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Deuteronomy 21:23

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Deuteronomy 21:23

Verse 23 of 23

Scripture focus

His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged [is] accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance.

Deuteronomy 21:23 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:23

Theological / Devotional

Not remain all night. See Joshua 8:29 ; 10:27.

Accursed. The root translated “accursed” means also to be “despicable,” “contemptible,” “dishonored.” Compare the argument of the apostle Paul in Galatians 3:10-14.

Land be not defiled. The land was conceived of as being defiled by the exposure of the bodies of criminals who had suffered the extreme penalty. The criminal who was hanged was thought of as being under God’s ban, and his body was not to remain in the public gaze. Jesus was condemned by His own people as one of the worst of criminals, and as under Jehovah’s curse (Matthew 27:43; cf. Isaiah 53:4).

By SdaBc