Deuteronomy 23:21

If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite assembly on the plains of Moab, concluding a sequence of covenant statutes governing financial conduct and communal holiness before the conquest of Canaan.

The words — תְאַחֵ֖ר (te.'a.Cher) = you will delay, directly modifying the command to promptly settle a נֶ֙דֶר֙ (ne.der) = vow made to Yahweh.

The thread — The warning against postponing vows appears in Ecclesiastes 5:4 and is echoed in the vow-fulfillment practice recorded in Psalms 66:13.

Why it lands — The text states that delaying a vow to God incurs guilt, requiring immediate fulfillment rather than deferred compliance.

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

כִּֽי־ki-if תִדֹּ֥רti.Doryou will vow נֶ֙דֶר֙ne.dera vow לַיהוָ֣הla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your לֹ֥אlo'not תְאַחֵ֖רte.'a.Cheryou will delay לְשַׁלְּמ֑וֹle./sha.le.M/oto/ pay/ it כִּֽי־ki-for דָּרֹ֨שׁda.Roshcertainly <to require>יִדְרְשֶׁ֜נּוּyid.re.She./nuhe will require/ it יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְme./'i.Ma/khfrom/ with <the>/ you וְהָיָ֥הve./ha.Yahand/ it will beבְךָ֖ve./Khaon <the>/ youחֵֽטְא׃Chet'sin

King James Version

When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
Psalms 66:13 I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You—
Psalms 116:18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people,
Numbers 30:1 Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:
Psalms 56:12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.
Psalms 76:11 Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.
Genesis 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,
Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
Leviticus 27:2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons,
Deuteronomy 23:18 You must not bring the wages of a prostitute, whether female or male, into the house of the LORD your God to fulfill any vow, because both are detestable to the LORD your God.