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Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Deuteronomy 17:4

and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Idolatry;   Intolerance, Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Execution;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Idolatry;   Moon, the;   Stars, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Idol, idolatry;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Forgiveness;   Kill, Killing;   Marriage;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Idolatry;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Idol;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Capital Punishment;   Court Systems;   Crimes and Punishments;   Host of Heaven;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abomination;   Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Ethics;   Idolatry;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Justice;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Certain;   Law, Judicial;   Punishments;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abomination;   Capital Punishment;   Crime;   Deuteronomy;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and if you are told or hear about it, then investigate it thoroughly. If the report turns out to be true that this detestable act has been done in Israel,
Hebrew Names Version
and it be told you, and you have heard of it, then shall you inquire diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Yisra'el,
King James Version
And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
Lexham English Bible
and it is reported to you or you hear about it and you enquire about it thoroughly and, indeed, the trustworthiness of the deed has been established, it has occurred, this detestable thing, in Israel,
English Standard Version
and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel,
New Century Version
If someone has told you about it, you must look into the matter carefully. If it is true that such a hateful thing has happened in Israel,
New English Translation
When it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done in Israel,
Amplified Bible
and if it is told to you and you hear about it, then you shall investigate thoroughly [all the charges]. If it is confirmed beyond doubt that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
New American Standard Bible
and if it is reported to you and you have heard about it, then you shall investigate thoroughly. And if it is true and the report is trustworthy that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
Geneva Bible (1587)
And it be tolde vnto thee, and thou hast heard it, then shalt thou inquire diligently: and if it be true, and the thing certaine, that such abomination is wrought in Israel,
Legacy Standard Bible
and if it is told to you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. Behold, if it is true and the matter is confirmed that this abomination has been done in Israel,
Contemporary English Version
So when you hear that someone in your town is committing this disgusting sin, you must carefully find out if that person really is guilty.
Complete Jewish Bible
and it is told to you, or you hear about it; then you are to investigate the matter diligently. If it is true, if it is confirmed that such detestable things are being done in Isra'el;
Darby Translation
and it be told thee, and thou hearest of it; then thou shalt make thorough inquiry, and if it be truth [and] the thing be certain, that this abomination hath been wrought in Israel,
Easy-to-Read Version
If you hear bad news like this, you must check it carefully. You must learn if it is true that this terrible thing has really happened in Israel. If you prove that it is true,
George Lamsa Translation
And it is told you, and you shall hear of it, you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true that such an abomination has been committed in Israel;
Good News Translation
If you hear such a report, then investigate it thoroughly. If it is true that this evil thing has happened in Israel,
Literal Translation
and it has been revealed to you, and you have heard, and searching have searched; and, behold, it is true; and the thing is confirmed, that this hateful thing has been done in Israel,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and it is tolde the, & thou hearest of it, Then shalt thou make diligent search therfore. And yf thou fyndest that it is so of a trueth, that soch abhominacion is wroughte in Israel,
American Standard Version
and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it; then shalt thou inquire diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel,
Bible in Basic English
If word of this comes to your ears, then let this thing be looked into with care, and if there is no doubt that it is true, and such evil has been done in Israel;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it is tolde thee, & thou hast hearde of it, then shalt thou enquire diligently: and if it be true, & the thyng of a suretie that such abhomination is wrought in Israel:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and it be told thee, and thou hear it, then shalt thou inquire diligently, and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel;
King James Version (1611)
And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and behold, it be true, and the thing certaine, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
and it be told thee, and thou shalt have enquired diligently, and, behold, the thing really took place, this abomination has been done in Israel;
English Revised Version
and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, then shalt thou inquire diligently, and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and this is teld to thee, and thou herist, and `enquerist diligentli, and fyndist that it is soth, and abhomynacioun is doon in Israel;
Young's Literal Translation
and it hath been declared to thee, and thou hast heard, and hast searched diligently, and lo, truth; the thing is established; this abomination hath been done in Israel --
Update Bible Version
and it is told to you, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently; and see if it is true, and the thing certain, that such a disgusting thing is wrought in Israel,
Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall be told thee, and thou hast heard [of it], and inquired diligently, and behold, [it is] true, [and] the thing certain, [that] such abomination is wrought in Israel:
World English Bible
and it be told you, and you have heard of it, then shall you inquire diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Israel,
New King James Version
and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel,
New Living Translation
When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
New Life Bible
and if someone told you about this, then you should do your best to find out if it is true. If it is true that this hated thing has been done in Israel,
New Revised Standard
and if it is reported to you or you hear of it, and you make a thorough inquiry, and the charge is proved true that such an abhorrent thing has occurred in Israel,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and it shall be told thee and thou shalt hear, - and shalt enquire diligently, and lo! true - certain, is the report, this abominable thing hath been done in Israel,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And this is told thee, and hearing it thou hast inquired diligently, and found it to be true, and that the abomination is committed in Israel:
Revised Standard Version
and it is told you and you hear of it; then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done in Israel,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and if it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. Behold, if it is true and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,

Contextual Overview

1You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep with any defect or serious flaw, for that is detestable to the LORD your God. 2If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant 3and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven-which I have forbidden- 4and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel,5you must bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and stone that person to death. 6On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness. 7The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

inquired: Deuteronomy 13:12-14, Deuteronomy 19:18, Proverbs 25:2, John 7:51

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 13:14 - General 1 Kings 11:7 - abomination Acts 25:16 - and have

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Genesis 13:16
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
Genesis 16:10
Then the Angel added, "I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count."
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
Genesis 17:11
You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
Genesis 17:18
And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!"
Genesis 22:17
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
Genesis 32:12
But You have said, 'I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.'"
Genesis 35:11
And God told him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation-even a company of nations-shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.
Genesis 48:19
But his father refused. "I know, my son, I know!" he said. "He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently,.... A report of this kind was not to be neglected; though it was not to be concluded upon as certain by hearsay, it was to be looked into, and the persons that brought it thoroughly examined; so the Targum of Jonathan,

"and inquired the witnesses well,''

what proof and evidence they could give of the fact, who the persons were, when and where, and in what manner the sin was committed:

and, behold, [it be] true, [and] the thing certain; upon examining the witnesses the case is plain and out of all question:

that such abomination is wrought in Israel; to do it in any country was abominable, but much more so in the land of Israel, among the professing people of God, who had the knowledge of the true God, and had had so many proofs of his deity, his power and providence, as well as received so many favours and blessings from him, and had such laws and statutes given them as no other people had.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Compare Deuteronomy 13:1 ff. Here special reference is made to the legal forms to be adopted, Deuteronomy 17:5-7. The sentence was to be carried into effect at “the gates” (compare Genesis 19:1 note) of the town in which the crime was committed; because, as “all the people” were to take a part, an open space would be requisite for the execution. Note the typical and prophetical aspect of the injunction; compare Acts 7:58; Hebrews 13:12.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Deuteronomy 17:4. If it be told thee — In a private way by any confidential person. And thou hast heard of it; so that it appears to be notorious, very likely to be true, and publicly scandalous. And hast inquired diligently - sought to find out the truth of the report by the most careful examination of persons reporting, circumstances of the case, &c. And, behold, it be true - the report is not founded on vague rumour, hearsay, or malice. And the thing certain - substantiated by the fullest evidence. Then shalt thou bring forth that man, Deuteronomy 17:5. As the charge of idolatry was the most solemn and awful that could be brought against an Israelite, because it affected his life, therefore God required that the charge should be substantiated by the most unequivocal facts, and the most competent witnesses. Hence all the precautions mentioned in the fourth verse must be carefully used, in order to arrive at so affecting and so awful a truth.


 
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