Deuteronomy 23:3

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

An Ammonite {H5984} or Moabite {H4125} shall not enter {H935} into the congregation {H6951} of the LORD {H3068}; even to their tenth {H6224} generation {H1755} shall they not enter {H935} into the congregation {H6951} of the LORD {H3068} for {H5704} ever {H5769}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"No 'Amoni or Mo'avi may enter the assembly of ADONAI, nor may any of his descendants down to the tenth generation ever enter the assembly of ADONAI,

Berean Standard Bible

No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation.

American Standard Version

An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Jehovah for ever:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 23:3 establishes a strict and enduring prohibition against Ammonites and Moabites entering "the congregation of the LORD," extending this exclusion even to their tenth generation and "for ever." This law, rooted in their historical acts of hostility and lack of hospitality towards Israel during the Exodus, served to protect the purity and covenant integrity of God's chosen people, underscoring the serious consequences of opposing divine purposes and the importance of maintaining a distinct, holy community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 23:3 is situated within a series of laws concerning the purity and integrity of the Israelite community, particularly those permitted or forbidden from entering "the congregation of the LORD." This section (Deuteronomy 23:1-8) immediately follows laws regarding vows and precedes regulations on various aspects of daily life and worship. As part of Moses' final discourse before Israel enters the Promised Land, these laws emphasize the standards of holiness and separation required for a people in covenant with God. The specific exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites stands in contrast to the conditional acceptance of Edomites and Egyptians mentioned just a few verses later, highlighting the unique severity of their offense.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prohibition against Ammonites and Moabites stems directly from their actions during Israel's journey from Egypt to Canaan. As detailed in [Deuteronomy 23:4](/deuteronomy/23-4 "Deuteronomy 23:4 - Reason for Exclusion"), these nations failed to offer aid ("bread and water") to the weary Israelites, a grave breach of ancient Near Eastern hospitality norms, and actively sought to harm them by hiring Balaam to curse them (Numbers 22-24). Despite being distantly related to Israel through Lot ([Genesis 19:37-38](/genesis/19-37 "Genesis 19:37-38 - Origin of Ammon and Moab")), their consistent animosity and attempts to undermine Israel's spiritual and physical well-being led to this severe and lasting divine judgment. This context underscores God's protective care for His people and the consequences of national enmity against His covenant purposes.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it emphasizes the **Purity of the Congregation**, defining who belongs and who is excluded from the sacred assembly of Israel, which was central to their identity as God's holy nation. The "congregation of the LORD" (Hebrew: *qahal Yahweh*) refers to the divinely established community of covenant people, where God's presence was manifested and His laws observed. Secondly, it highlights the **Consequences of Hostility**, demonstrating that actions against God's chosen people incurred severe and long-term divine judgment, serving as a deterrent and a reminder of God's justice. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Divine Protection**, illustrating God's unwavering commitment to safeguarding Israel from external threats and ensuring the integrity of their covenant relationship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ammonite/Moabite (Hebrew, _ʿAmmōnî/Môʾābî'_):** These terms refer to the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, who established the nations of Ammon and Moab east of the Jordan River. While sharing a distant familial connection with Israel, their national identities were marked by a history of antagonism, including their refusal of passage and provision to the Israelites during the Exodus, and their attempt to curse Israel through Balaam. Their specific exclusion from the "congregation of the LORD" highlights that this was not a blanket prohibition against all foreigners, but a targeted judgment based on specific historical acts of hostility against God's people.
* **Congregation of the LORD (Hebrew, _qāhāl Yahweh'_):** This phrase denotes the assembled community of Israel, particularly in its religious and judicial functions. It signifies more than just a physical gathering; it represents the sacred, covenantal body of God's people, where His presence resided and His laws were administered. To "enter into the congregation of the LORD" meant to be fully integrated into the civic, religious, and social life of Israel, including participation in its worship, legal proceedings, and communal blessings. The exclusion from this body was a profound spiritual and social ostracism.
* **For ever (Hebrew, _ʿad ʿôlām'_):** This Hebrew idiom typically signifies an indefinite period, often a very long time, lasting as long as the current order or covenant endures, rather than absolute eternity in all contexts. When paired with "tenth generation," it emphasizes the severity and enduring nature of the prohibition within the Old Covenant framework. It conveys a sense of permanence and a deep-seated, long-lasting judgment against the Ammonites and Moabites for their actions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD;":** This clause declares a definitive and absolute prohibition. The "congregation of the LORD" refers to the sacred assembly of Israel, the covenant community. "Entering" implies full participation in the religious, social, and civic life of the nation, including marriage into Israelite families and holding positions of authority. This was a severe exclusion, marking these nations as fundamentally outside the privileged covenant relationship, due to their past enmity.
* **"even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:":** This second clause intensifies and clarifies the duration of the prohibition. "Tenth generation" is a symbolic number in Hebrew thought, often signifying completeness or an extremely long, perpetual duration, rather than a literal count. It functions as a hyperbolic expression to underscore the permanence of the exclusion. The repetition of "shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever" reinforces the lasting and unyielding nature of this divine decree, emphasizing that this judgment was deeply ingrained in the covenant law.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices. **Repetition** is evident in the repeated phrase "the congregation of the LORD," which serves to emphasize the specific body from which exclusion is mandated and highlights its sanctity and importance. The phrase "shall not enter" is also repeated implicitly, reinforcing the absolute nature of the prohibition. The use of "tenth generation" functions as **Hyperbole** or a **Symbolic Number**, conveying an extreme, virtually perpetual duration rather than a literal count of generations. This device underscores the severity and lasting impact of the divine judgment. Furthermore, the declarative and absolute phrasing ("shall not enter") exemplifies **Legal Language**, characteristic of the Deuteronomic code, establishing a clear and uncompromising decree from God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 23:3 profoundly illustrates God's concern for the purity and integrity of His covenant people. The exclusion of the Ammonites and Moabites, rooted in their historical hostility, underscores the principle that actions against God's chosen nation have serious and lasting consequences within the divine economy. It reveals God as a protector of His people, setting boundaries to safeguard their unique identity and holiness. This law, while seemingly absolute, also serves to highlight the distinctiveness of Israel as a holy nation, set apart for God's purposes. However, the Old Testament itself provides a remarkable counterpoint to this strict legal decree, demonstrating God's sovereign grace.

* [Ruth 4:13-22](/ruth/4-13 "Ruth 4:13-22 - Ruth's Lineage to David")
* [Nehemiah 13:1-3](/nehemiah/13-1 "Nehemiah 13:1-3 - Nehemiah's Enforcement of Exclusion")
* [Ezra 9:1-2](/ezra/9-1 "Ezra 9:1-2 - Intermarriage with Foreigners")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ethnic exclusion of Deuteronomy 23:3 is part of the Old Covenant law and does not apply literally to the New Testament church, its underlying spiritual principles remain profoundly relevant. This passage calls us to reflect on the nature of God's "congregation" today – the Church – and the importance of its purity and integrity. Just as God protected Israel from those who actively sought to undermine its covenant relationship, so too must the church be discerning about influences that threaten its spiritual health and witness. It reminds us that genuine repentance and allegiance to God are prerequisites for full participation in His community. The story of Ruth, a Moabitess who became an ancestor of Christ, serves as a powerful testament to God's boundless grace, demonstrating that while the law sets boundaries, God's mercy can transcend them for those who genuinely turn to Him in faith and loyalty. This encourages us to embrace a posture of both discernment and radical inclusivity, recognizing that God's ultimate desire is for all nations to come into His saving embrace through Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's concern for the "purity of the congregation" in the Old Testament inform our understanding of the Church today?**
* **In what ways might spiritual "hostility" or unrepentant sin hinder full participation in God's community?**
* **How does the story of Ruth challenge or deepen our understanding of this seemingly absolute prohibition?**

### FAQ
**Does this mean all Ammonites and Moabites were eternally condemned?**

Answer: No, the prohibition in Deuteronomy 23:3 was specifically about entering "the congregation of the LORD," which refers to full participation in the civic, religious, and social life of the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant. It did not necessarily mean eternal condemnation for every individual Ammonite or Moabite. The case of Ruth, a Moabitess who through genuine faith and loyalty to God and His people was not only accepted but became an ancestress of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ ([Matthew 1:5](/matthew/1-5 "Matthew 1:5 - Ruth in Jesus' Genealogy")), clearly demonstrates that God's grace could extend to individuals from these nations who turned to Him. The law served a corporate purpose of protecting Israel's distinct identity and holiness, but it did not negate God's ability to save individuals from any nation who genuinely sought Him.

**How does this law relate to God's love for all nations?**

Answer: This law, while seemingly exclusive, must be understood within the context of the Old Covenant, where God was establishing a distinct, holy nation through whom He would reveal Himself to the world. The exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites was a specific judgment for their historical acts of hostility against God's chosen people during a critical period ([Deuteronomy 23:4](/deuteronomy/23-4 "Deuteronomy 23:4 - Reason for Exclusion")). It does not contradict God's universal love, which is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Covenant. Even in the Old Testament, God demonstrated mercy to non-Israelites who turned to Him (e.g., Rahab, Naaman, Jonah's mission to Nineveh). This law served to protect Israel's unique role as the vessel of God's revelation, a role that ultimately prepared the way for the Messiah, through whom God's salvation would be offered to all nations, breaking down all barriers of ethnicity and background ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 23:3, with its seemingly absolute exclusion, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the radical inclusivity of the New Covenant. The "congregation of the LORD" in the Old Testament, defined by lineage and covenant allegiance, foreshadows the Church, the spiritual body of Christ, where barriers of ethnicity and national origin are abolished. In Christ, the dividing wall of hostility has been broken down ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Breaks Down the Dividing Wall")). Gentiles, once "strangers and foreigners," are now "fellowcitizens with the saints and members of the household of God" ([Ephesians 2:19](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19 - Gentiles as Fellow Citizens")). The story of Ruth, a Moabitess who, through faith and allegiance to the God of Israel, became an ancestor of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ ([Ruth 4:13-22](/ruth/4-13 "Ruth 4:13-22 - Ruth's Lineage to David")), stands as a powerful prophetic precursor to this New Covenant reality. Jesus, the ultimate [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), opens the door for all, regardless of their past national or ethnic identity, to enter the true spiritual "congregation" of God through faith in His atoning work. Thus, the strict Old Testament prohibition, designed to preserve the purity of a physical nation, gives way to the glorious truth that in Christ, all who believe are welcomed into God's family, forming a new spiritual nation, a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession" ([1_peter/2-9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race")).

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 13:1

¶ On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

Nehemiah 13:2

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Nehemiah 4:3

Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

Nehemiah 4:7

¶ But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

Ruth 4:6

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem [it] for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem [it].

Nehemiah 13:23

¶ In those days also saw I Jews [that] had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:

Ruth 4:10

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day.