Deuteronomy 21:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 21:20
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 21 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of worship, hope, mercy. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-23: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 21:20
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
Analysis
This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice—The parental testimony benenu zeh sorer u-moreh ("this our son is stubborn and rebellious") repeats the language of verse 18, creating formal legal accusation. The phrase einenu shomea be-qolenu ("he will not obey our voice") emphasizes willful defiance of parental instruction rooted in Torah.
He is a glutton, and a drunkard—Zolel ve-sove ("glutton and drunkard," more literally "squanderer and drunkard") describes self-destructive lifestyle choices that waste family resources and dishonor the community. This isn't occasional excess but habitual dissipation. Proverbs 23:20-21 warns: "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty."
The specific charges move beyond mere disobedience to characterize a lifestyle that violates covenant values. Jesus was falsely accused with these exact terms: "Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber" (Matthew 11:19), showing the law's misuse. In contrast, the prodigal son embodied this description ("devoured thy living with harlots," Luke 15:30) yet found grace, illustrating gospel mercy toward covenant-breakers.
Historical Context
In ancient agrarian society, a son who squandered family resources through gluttony and drunkenness threatened the family's economic survival. Inheritance meant stewardship of land and livestock that sustained future generations. A profligate son could reduce the family to poverty and disgrace. The charges are specific and verifiable—not subjective complaints but observable behaviors the elders could investigate. This protected against false accusations while addressing genuine threats to community welfare.
Reflection
- How do the specific charges of gluttony and drunkenness reveal that covenant-breaking manifests in concrete lifestyle choices, not just abstract rebellion?
- In what ways does Jesus's acceptance of the accusation "glutton and winebibber" demonstrate His identification with sinners, and how does the father's reception of the prodigal son reframe this law in light of the gospel?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Proverbs 20:1, 29:17