâh
Pronunciation: shof-kaw'
Description: feminine of a derivative from שָׁפַךְ; a pipe (for pouring forth, e.g. wine), i.e. the penis; privy member. - Strong's Number: H3772
There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּרַת
Transliteration: kârath
Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H6951
There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָהָל
Transliteration: qâhâl
Pronunciation: kaw-hawl'
Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude. - 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.