Deuteronomy — Chapter 23

Loading ESV text...

1He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

2A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

3An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD 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 of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

5Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD 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 stranger in his land.

8The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.

9When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.

10If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

11But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

12Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:

13And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:

14For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

15Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:

16He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.

17There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

18Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

19Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

20Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

21When 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.

22But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

23That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

24When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

25When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

1He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah.

2A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the assembly of Jehovah.

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.

10If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of that which chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

11but it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall bathe himself in water; and when the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.

12Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:

13and thou shalt have a paddle among thy weapons; and it shall be, when thou sittest down abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:

14for Jehovah thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

15Thou shalt not deliver unto his master a servant that is escaped from his master unto thee:

16he shall dwell with thee, in the midst of thee, in the place which he shall choose within one of thy gates, where it pleaseth him best: thou shalt not oppress him.

17There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

18Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.

19Thou shalt not lend upon interest to thy brother; interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of anything that is lent upon interest:

20unto a foreigner thou mayest lend upon interest; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon interest, that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all that thou puttest thy hand unto, in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.

21When thou shalt vow a vow unto Jehovah thy God, thou shalt not be slack to pay it: for Jehovah thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

22But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

23That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt observe and do; according as thou hast vowed unto Jehovah thy God, a freewill-offering, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

24When thou comest into thy neighbor`s vineyard, then thou mayest eat of grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

25When thou comest into thy neighbor`s standing grain, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor`s standing grain.

1A man with crushed or severed genitals may not enter the assembly of the Lord.

2A person of illegitimate birth may not enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation no one related to him may do so.

3No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall ever do so,

4for they did not meet you with food and water on the way as you came from Egypt, and furthermore, they hired Balaam son of Beor of Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you.

5But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam and changed the curse to a blessing, for the Lord your God loves you.

6You must not seek peace and prosperity for them through all the ages to come.

7You must not hate an Edomite, for he is your relative; you must not hate an Egyptian, for you lived as a foreigner in his land.

8Children of the third generation born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord.

9When you go out as an army against your enemies, guard yourselves against anything impure.

10If there is someone among you who is impure because of some nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp; he may not reenter it immediately.

11When evening arrives he must wash himself with water, and then at sunset he may reenter the camp.

12You are to have a place outside the camp to serve as a latrine.

13You must have a spade among your other equipment, and when you relieve yourself outside you must dig a hole with the spade and then turn and cover your excrement.

14For the Lord your God walks about in the middle of your camp to deliver you and defeat your enemies for you. Therefore your camp should be holy, so that he does not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.

15You must not return an escaped slave to his master when he has run away to you.

16Indeed, he may live among you in any place he chooses, in whichever of your villages he prefers; you must not oppress him.

17There must never be a sacred prostitute among the young women of Israel nor a sacred male prostitute among the young men of Israel.

18You must never bring the pay of a female prostitute or the wage of a male prostitute into the temple of the Lord your God in fulfillment of any vow, for both of these are abhorrent to the Lord your God.

19You must not charge interest on a loan to your fellow Israelite, whether on money, food, or anything else that has been loaned with interest.

20You may lend with interest to a foreigner, but not to your fellow Israelite; if you keep this command the Lord your God will bless you in all you undertake in the land you are about to enter to possess.

21When you make a vow to the Lord your God you must not delay in fulfilling it, for otherwise he will surely hold you accountable as a sinner.

22If you refrain from making a vow, it will not be sinful.

23Whatever you vow, you must be careful to do what you have promised, such as what you have vowed to the Lord your God as a freewill offering.

24When you enter the vineyard of your neighbor you may eat as many grapes as you please, but you must not take away any in a container.

25When you go into the ripe grain fields of your neighbor you may pluck off the kernels with your hand, but you must not use a sickle on your neighbor’s ripe grain.

1He who is emasculated by crushing or cutting shall not enter into Yahweh’s assembly.

2A person born of a forbidden union shall not enter into Yahweh’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one of his enter into Yahweh’s assembly.

3An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into Yahweh’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one belonging to them enter into Yahweh’s assembly forever;

4because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

5Nevertheless Yahweh your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam; but Yahweh your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because Yahweh your God loved you.

6You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.

7You shall not abhor an Edomite; for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.

8The children of the third generation who are born to them may enter into Yahweh’s assembly.

9When you go out and camp against your enemies, then you shall keep yourselves from every evil thing.

10If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of that which happens him by night, then shall he go outside of the camp. He shall not come within the camp;

11but it shall be, when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water. When the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.

12You shall have a place also outside of the camp where you go relieve yourself.

13You shall have a trowel among your weapons. It shall be, when you relieve yourself, you shall dig with it, and shall turn back and cover your excrement;

14for Yahweh your God walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore your camp shall be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you.

15You shall not deliver to his master a servant who has escaped from his master to you.

16He shall dwell with you, among you, in the place which he shall choose within one of your gates, where it pleases him best. You shall not oppress him.

17There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

18You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of a male prostitute, into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow; for both of these are an abomination to Yahweh your God.

19You shall not lend on interest to your brother; interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest.

20You may lend on interest to a foreigner; but to your brother you shall not lend on interest, that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land where you go in to possess it.

21When you vow a vow to Yahweh your God, you shall not be slack to pay it; for Yahweh your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you.

22But if you refrain from making a vow, it shall be no sin in you.

23You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips. Whatever you have vowed to Yahweh your God as a freewill offering, which you have promised with your mouth, you must do.

24When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat of grapes your fill at your own pleasure; but you shall not put any in your container.

25When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not move a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

God defines who may enter the assembly, commands camp cleanliness, and gives laws about vows, escaped slaves, and lending — community holiness.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses. Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Pentateuch, written at the end of the 40 years of wilderness wandering (approximately 1406 BC). Hebrew title: "Devarim" — "Words/Things." Greek title: "Deuteronomion" — "Second Law" (a repetition/expansion of the Law for the new generation). The book consists of Moses' farewell speeches to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. Moses will not enter with them — these are his final words to the nation he has led for 40 years.
Historical Context: Chapter 23 addresses membership in the covenant assembly (vv.1-8), camp holiness (vv.9-14), and various laws governing community life (vv.15-25). The exclusion laws (vv.1-8) define who may "enter the congregation of the LORD" — participate fully in Israel's worship assembly. Those excluded include the emasculated (v.1), those of illegitimate birth (v.2), and Ammonites and Moabites permanently (vv.3-6). However, Edomites (Israel's brother through Esau) and Egyptians (Israel's former host nation) may enter in the third generation (vv.7-8). These laws are not about salvation but about full participation in the covenant community's worship. Notably, Ruth the Moabitess was accepted into Israel and became an ancestor of David and Christ — showing that individual faith could transcend national exclusion. The camp holiness laws (vv.9-14) are remarkable for their theological reasoning: "the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp" (v.14). God's presence demands physical cleanliness — even in military camps. The remaining laws cover escaped slaves (protected, not returned — vv.15-16), cult prostitution (forbidden — vv.17-18), interest on loans to brothers (forbidden — vv.19-20), vows (must be fulfilled — vv.21-23), and eating from a neighbor's field (permitted in moderation — vv.24-25).
Exclusions from the Assembly (vv.1-8): "He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD" (v.1). Emasculation was associated with pagan worship practices. "A bastard shall not enter" (KJV) / "No one born of a forbidden union" (ESV) (v.2) — to the tenth generation. "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter... for ever" (v.3). Two reasons: (1) "they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt" (v.4) — they showed no hospitality; (2) "they hired against thee Balaam... to curse thee" (v.4) — they sought Israel's destruction. But God "turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee" (v.5). "Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever" (v.6). However: "Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother" (v.7). "Thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land" (v.7). Their descendants may enter "in their third generation" (v.8).
Camp Holiness (vv.9-14): "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing" (v.9). Specific case: nocturnal uncleanness — the man goes outside the camp until evening, washes, then returns (vv.10-11). Sanitation: "Thou shalt have a place also without the camp" for bodily functions (v.12). "Thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon" (KJV) / "a trowel with your tools" (ESV) — dig and cover (v.13). The theological reason: "For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee" (v.14). God's presence demands holiness — even physical cleanliness.
Escaped Slaves Protected (vv.15-16): "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee" (v.15). The escaped slave may live "in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best" (v.16). "Thou shalt not oppress him" (v.16). This is remarkable — most ancient Near Eastern law codes required return of escaped slaves. Israel's law protects them.
Cult Prostitution Forbidden (vv.17-18): "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel" (KJV) / "None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute" (ESV) (v.17). "Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD" (v.18). "Dog" = male cult prostitute (a term of contempt). Both are "abomination unto the LORD" (v.18). Sacred prostitution was central to Canaanite fertility worship — absolutely forbidden in Israel.
No Interest to Brothers (vv.19-20): "Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing" (v.19). No interest on loans to fellow Israelites — of any kind. "Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury" (v.20) — commercial loans to foreigners are permitted. "That the LORD thy God may bless thee" (v.20). Generosity to brothers brings God's blessing.
Vows Must Be Fulfilled (vv.21-23): "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it" (v.21). God "will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee" (v.21). But: "if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee" (v.22). You are not required to vow — but once you do, you must fulfill it. "That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform" (v.23). Your word to God is binding.
Eating from a Neighbor's Field (vv.24-25): "When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill" (v.24) — but "thou shalt not put any in thy vessel" (v.24). You may eat but not harvest. "When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand" (v.25) — but "thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn" (v.25). Immediate hunger may be satisfied; commercial taking is theft.

Map & Geography

  • Moses speaks from the plains of Moab. Nations excluded from or admitted to the assembly: Ammon and Moab excluded (v.3) — these border Israel to the east. Edom and Egypt admitted in the third generation (v.7-8).

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that the exclusion laws are about assembly participation, not personal salvation — Ruth the Moabitess proves that individual faith transcends national exclusion. He emphasizes that the escaped slave law is remarkably progressive for the ancient world — most law codes required return of fugitive slaves. He highlights v.14 as the theological key: God's presence demands holiness in every area of life.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "'The LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp.' What a thought! God walks among His people — in the camp, in the home, in the daily routine. If we truly believed this, how differently we would live! Every place becomes holy ground when God is present. Every act is performed before His eyes. The reason for holiness is not mere rule-keeping but the presence of the Holy One. He is here — therefore be holy."

Videos

The Bible Project — Deuteronomy Overview

Reflection

  • 1. "The LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing" (v.5). God is sovereign over curses. What enemies intend for destruction, God reverses for blessing. The motive is love: "because the LORD thy God loved thee." No curse can stand against God's love for His people (Romans 8:31-39).
  • 2. "The LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp" (v.14). God's presence is the reason for holiness. Not rules for rules' sake but holiness because the Holy One is present. Under the new covenant, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Every area of life — even the most mundane — is lived in God's presence.
  • 3. Escaped slaves protected (vv.15-16). God's law sides with the vulnerable against the powerful. The escaped slave is not returned but given freedom to choose where to live. This challenges every system that prioritizes property rights over human dignity.
  • 4. No interest to brothers (vv.19-20). Loans to fellow believers should be acts of generosity, not profit-making. Making money from a brother's need is forbidden. This challenges the assumption that every transaction should generate profit. Some relationships are above commerce.
  • 5. "If thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin" (v.22). You are not required to make promises to God. But once made, they are absolutely binding. This teaches caution in commitments: do not promise what you cannot deliver. Better silence than broken vows.
  • 6. Eating from a neighbor's field (vv.24-25). Generosity and boundaries coexist. You may satisfy immediate hunger from your neighbor's field — but you may not harvest it. This balances compassion for the hungry with protection of property. Need justifies taking enough; greed does not justify taking more.