Deuteronomy 17:11

according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite community on the plains of Moab, instituting the final legal and judicial structure before their entry into the promised land.

The words — The text foregrounds פִּי (pi, "mouth") and מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, "verdict"), anchoring legal authority in the spoken instruction and declared ruling of the appointed officials.

The thread — The prohibition against deviation recurs in Deuteronomy 5:32 and Joshua 1:7, while Deuteronomy 17:20 applies the identical non-deviation standard to the monarchy.

Why it lands — The text commands absolute adherence to judicial decisions, treating any personal turning aside as a direct breach of the established order.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

עַל־'al-on פִּ֨יpi[the] mouth of הַתּוֹרָ֜הha./to.Rahthe/ instruction אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich יוֹר֗וּךָyo.Ru./khathey will instruct/ you וְעַל־ve./'al-and/ on הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛טha./mish.Patthe/ verdict אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which יֹאמְר֥וּyo.me.Ruthey will sayלְךָ֖le./Khato <the>/ youתַּעֲשֶׂ֑הta.'a.Sehyou will do לֹ֣אlo'not תָס֗וּרta.Suryou will turn aside מִן־min-from הַדָּבָ֛רha./da.Varthe/ word אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which יַגִּ֥ידֽוּya.Gi.duthey will tellלְךָ֖le./Khato <the>/ youיָמִ֥יןya.Minright [hand]וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃u./se.Moland/ left [hand]

King James Version

According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.

Cross-references

Joshua 1:7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
Deuteronomy 5:32 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
Deuteronomy 17:20 Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.
Deuteronomy 25:1 If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.
Deuteronomy 28:14 Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.
Joshua 23:6 Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.
2 Samuel 14:19 So the king asked, “Is the hand of Joab behind all this?” The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave me orders; he told your maidservant exactly what to say.
Proverbs 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Titus 3:1 Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,