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Deuteronomy 21:5

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 21:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.
Deuteronomy 21:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:
3and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
4and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer`s neck there in the valley.
5And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.
6And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;
7and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
8Forgive, O Jehovah, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and suffer not innocent blood [to remain] in the midst of thy people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
← Deuteronomy 21:4Deuteronomy 21:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near, etc.] Who were clearly of the tribe of Levi, as Aben Ezra notes; about whom there could be no dispute; for it seems there sometimes were persons in that office, of whom there was some doubt at least whether they were of that tribe; these seem to be such that belonged to the court of judicature at Jerusalem; (see <051709> Deuteronomy 17:9), who were to be present at this solemnity, to direct in the performance of it, and to judge and determine in any matter of difficulty that might arise: for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him; in the service of the sanctuary, by offering sacrifices, etc. and to bless in the name of the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Every controversy - Of this kind: every controversy which shall rise about any stroke, whether such a mortal stroke as is here spoken of, or any other stroke or wound given by one man to another. Deuteronomy 21:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“for them: Deu 10:8, Deu 18:5; Num 6:22-27; Ch1 23:13 by their word: Deu 17:8-12; Mal 2:7 word: Heb. mouth Deuteronomy 21:6”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification