Deuteronomy 21:23 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“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. {accursed...: Heb. the curse of God}”

Deuteronomy 21:23

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

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. {accursed...: Heb. the curse of God}

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Deuteronomy 21:1

"If {one} be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, {and} it be not known who hath slain him:"

Deuteronomy 21:2

"Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which {are} round about him that is slain:"

Deuteronomy 21:3

"And it shall be, {that} the city {which is} next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, {and} which hath not drawn in the yoke;"

Deuteronomy 21:4

"And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:"

Deuteronomy 21:5

"And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be {tried}: {word: Heb. mouth}"

Deuteronomy 21:6

"And all the elders of that city, {that are} next unto the slain {man}, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:"

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