Deuteronomy 17:17

KJV

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)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 17:17 presents a divine mandate for the future king of Israel, outlining two critical prohibitions designed to safeguard his heart and ensure faithful governance: the multiplication of wives and the excessive accumulation of silver and gold. These restrictions aim to prevent the king from spiritual deviation through foreign influences and idolatry, and from developing a reliance on material wealth rather than on God, thereby preserving the unique covenant relationship between the monarch, the nation, and the Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a broader section of the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22) that details the civil and religious institutions of Israel, including judges, priests, prophets, and kings. Specifically, [Deuteronomy 17:14-20](/deuteronomy/17-14 "Deuteronomy 17:14-20 - Statutes for the King") outlines the statutes for the king, anticipating Israel's future desire for a monarch. The preceding verse, [Deuteronomy 17:16](/deuteronomy/17-16 "Deuteronomy 17:16 - Prohibition against Multiplying Horses"), prohibits the king from multiplying horses and returning to Egypt, emphasizing a reliance on divine power rather than military might or foreign alliances. These regulations collectively serve as a divinely inspired constitution for the monarchy, designed to ensure the king's rule would be righteous, humble, and entirely dependent on God, preventing the abuses of power common among Near Eastern rulers.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, kings often solidified political alliances through strategic marriages to foreign princesses. These marriages frequently introduced foreign deities and religious practices into the royal court, posing a direct threat to Israel's monotheistic covenant with Yahweh. The accumulation of vast wealth was also a common practice among ancient monarchs, signifying power and often leading to oppressive taxation or a reliance on personal riches rather than divine provision. Deuteronomy's prohibitions directly counter these prevalent cultural norms, setting Israel's king apart as one whose authority and security derived from God alone, not from worldly power, alliances, or material possessions. The text reflects God's foresight regarding the temptations and pitfalls inherent in kingship.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 17:17 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **spiritual fidelity and the danger of distraction**. The explicit reason for limiting wives—"that his heart turn not away"—highlights the ever-present threat of idolatry and apostasy, a theme vividly illustrated later in the life of [King Solomon, whose many foreign wives indeed turned his heart after other gods](/1_kings/11-4 "1 Kings 11:4 - Solomon's Heart Turned from God"). Secondly, the prohibition against excessive wealth emphasizes **humility and trust in God over materialism**. It warns against the pride and false security that riches can engender, echoing broader biblical warnings about the [love of money being a root of all evil](/1_timothy/6-10 "1 Timothy 6:10 - The Root of All Evil"). Finally, the verse speaks to the crucial theme of **integrity of leadership**, establishing a standard for the king as a shepherd who upholds God's Law and exemplifies a heart devoted solely to the Lord, rather than worldly pursuits.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Multiply (Hebrew, _rabah'_):** This verb (רָבָה) signifies "to become numerous," "to increase," or "to be great." The repetition of this term ("neither shall he multiply... neither shall he greatly multiply") emphasizes the danger not just of having wives or wealth, but of accumulating them to an excessive, self-aggrandizing degree. It points to a quantitative excess that inevitably leads to a qualitative spiritual decline, rather than an absolute prohibition on having any wives or any wealth.
* **Turn away (Hebrew, _sur'_):** The Hebrew verb (סוּר) means "to turn aside," "to deviate," or "to depart." In this context, it vividly conveys the spiritual danger of apostasy—a deviation from the covenant relationship with God. The king's heart, the seat of his will and affections, is the target of this warning, as its turning away would inevitably lead to a turning away of the nation from God's commands.
* **Heart (Hebrew, _levav'_):** The term (לֵבָב) refers to the inner self, encompassing intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. The instruction to prevent the heart from turning away underscores that true obedience and fidelity to God originate from an internal disposition, not merely external compliance. The king's spiritual state was paramount because it directly impacted his governance and the spiritual well-being of the entire nation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Neither shall he multiply wives to himself":** This clause directly addresses the practice of polygamy, specifically as it pertains to the king. While polygamy was present in ancient Israel, the king's multiplication of wives, particularly foreign ones, was seen as a significant spiritual hazard. It was not merely about the number of spouses, but the associated political alliances and the introduction of idolatrous practices that threatened the king's singular devotion to Yahweh.
* **"that his heart turn not away":** This is the explicit theological rationale for the prohibition against multiplying wives. The "heart" (levav) represents the core of one's being, the seat of intellect, will, and emotion. The danger was that foreign wives would introduce foreign gods and customs, leading the king's affections and loyalties away from the Lord, resulting in apostasy and spiritual compromise for both the king and the nation he led.
* **"neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold":** This second prohibition targets the excessive accumulation of wealth. While a king needed resources to govern, "greatly multiplying" silver and gold indicated a reliance on material riches rather than divine provision. Such wealth could foster pride, lead to oppressive taxation of the people, and create a false sense of security, diverting the king's trust from God to his own treasury.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 17:17 employs several potent literary devices. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the two prohibitions ("multiply wives" and "greatly multiply silver and gold") echo a similar underlying concern: the danger of worldly accumulation leading to spiritual compromise. The structure highlights that both excesses pose an equivalent threat to the king's heart. **Metonymy** is also at play with the use of "heart" to represent the king's entire inner being, including his loyalty, affections, and spiritual devotion. The phrase "turn not away" functions as a **Proleptic Warning**, anticipating future temptations and failures (like Solomon's) and providing a clear divine safeguard. Finally, the verse uses **Hyperbole** in "greatly multiply" to emphasize the *excessive* nature of the accumulation, rather than a total ban, underscoring the spiritual hazard of covetousness and self-reliance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 17:17 serves as a foundational text for understanding the nature of godly leadership and the pervasive dangers of idolatry, whether it manifests as relational compromise or material covetousness. It establishes that true security and authority for God's chosen leader derive solely from an undivided heart devoted to the Lord, not from worldly power, human alliances, or accumulated wealth. The principle that "his heart turn not away" underscores the critical importance of spiritual fidelity, recognizing that external possessions or relationships can easily become idols that divert one's ultimate allegiance from God. This divine instruction anticipates the repeated struggles of Israel's kings with idolatry and materialism, demonstrating God's consistent concern for the purity of worship and the integrity of His covenant people.

* [Deuteronomy 17:16](/deuteronomy/17-16 "Prohibition against Multiplying Horses")
* [1 Samuel 8:10-18](/1_samuel/8-10 "Samuel's Warning about Kings")
* [Proverbs 30:8-9](/proverbs/30-8 "Agur's Prayer for Contentment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While specifically addressed to the king of Israel, the principles embedded in Deuteronomy 17:17 resonate deeply with all believers today, offering timeless wisdom for guarding our hearts in a world constantly vying for our devotion. We are called to exercise self-restraint and vigilance against anything that might compromise our singular allegiance to God. This means discerning relationships and pursuits that could draw us away from spiritual purity, and cultivating contentment rather than an insatiable desire for more. Our true security and identity are found not in what we possess or who we know, but in our unwavering trust in God's provision and His guiding Word. The verse challenges us to examine our own "hearts"—our deepest affections and motivations—and to continually re-align them with the Lord's will, ensuring that our lives are built on divine principles rather than worldly desires or perceived securities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "wives" or "silver and gold" in my life (relationships, possessions, ambitions) have the potential to turn my heart away from God?**
* **How can I cultivate a spirit of contentment and trust in God's provision, rather than seeking security in material accumulation?**
* **In what areas of my life or leadership am I tempted to rely on worldly power or resources instead of divine guidance and strength?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "guard my heart with all diligence" against distractions and idols?**

### FAQ
**Why is the multiplication of wives specifically prohibited for the king, when polygamy was practiced in ancient Israel?**

Answer: While polygamy existed in ancient Israelite society, the prohibition for the king in [Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Deuteronomy 17:17 - King's Restrictions") is distinct and carries significant theological weight. The primary concern was not merely the number of wives, but the strategic marriages kings often made with foreign princesses to forge political alliances. These foreign wives frequently brought their own pagan deities and religious practices into the royal court, directly threatening the king's—and by extension, the nation's—exclusive covenant loyalty to Yahweh. The text explicitly states the reason: "that his heart turn not away." This was a safeguard against idolatry and spiritual apostasy, as tragically exemplified by [King Solomon, whose many foreign wives led him to worship other gods](/1_kings/11-4 "1 Kings 11:4 - Solomon's Wives Turn His Heart"). The king was meant to be a model of covenant fidelity, and this restriction aimed to preserve that purity.

**Does the prohibition against multiplying silver and gold mean that wealth itself is evil?**

Answer: No, the verse does not condemn wealth itself, nor does it prohibit a king from having necessary resources for governance. The key phrase is "greatly multiply," indicating an *excessive* accumulation. The danger lies in the *love* of money and the *reliance* on wealth as a source of security, power, or identity, rather than on God. Excessive riches can foster pride, lead to oppression of the people, and divert the heart from divine trust. Jesus himself warned about the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven ([Matthew 19:23-24](/matthew/19-23 "Matthew 19:23-24 - The Rich Young Ruler")), and the apostle Paul taught that [the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil](/1_timothy/6-10 "1 Timothy 6:10 - The Root of All Evil"). The command is about preventing wealth from becoming an idol that competes with one's devotion to the Lord.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 17:17, with its divine blueprint for a king whose heart remains undivided and whose trust rests solely in God, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Unlike the earthly kings who repeatedly failed to adhere to these divine mandates—most notably [Solomon, whose heart was indeed turned away by his many wives](/1_kings/11-4 "1 Kings 11:4 - Solomon's Heart Turned") and whose vast wealth became a source of pride—Jesus perfectly embodies the ideal monarch. He had no earthly kingdom to multiply, declaring, "[My kingdom is not of this world](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World")". He possessed no material wealth, choosing instead to live a life of humility and poverty, becoming poor for our sake ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Poverty for Our Sake")). His heart never turned away from the Father; rather, He perfectly fulfilled the Father's will, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Jesus’s leadership was characterized by humble service, not worldly power or accumulation ([Matthew 20:25-28](/matthew/20-25 "Matthew 20:25-28 - Servant Leadership")). He is the King whose heart is eternally undivided, whose trust is absolutely in God, and who perfectly demonstrates that true kingship is found in complete dependence on the Father and self-sacrificial love, not in the multiplication of worldly possessions or alliances. He is the one who was [tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest"), proving Himself the untainted and faithful King.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nehemiah 13:26

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

Proverbs 30:8

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Proverbs 30:9

Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].

Matthew 19:5

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Genesis 2:24

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

1 Kings 11:1

¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites;

1 Kings 11:4

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.