Deuteronomy 17:13
And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
Original Language Analysis
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 7
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָעָ֖ם
And all the people
H5971
הָעָ֖ם
And all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 7
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
יִשְׁמְע֣וּ
shall hear
H8085
יִשְׁמְע֣וּ
shall hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
3 of 7
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וְיִרָ֑אוּ
and fear
H3372
וְיִרָ֑אוּ
and fear
Strong's:
H3372
Word #:
4 of 7
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Historical Context
Ancient legal systems universally recognized that contempt of the highest court threatened social order. Israel's system was distinctive because the ultimate judge was Yahweh, and human judges were His representatives. Public punishment served educational purposes in oral cultures where community formation depended on shared witness to covenant enforcement. The phrase 'all the people shall hear' indicates that legal proceedings and their outcomes were matters of public knowledge, creating accountability and deterrence.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the fear of consequences serve as a legitimate motivation for obedience while not being the highest motivation?
- In what ways does public accountability for violations of God's standards protect community integrity?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And all the people shall hear, and fear (וְכָל־הָעָם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ, vechol ha'am yishme'u veyira'u)—public execution served a pedagogical purpose. Yare (fear) encompasses reverence, awe, and deterrent fear. The execution's publicity wasn't cruel spectacle but covenantal instruction, teaching that presumptuous defiance of God's judicial order destroys community.
Do no more presumptuously (zadon again) shows the death penalty's preventative function. Capital punishment for judicial contempt maintained the integrity of the entire legal system. Without enforceable supreme court decisions, law becomes mere suggestion. Israel's survival as a covenant people required respect for God's judicial mechanisms. This principle undergirds Romans 13:1-7, where governmental authority derives from God and resistance to legitimate authority is resistance to God's ordinance.