Deuteronomy 25

Authorized King James Version

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Justice and Mercy

1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justifyJustify: צָדַק (Tsadaq). The Hebrew tsadaq (צָדַק) means to be righteous or to declare righteous—a legal verdict of innocence. Abraham 'believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness' (Genesis 15:6). the righteous, and condemn the wicked. Righteousness: Proverbs 17:15

2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. Parallel theme: Job 18:3

4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Parallel theme: Proverbs 12:10, Hosea 10:11

Levirate Marriage

5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. Parallel theme: Ruth 3:9, 4:5, Matthew 22:24, Mark 12:19, Luke 20:28

6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 9:14, 21:19, 29:20, Psalms 9:5, 109:13

7 And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother.

8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; Parallel theme: Ruth 4:6

9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. Parallel theme: Numbers 12:14, 1 Samuel 2:30, Job 30:10, Isaiah 20:2, 50:6, Matthew 26:67, 27:30, Mark 1:7, 10:34, John 1:27 +5

10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.

Honest Weights and Measures

11 When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets:

12 Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 19:13

13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. Parallel theme: Proverbs 11:1, 16:11, Amos 8:5

14 Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.

15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. giveth thee. References God: Deuteronomy 4:40, Exodus 20:12

16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. thy God. References God: Deuteronomy 18:12, 22:5. Righteousness: Proverbs 11:1. Parallel theme: Revelation 21:27

Remember Amalek

17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;

18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. References God: Psalms 36:1, Romans 3:18

19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heavenHeaven: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim). The Hebrew shamayim (שָׁמַיִם) means heaven or sky—God's dwelling place and the realm above earth. 'The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's' (Psalm 115:16), yet 'the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him' (1 Kings 8:27).; thou shalt not forget it. References Lord: Exodus 17:14, 17:16. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 9:14, 1 Samuel 14:48