Deuteronomy 13:17
And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
Original Language Analysis
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִדְבַּ֧ק
And there shall cleave
H1692
יִדְבַּ֧ק
And there shall cleave
Strong's:
H1692
Word #:
2 of 19
properly, to impinge, i.e., cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
בְּיָֽדְךָ֛
to thine hand
H3027
בְּיָֽדְךָ֛
to thine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 19
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
מְא֖וּמָה
nought
H3972
מְא֖וּמָה
nought
Strong's:
H3972
Word #:
4 of 19
properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
5 of 19
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַחֵ֑רֶם
of the cursed thing
H2764
הַחֵ֑רֶם
of the cursed thing
Strong's:
H2764
Word #:
6 of 19
physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object; abstractly extermination
לְמַעַן֩
H4616
לְמַעַן֩
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
יָשׁ֨וּב
may turn
H7725
יָשׁ֨וּב
may turn
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
8 of 19
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
יְהוָ֜ה
that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֜ה
that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אַפּ֗וֹ
of his anger
H639
אַפּ֗וֹ
of his anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
11 of 19
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
וְנָֽתַן
and shew
H5414
וְנָֽתַן
and shew
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
12 of 19
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וְרִֽחַמְךָ֣
and have compassion
H7355
וְרִֽחַמְךָ֣
and have compassion
Strong's:
H7355
Word #:
15 of 19
to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate
וְהִרְבֶּ֔ךָ
upon thee and multiply
H7235
וְהִרְבֶּ֔ךָ
upon thee and multiply
Strong's:
H7235
Word #:
16 of 19
to increase (in whatever respect)
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
17 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Genesis 26:4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;Genesis 26:24And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.Joshua 7:26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.Genesis 28:14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.Deuteronomy 30:3That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.Deuteronomy 7:26Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.Joshua 6:18And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
Historical Context
Achan's theft of Jericho's devoted items brought defeat at Ai and corporate judgment (Joshua 7:1-26). Only after execution and removal of cursed things did God's anger turn away (Joshua 7:26). This demonstrates corporate responsibility—one person's sin affects entire community until removed. The principle: tolerating cursed things invites judgment; removing them restores favor. This explains church discipline's necessity (1 Corinthians 5:6-7: 'a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump')—tolerating sin corrupts the whole body.
Questions for Reflection
- How does one person's hidden sin affect entire faith communities today?
- What 'cursed things' might we tolerate that hinder God's blessing on our lives or churches?
- How does God's anger serve redemptive purposes, aiming to restore rather than merely punish?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The prohibition: 'And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers.' The 'cursed thing' (cherem, חֵרֶם, devoted to destruction) must not 'cleave' (dabaq, דָּבַק, cling) to anyone—complete separation required. Retaining cursed items brings divine wrath (Achan's lesson, Joshua 7). The purpose: 'that the LORD may turn from...anger' and show mercy. Removing cursed things restores covenant relationship. The promise: compassion and multiplication (covenant blessing) follow purging. God's anger aims at restoration, not annihilation—judgment removes corruption enabling renewed blessing.