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Deuteronomy 30:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 30:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
Deuteronomy 30:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
15See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
16in that I command thee this day to love Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, that thou mayest live and multiply, and that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.
17But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
18I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish; ye shall not prolong your days in the land, whither thou passest over the Jordan to go in to possess it.
19I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed;
20to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him; for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
← Deuteronomy 30:16Deuteronomy 30:18 →
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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
“But if thine heart turn away, etc.] From the true God, and the right worship of him, and from his commands, statutes, and judgments: so that thou wilt not hear; the voice of the Lord and obey it, or hearken to his laws, and do them: but shalt be drawn away; by an evil heart, and by the ill examples of others: and worship other gods and serve them; the gods of the Gentiles, the idols of the people, besides the one living and true God, the God of Israel.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Ignorance of the requirements of the law cannot be pleaded Deuteronomy 30:10-14; hence, Deuteronomy 30:15-20 life and death, good and evil, are solemnly set before the people for their own choice; and an earnest exhortation to choose the better part concludes the address. Deuteronomy 30:11-14. “The righteousness which is of faith” is really and truly described in these words of the Law; and, under Paul’s guidance (see marginal references) we affirm was intended so to be. For the simplicity and accessibility which Moses here attributes to the Law of God neither is nor can be experimentally found in it except through the medium of faith; even though outwardly and in the letter that Law be…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“if thine: Deu 29:18-28; Sa1 12:25; Joh 3:19-21 heart: Deu 17:17; Kg1 11:2; Pro 1:32, Pro 14:14; Ti2 4:4; Heb 3:12, Heb 12:25 Deuteronomy 30:18”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 30 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification