Deuteronomy 30:17

But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

But if thine heart {H3824} turn away {H6437}, so that thou wilt not hear {H8085}, but shalt be drawn away {H5080}, and worship {H7812} other {H312} gods {H430}, and serve {H5647} them;

But if your heart turns away, if you refuse to listen, if you are drawn away to prostrate yourselves before other gods and serve them;

But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,

But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

Commentary

Deuteronomy 30:17 serves as a solemn warning within Moses' final discourse to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. This verse outlines the dire consequences if the people choose to abandon their covenant with God.

Context

This verse is part of a pivotal section in Deuteronomy Chapter 30, which follows the extensive list of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience found in Deuteronomy 28. Moses presents the nation with a profound choice: life and prosperity through obedience to God's commands, or death and destruction through turning away. Verses 15-20 of chapter 30 particularly emphasize this choice, urging them to choose life. Deuteronomy 30:17 specifically addresses the negative alternative, detailing the path to spiritual ruin.

Key Themes

  • The Condition of the Heart: The phrase "if thine heart turn away" highlights that true obedience begins internally. It's not merely about outward actions but the deepest desires and loyalties of the soul. A heart turned away from God is the root cause of spiritual deviation and the primary focus of this warning against idolatry.
  • Disobedience and Idolatry: The verse directly links a straying heart to a refusal to "hear" (obey) God's voice, leading to being "drawn away" into worshipping and serving "other gods." This speaks to the constant temptation for Israel, surrounded by pagan nations, to adopt their practices and deities. Idolatry was the ultimate betrayal of their covenant with the one true God, a direct violation of the First Commandment.
  • The Nature of Spiritual Drifting: The phrase "shalt be drawn away" suggests a gradual, seductive process rather than an abrupt rebellion. It implies being enticed or lured by external influences and false promises, leading one astray from divine truth and the covenant relationship with God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "turn away" (ืกื•ึผืจ - sur) implies a departure, a deviation from the right path. It conveys the idea of straying or turning aside from the covenant relationship with God. Similarly, "drawn away" (ื ื“ื— - nadach) suggests being impelled, driven, or seduced into error, often implying an external force or temptation leading one astray from faithfulness.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 30:17 remains incredibly relevant for believers today. It serves as a timeless warning against spiritual apathy and the dangers of allowing our hearts to drift from God. In a world filled with distractions and competing loyalties, anything that takes the place of God in our affections or priorities can become an "other god." This could manifest as excessive devotion to wealth, career, entertainment, or even self. The call is to maintain a vigilant heart, continually choosing to hear and obey God's word, and to guard against anything that would draw us away from Him. Just as Israel was called to remember their covenant, believers are called to remember the new covenant established through Christ, which promises a transformed heart that desires to follow God's ways (Jeremiah 31:33).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 3:12 (3 votes)

    Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

  • Proverbs 1:32 (3 votes)

    For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

  • 2 Timothy 4:4 (3 votes)

    And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • 1 Samuel 12:25 (2 votes)

    But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

  • Proverbs 14:14 (2 votes)

    ยถ The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.

  • Hebrews 12:25 (2 votes)

    See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:

  • Deuteronomy 29:18 (2 votes)

    Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go [and] serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;