Deuteronomy 13:9

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.

But thou shalt surely {H2026} kill {H2026} him; thine hand {H3027} shall be first {H7223} upon him to put him to death {H4191}, and afterwards {H314} the hand {H3027} of all the people {H5971}.

Rather, you must kill him! Your own hand must be the first one on him in putting him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people.

Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.

but thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:9 is a powerful and stark verse within the Mosaic Law, outlining the severe consequences for those who attempt to lead others astray into idolatry. It states: "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." This command underscores the absolute priority of Yahweh's worship in ancient Israel.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy Chapter 13, which addresses the crucial issue of preserving Israel's spiritual purity. The chapter begins by warning against false prophets who perform signs and wonders but lead people to serve other gods (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). It then shifts to the even more painful scenario of a close relative or friend—a son, daughter, wife, or best friend—secretly enticing someone to worship other gods (Deuteronomy 13:6-8). Verse 9 provides the prescribed punishment for such an enticer, emphasizing the gravity of the offense against God and the community. This law aimed to protect the covenant nation from spiritual corruption, which was seen as a direct threat to their unique relationship with God.

Key Themes

  • Zero Tolerance for Idolatry: The command highlights the absolute intolerance for any form of idolatry within Israel. Worship of Yahweh alone was the cornerstone of their national identity and covenant with God, as established in the Ten Commandments.
  • Communal Responsibility: The phrase "thine hand shall be first upon him... and afterwards the hand of all the people" signifies that the entire community bore responsibility for upholding the law and purging evil from their midst. The accuser had to be the first to act, which served both as a deterrent against false accusations and an affirmation of the witness's conviction.
  • Severity of Justice: The death penalty for leading others into idolatry demonstrates the extreme seriousness of this sin in God's eyes. It was considered an act of treason against the divine King.
  • Protection of the Covenant: These harsh measures were designed to safeguard the purity of Israel's worship and ensure their faithfulness to the covenant, thereby protecting their blessings and identity as God's chosen people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "thou shalt surely kill him" uses a Hebrew idiom known as the infinitive absolute (`mot tamit`), which intensifies the verb. It translates literally as "dying you shall cause to die" or "you shall surely put him to death." This construction conveys absolute certainty and emphasizes the unnegotiable nature of the command and the severity of the punishment.

Practical Application

While the literal application of this law belongs to the context of ancient Israel's unique theocratic government, the underlying principles offer profound spiritual lessons for believers today:

  • Vigilance Against Spiritual Idolatry: We are called to be vigilant against anything that replaces God in our lives or entices us away from Him. This can include materialism, power, pleasure, or even self-worship. The New Testament calls us to "put to death" anything that resembles spiritual idolatry in our hearts.
  • Protection of Faith: We must guard our own faith and the faith of our community from false teachings and influences that would lead us astray from biblical truth. Discernment is crucial in an age of diverse spiritual claims.
  • Seriousness of Sin: This verse reminds us of the profound seriousness of sin, particularly that which leads others away from God. It highlights God's demand for exclusive devotion and holiness.
  • Communal Purity: Though the method of enforcement has changed, the principle of a community striving for spiritual purity and holding its members accountable remains relevant. Believers are called to encourage one another in faithfulness and to address destructive influences within the church body, albeit through spiritual discipline rather than physical punishment.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 14:26 (2 votes)

    If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Matthew 10:37 (2 votes)

    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

  • Acts 7:58 (2 votes)

    And cast [him] out of the city, and stoned [him]: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

  • Deuteronomy 17:2 (2 votes)

    If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

  • Deuteronomy 17:7 (2 votes)

    The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

  • John 8:7 (2 votes)

    So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.