What does Deuteronomy 23:7 mean?
"¶ Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land." - Deuteronomy 23:7
Deuteronomy 23:7 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads, "Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land." This verse comes from the book of Deuteronomy, which is the fifth book of the Old Testament and the final book of the Torah. It contains the final words of Moses to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land.
The verse speaks to the Israelites about how they should treat the Edomites and the Egyptians. It begins by commanding the Israelites not to hate the Edomites, as they are their brothers. This is a powerful message about brotherhood and the importance of not allowing hate to divide people, even when there may be differences or conflicts between them. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, who was the father of the Israelites. The reminder of this fraternal relationship serves as a powerful reminder of the shared ancestry and heritage between these two groups.
The verse then extends the command to not abhor the Egyptians, as the Israelites were once strangers in their land. This reminds the Israelites of their own history of being foreigners in a land that was not their own. This verse underscores the importance of showing empathy and compassion to those who are foreigners or strangers, as the Israelites themselves were once in that position.
This verse reflects a theme of brotherhood and unity, as well as a call to remember one's own history and to treat others with compassion and understanding. It also emphasizes the importance of not allowing hatred or division to take root, but instead to seek unity and understanding among all people.
In its historical and cultural context, this verse carries significant weight. The Israelites were a people who had experienced oppression and displacement, and this verse serves as a reminder of their own history and the importance of not inflicting the same kind of treatment on others. It also reflects the broader message of the Old Testament, which is one of justice, mercy, and compassion.
Symbolically, this verse can be seen as a call to embrace the humanity of others and to reject dehumanization. By reminding the Israelites of their mutual heritage with the Edomites and their shared experience with the Egyptians, it emphasizes the common bond that all people share as human beings. It serves as a reminder to look past differences and to treat others with the same respect and compassion that one would want for themselves.
Overall, Deuteronomy 23:7 is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and unity. It emphasizes the shared humanity of all people and calls for a rejection of hatred and division. In a broader sense, it reflects the deeper themes of justice, mercy, and the call to treat others as we would want to be treated. This verse serves as a timeless reminder of the universal values that are central to the teachings of the Bible.
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Deuteronomy 23:7 - "¶ Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land."
"¶ Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land." - Deuteronomy 23:7
Deuteronomy 7:23 - "But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed."
Deuteronomy 11:23
"But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed." - Deuteronomy 7:23
Deuteronomy 3:23 - "And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,"
Deuteronomy 23:22 - "But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee."
Deuteronomy 23:8 - "The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation."
Deuteronomy 23:17 - "¶ There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."
Deuteronomy 23:6 - "Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever."
Deuteronomy 22:23 - "¶ If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;"
Deuteronomy 27:23 - "Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen."
"And I besought the LORD at that time, saying," - Deuteronomy 3:23
Deuteronomy 28:23 - "And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron."
Deuteronomy 15:23 - "Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water."
Deuteronomy 1:23 - "And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:"
Deuteronomy 32:23 - "I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them."
Deuteronomy 23:12 - "¶ Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:"
Deuteronomy 12:23 - "Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh."
Deuteronomy 23:23 - "That 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."
Deuteronomy 23:15 - "¶ Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:"
Deuteronomy 23:3 - "An 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:"
Deuteronomy 23:1 - "He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD."
Deuteronomy 23:9 - "¶ When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing."
matthew 7:23
Genesis 23-7
Deuteronomy 23:2 - "A 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."
Deuteronomy 33:23 - "¶ And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south."
Deuteronomy 3:7 - "But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves."
Deuteronomy 5:7 - "Thou shalt have none other gods before me."