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Deuteronomy 23:6

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 23:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.
Deuteronomy 23:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Jehovah for ever:
4because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
5Nevertheless Jehovah thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but Jehovah thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because Jehovah thy God loved thee.
6Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.
7Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian, because thou wast a sojourner in his land.
8The children of the third generation that are born unto them shall enter into the assembly of Jehovah.
9When thou goest forth in camp against thine enemies, then thou shalt keep thee from every evil thing.
← Deuteronomy 23:5Deuteronomy 23:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“i. e. “thou shalt not invite them robe on terms of amity with thee (compare Deuteronomy 20:10 ff), nor make their welfare thy care”: compare Ezra 9:12. There is no injunction to hatred or retaliation (compare Deuteronomy 2:9, Deuteronomy 2:19); but later history contains frequent record of hostility between Israel and these nations. return to 'Top of Page'”
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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
“Thou shalt not seek their peace - That is, make no contracts either by marriages or leagues, or commerce with them, but rather constantly keep a jealous eye over them, as enemies who will watch every opportunity to ensnare or disturb thee. This counsel was now the more necessary, because a great part of the Israelites lived beyond Jordan in the borders of those people, and therefore God sets up this wall of partition betwixt them, as well knowing the mischief of bad neighbours, and Israel's proneness to receive infection from them. Each particular Israelite is not hereby forbidden to perform any office of humanity to them, but the body of the nation are forbidden all familiar conversation…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Thou shalt: Sa2 8:2, Sa2 12:31; Ezr 9:12; Neh 13:23-25 prosperity: Heb. good Deuteronomy 23:7”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification