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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses instructs the future king of Israel on the behavioral requirements for ruling over the nation.

The words — The text pairs רוּם (rum, "to be high") with לְבָב (levav, "heart") to describe pride over countrymen, and uses סוּר (sur, "to turn aside") from הַמִּצְוָה (ha-mitzvah, "the commandment").

The thread — Deuteronomy 5:32 and 1 Kings 15:5 echo the prohibition against turning aside from the commandment, while Psalm 131:1 parallels the warning against a proud heart.

Why it lands — The verse mandates that royal humility and strict legal obedience are the concrete conditions for a lasting dynasty.

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

לְבִלְתִּ֤יle./vil.Tito/ not רוּם־rum-to be high לְבָבוֹ֙le.va.V/oheart/ his מֵֽאֶחָ֔יוme./'e.Cha/vmore than/ countrymen/ his וּלְבִלְתִּ֛יu./le./vil.Tiand/ to/ not ס֥וּרsurto turn aside מִן־min-from הַמִּצְוָ֖הha./mitz.Vahthe/ commandment יָמִ֣יןya.Minright [hand]וּשְׂמֹ֑אולu./se.Moland/ left [hand]לְמַעַן֩le.ma.'Anso that יַאֲרִ֨יךְya.'a.Rikhhe may prolong יָמִ֧יםya.Mimdays עַל־'al-over מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹmam.lakh.T/okingdom/ his ה֥וּאhu'he וּבָנָ֖יוu./va.Na/vand/ descendants/ his בְּקֶ֥רֶבbe./Ke.revin/ [the] midst of יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Cross-references

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.
1 Kings 15:5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
Psalms 131:1 A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
Isaiah 2:12 For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—
Daniel 5:20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.
Deuteronomy 4:2 You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.
Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.
Deuteronomy 8:13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied,
Deuteronomy 12:25 Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 12:28 Be careful to obey all these things I command you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.