TRV
Translation
King James Version
And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then all Isra'el will hear about it and be afraid, so that they will stop doing such wickedness as this among themselves.
Berean Standard Bible
Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.
American Standard Version
And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee.
World English Bible Messianic
All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more wickedness like this in your midst.
Geneva Bible (1599)
That all Israel may heare and feare, and doe no more any such wickednesse as this among you.
Young's Literal Translation
and all Israel do hear and fear, and add not to do like this evil thing in thy midst.
In the KJVVerse 5,284 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Deuteronomy 13 verses 6–11
6 ¶ If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:
9 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.
10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.
Further provision is made by this branch of the statute against receiving the infection of idolatry from those that are near and dear to us.
I. It is the policy of the tempter to send his solicitations by the hand of those whom we love, whom we least suspect of any ill design upon us, and whom we are desirous to please and apt to conform ourselves to. The enticement here is supposed to come from a brother or child that are near by nature, from a wife or friend that are near by choice, and are to us as our own souls, Deu 13:6. Satan tempted Adam by Eve and Christ by Peter. We are therefore concerned to stand upon our guard against a bad proposal when the person that makes it can pretend to an interest in us, that we many never sin against God in compliment to the best friend we have in the world. The temptation is supposed to be private: he will entice thee secretly, implying that idolatry is a work of darkness, which dreads the light and covets to be concealed, and in which the sinner promises himself, and the tempter promises him, secrecy and security. Concerning the false gods proposed to be served, 1. The tempter suggests that the worshipping of these gods was the common practice of the world; and, if they limited their adorations to an invisible Deity, they were singular, and like nobody, for these gods were the gods of the people round about them, and indeed of all the nations of the earth, Deu 13:7. This suggestion draws many away from religion and godliness, that it is an unfashionable thing; and they make their court to the world and the flesh because these are the gods of the people that are round about them. 2. Moses suggests, in opposition to this, that it had not been the practice of their ancestors; they are gods which thou hast not known, thou nor thy fathers. Those that are born of godly parents, and have been educated in pious exercises, when they are enticed to a vain, loose, careless way of living should remember that those are ways which they have not known, they nor their fathers. And will they thus degenerate?
II. It is our duty to prefer God and religion before the best friends we have in the world. 1. We must not, in complaisance to our friends, break God's law (Deu 13:8): "Thou shalt not consent to him. nor go with him to his idolatrous worship, no, not for company, or curiosity, or to gain a better interest in is affections." It is a general rule, If sinners entice thee, consent thou not, Pro 1:10. 2. We must not, in compassion to our friends, obstruct the course of God's justice. He that attempts such a thing must not only be looked upon as an enemy, or dangerous person, whom one should be afraid of, and swear the peace against, but as a criminal or traitor, whom, in zeal for our sovereign Lord, his crown and dignity, we are bound to inform against, and cannot conceal without incurring the guilt of a great misprision (Deu 13:9): Thou shalt surely kill him. By this law the persons enticed were bound to the seducer, and to give evidence against him before the proper judges, that he might suffer the penalty of the law, and that without delay, which the Jews say is here intended in that phrase, as it is in the Hebrew, killing thou shalt kill him. Neither the prosecution nor the execution must be deferred; and he that was first in the former must be first in the latter, to show that he stood to his testimony: "Thy hand shall be first upon him, to mark him out as an anathema, and then the hands of all the people, to put him away as an accursed thing." The death he must die was that which was looked upon among the Jews as the severest of all deaths. He must be stoned: and his accusation written is that he has sought to thrust thee away, by a kind of violence, from the Lord they God, Deu 13:10. Those are certainly our worst enemies that would thrust us from God, our best friend; and whatever draws us to sin, separates between us and God, is a design upon our life, and to be resented accordingly, And, lastly, here is the good effect of this necessary execution (Deu 13:11): All Israel shall hear and fear. They ought to hear and fear; for the punishment of crimes committed is designed in terrorem - to terrify, and so to prevent their repetition. And it is to be hoped they will hear and fear, and by the severity of the punishment, especially when it is at the prosecution of a father, a brother, or a friend, will be made to conceive a horror of the sin, as exceedingly sinful, and to be afraid of incurring the like punishment themselves. Smite the scorner that sins presumptuously, and the simple, that is in danger of sinning carelessly, will beware.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 6–11. Public domain.
Copy as
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Deuteronomy 13:11 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 13:11 serves as a potent concluding declaration to the severe mandates against those who would entice Israel into idolatry. This verse encapsulates the profound purpose and intended outcome of the Mosaic covenant's stringent laws, designed not merely as punitive measures but as a communal safeguard. It highlights the principle that the public execution of justice for spiritual treason would instill a reverential fear of God throughout the nation, thereby preventing future apostasy and preserving the purity of Israel's exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 13:11 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. Deterrence is the overarching principle, where the severity of the prescribed punishment is explicitly stated to prevent future transgressions. The verse functions as a clear warning, using the consequence of one's actions to influence the behavior of others. There is also an element of Hyperbole or Strong Exaggeration in the absolute nature of the command ("no more any such wickedness"), emphasizing the zero-tolerance policy towards idolatry that was crucial for Israel's unique identity as God's holy nation. The phrase "all Israel" demonstrates Synecdoche, where a part (each individual hearing and fearing) represents the whole (the entire nation's collective response and transformation). Finally, the verse is steeped in Covenant Language, reinforcing the conditional nature of Israel's relationship with Yahweh, where obedience leads to blessing and disobedience to judgment, thereby underscoring the serious implications of covenant faithfulness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 13:11 profoundly illustrates God's unyielding commitment to His covenant and His holy character. It reveals that God's justice is not merely retributive but also redemptive and preventative, aiming to preserve the spiritual purity and faithfulness of His people. The severity of the punishment for idolatry underscores the absolute exclusivity of Yahweh's claim over Israel and the immense danger of spiritual compromise, which threatens the very foundation of their relationship with Him. This principle extends beyond the specific act of idol worship to encompass any allegiance that displaces God from His rightful supreme position in our lives, demanding total devotion and warning against anything that would lead us or others away from Him. The divine intent is to cultivate a profound reverence that safeguards the community from spiritual decay.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific judicial penalties of ancient Israel are not directly applied in modern civil law or under the New Covenant, the underlying principles of Deuteronomy 13:11 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the extreme seriousness with which God views anything that leads His people away from Him. In contemporary terms, "idolatry" can manifest as materialism, self-worship, the pursuit of power, the elevation of human ideologies, or placing any created thing or philosophy above the Creator. We are called to cultivate a healthy, reverential fear of God that motivates us to flee from all forms of spiritual compromise and to uphold sound doctrine. The communal aspect reminds us that individual choices have ripple effects; a healthy spiritual community thrives when its members are committed to upholding truth and holiness, understanding that our choices affect the entire body of Christ. We are to learn from the consequences of sin, both in biblical narratives and in our own lives, allowing God's justice to cultivate a profound reverence that inspires obedience and moral purity, fostering a collective commitment to Christ.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God command such harsh punishments for idolatry in ancient Israel?
Answer: The severe punishments for idolatry, such as stoning and the destruction of a city, were commanded because idolatry was considered the ultimate act of treason against Yahweh, the sovereign King of Israel. Unlike other nations, Israel's national identity and very existence were predicated on their exclusive covenant relationship with God. Idolatry was not merely a religious error but a direct attack on the foundation of their society, threatening to corrupt the entire nation and lead to its destruction. The harshness served as a powerful deterrent, a public lesson to "all Israel" that such spiritual infidelity would not be tolerated, thereby safeguarding the purity of their worship and preserving the nation's unique role as God's chosen people in a pagan world. It demonstrated the infinite value God placed on His covenant and His holy character, ensuring the preservation of His people and their witness.
Is the principle of "deterrence" from this verse still applicable to believers today, even without the physical punishments?
Answer: Yes, the principle of deterrence remains highly applicable, though its manifestation differs under the New Covenant. While believers are not subject to the civil penalties of ancient Israel, the spiritual consequences of sin, particularly spiritual compromise and "modern idolatry" (e.g., materialism, self-worship), are still severe. The New Testament warns against the dangers of false teaching and spiritual deception, emphasizing the importance of discernment and adherence to biblical truth (e.g., Paul's warning to the Galatians). The "fear of the Lord" for believers is a reverential awe that motivates obedience and a desire to avoid anything that grieves the Holy Spirit or leads others astray. We learn from the consequences of sin, both in biblical narratives and in our own lives, recognizing that God's justice is real, and that spiritual purity is vital for individual and communal flourishing in Christ.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 13:11, with its emphasis on eradicating wickedness and preserving purity through severe judgment, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in the stoning of idolaters, but in the perfect obedience and sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. The "wickedness" of idolatry, at its core, is humanity's turning away from God, a pervasive sin that permeates all of humanity (as described in Romans 3:23). While the Old Covenant law prescribed death for those who led Israel astray, the New Covenant reveals God's ultimate solution to sin and apostasy through His Son. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, perfectly fulfilled the demands of the Law, bearing the full judgment for humanity's "wickedness" on the cross. His sacrifice was the definitive act of deterrence against sin, not by instilling fear of earthly punishment, but by demonstrating the infinite cost of sin and the boundless love of God (Romans 5:8). Through faith in Christ, believers are cleansed from the wickedness of idolatry and empowered by the Holy Spirit to "do no more any such wickedness," not out of fear of stoning, but out of love and gratitude for their redemption and new life in Him. The New Covenant community is called to purity, not by executing physical judgment, but by discerning truth, fleeing from all forms of spiritual compromise, and living in light of Christ's finished work, knowing that He is the one who will ultimately judge all wickedness and establish perfect righteousness (Revelation 20:11-15).