Deuteronomy 13:8
New International Version
do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them.

New Living Translation
But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them.

English Standard Version
you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him.

Berean Standard Bible
you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

King James Bible
Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

New King James Version
you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him;

New American Standard Bible
you shall not consent to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.

NASB 1995
you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.

NASB 1977
you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.

Legacy Standard Bible
you shall not be willing to accept him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him; and you shall not spare him or conceal him.

Amplified Bible
you shall not consent to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him.

Christian Standard Bible
do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

American Standard Version
thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

English Revised Version
thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't be influenced by any of these people or listen to them. Have no pity on them. Don't feel sorry for them or protect them.

Good News Translation
But do not let any of them persuade you; do not even listen to them. Show them no mercy or pity, and do not protect them.

International Standard Version
You must not yield to him, listen to him, look with pity on him, show compassion to him, or even cover up for him.

Majority Standard Bible
you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

NET Bible
You must not give in to him or even listen to him; do not feel sympathy for him or spare him or cover up for him.

New Heart English Bible
you shall not consent to him, nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him:

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou shalt not consent to him, nor hearken to him; neither shall thy eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

World English Bible
you shall not consent to him nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
you do not consent to him, nor listen to him, nor does your eye have pity on him, nor do you spare, nor do you cover him over.

Young's Literal Translation
thou dost not consent to him, nor hearken unto him, nor doth thine eye have pity on him, nor dost thou spare, nor dost thou cover him over.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not be willing to him, and thou shalt not hear to him, and thine eye shall not have compassion upon him, and thou shalt not pity, and thou shalt not cover over him:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Consent not to him, hear him not, neither let thy eye spare him to pity and conceal him,

Catholic Public Domain Version
you should neither agree with him, nor listen to him. And your eye should not spare him so that you take pity on him and conceal him.

New American Bible
do not yield or listen to any such person; show no pity or compassion and do not shield such a one,

New Revised Standard Version
you must not yield to or heed any such persons. Show them no pity or compassion and do not shield them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You shall not consent to him, nor listen to him: neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you have mercy upon him, neither shall you conceal him;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not be persuaded by him and do not listen to him and your eye shall not have pity upon him and do not be merciful and do not conceal him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
thou shalt not consent to him, neither shalt thou hearken to him; and thine eye shall not spare him, thou shalt feel no regret for him, neither shalt thou at all protect him:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Idolaters to Be Put to Death
7the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other), 8you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. 9Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.…

Cross References
Matthew 10:37
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.

Exodus 32:27-28
He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” / The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.

Matthew 5:29-30
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. / And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” ...

1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Joshua 23:12-13
For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

1 Kings 11:2
These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.

2 Chronicles 19:2
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

Romans 16:17
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

Galatians 1:8-9
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! / As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!

2 John 1:10-11
If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. / Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

Proverbs 1:10-15
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. ...

Psalm 101:4
A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil.


Treasury of Scripture

You shall not consent to him, nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him:

consent

Exodus 20:3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Galatians 1:8,9
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed…

shall thine

Deuteronomy 7:16
And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.

Deuteronomy 19:13
Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

Ezekiel 5:11
Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

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Attention Conceal Consent Eye Hearken Mercy Pity Screen Shield Show Spare Yield
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Attention Conceal Consent Eye Hearken Mercy Pity Screen Shield Show Spare Yield
Deuteronomy 13
1. Enticers to idolatry
6. however near to oneself
9. are to be stoned to death
12. Idolatrous cities are not to be spared














you must not yield to him or listen to him
This phrase emphasizes the importance of unwavering faithfulness to God. In the context of Deuteronomy 13, the Israelites are warned against false prophets or dreamers who might entice them to follow other gods. The command not to yield or listen underscores the seriousness of idolatry and the need for discernment. Historically, Israel was surrounded by nations with polytheistic practices, making this warning crucial for maintaining covenantal purity. This directive aligns with the broader biblical theme of exclusive devotion to God, as seen in the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3). The New Testament echoes this call for discernment in 1 John 4:1, urging believers to test the spirits.

Show him no pity
The instruction to show no pity reflects the gravity of leading others away from God. In ancient Israel, the community's spiritual health was paramount, and any threat to it was taken seriously. This severity highlights the communal nature of the covenant, where individual actions could impact the entire nation. The call for no pity is not about personal vengeance but about upholding divine justice and protecting the community from spiritual corruption. This mirrors the New Testament's call for church discipline in cases of unrepentant sin (1 Corinthians 5:1-5), emphasizing the need for purity within the body of believers.

and do not spare him
The command not to spare the false prophet or enticer reinforces the necessity of removing evil from the community. In the ancient Near Eastern context, where tribal and familial ties were strong, this would have been a difficult but necessary action to preserve the integrity of the covenant community. The severity of this command reflects the holiness of God and the seriousness of idolatry. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of the radical measures needed to avoid sin (Matthew 5:29-30).

or shield him
The prohibition against shielding the offender underscores the importance of transparency and accountability within the community. Shielding a false prophet would not only condone their actions but also endanger the spiritual well-being of the entire nation. This reflects the biblical principle that sin must be exposed and dealt with openly, as seen in Ephesians 5:11, which calls believers to expose the deeds of darkness. The call to not shield aligns with the broader biblical narrative of justice and righteousness, where God's people are called to uphold truth and integrity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving the law as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

3. False Prophets/Idolaters
Individuals who entice others to worship other gods, contrary to the covenant with Yahweh.

4. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which the Israelites are about to enter, where they must remain faithful to God.

5. Covenant
The agreement between God and Israel, requiring exclusive worship and obedience to Yahweh.
Teaching Points
Unyielding Faithfulness to God
The verse underscores the importance of unwavering loyalty to God, even when faced with close relationships that may lead us astray.

The Seriousness of Idolatry
Idolatry is not just a personal sin but a communal threat that must be addressed decisively to maintain the purity of worship.

The Cost of Discipleship
Following God may require difficult decisions, including distancing oneself from those who would lead us away from Him.

Community Responsibility
The community of believers has a responsibility to uphold God's standards and protect one another from spiritual harm.

The Role of Discipline
Discipline, though difficult, is necessary to preserve the integrity and holiness of the faith community.Verse 8. - Pity, spare, conceal. The accumulation of terms serves to make the injunction more solemn and impressive.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
you must not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

yield
תֹאבֶ֣ה (ṯō·ḇeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 14: To breathe after, to be acquiescent

to him
ל֔וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

or listen
תִשְׁמַ֖ע (ṯiš·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to him.
אֵלָ֑יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Show him no
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

pity,
תָח֤וֹס (ṯā·ḥō·ws)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2347: To pity, look upon with compassion

and do not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

spare
תַחְמֹ֥ל (ṯaḥ·mōl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2550: To commiserate, to spare

him
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

or shield
תְכַסֶּ֖ה (ṯə·ḵas·seh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

him.
עָלָֽיו׃ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 13:8 You shall not consent to him (Deut. De Du)
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