Deuteronomy 17:8

KJV1611 – Modern English

If a matter arises that is too hard for you to judge, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of dispute within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses,

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    If a case arises that is too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults—matters of dispute in your towns, you are to go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose;

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    Yf a matter be to harde for the in iudgemet betwene bloud and bloude, plee and plee, plage and plage in maters of strife within thi cities: Then Arise and gett the vpp vnto the place which the Lorde thi God hath chosen,

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Yf a matter be to harde for the in iudgmet betwixte bloude and bloude, betwixte plee and plee, betwixte stroke and stroke, and yf there be matters of stryfe within thy gates then shalt thou ryse, and go vp vnto ye place that ye LORDE thy God hath chosen:

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    If there rise a matter too harde for thee in iudgemet betweene blood & blood, betweene plea and plea, betweene plague and plague, in the matters of controuersie within thy gates, then shalt thou arise, and goe vp vnto the place which the Lord thy God shall chuse,

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    If there rise a matter to harde for thee in iudgement betweene blood and blood, betweene plea and plea, betweene plague and plague, and the matters come to strife within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee vp vnto the place whiche the Lorde thy God hath chosen,

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ¶ If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, [being] matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    If there arise a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates; then shall you arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose;

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    `When anything is too hard for thee for judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke -- matters of strife within thy gates -- then thou hast risen, and gone up unto the place on which Jehovah thy God doth fix,

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose;

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose;

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    If you are not able to give a decision as to who is responsible for a death, or who is right in a cause, or who gave the first blow in a fight, and there is a division of opinion about it in your town: then go to the place marked out by the Lord your God;

  • World English Bible (2000)

    If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates; then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose;

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Appeal to a Higher Court If a matter is too difficult for you to judge– bloodshed, legal claim, or assault– matters of controversy in your villages– you must leave there and go up to the place the LORD your God chooses.

Referenced Verses

  • Deut 12:5 : 5 But you shall seek the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, to His habitation you shall come:
  • Hag 2:11 : 11 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
  • Mal 2:7 : 7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
  • Deut 19:4 : 4 And this is the case of the manslayer who shall flee there, that he may live: Whoever kills his neighbor unintentionally, whom he did not hate in time past;
  • Deut 19:10-11 : 10 That innocent blood may not be shed in your land, which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, and thus blood guilt be upon you. 11 But if any man hates his neighbor, and lies in wait for him, and rises against him, and strikes him mortally so that he dies, and flees into one of these cities;
  • Deut 19:17 : 17 Then both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who serve in that time;
  • 1 Kgs 3:16-28 : 16 Then two women, who were harlots, came to the king and stood before him. 17 And one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I gave birth to a child with her in the house. 18 And it came to pass the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, only we two in the house. 19 And this woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it. 20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 And when I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I had borne. 22 And the other woman said, No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. And this said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king. 23 Then the king said, The one says, This is my son that lives, and your son is the dead; and the other says, No; but your son is the dead, and my son is the living. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 26 Then the woman whose the living child was, spoke to the king, for her heart yearned for her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and do not kill it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it. 27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and do not kill it: she is the mother thereof. 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had made; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
  • 2 Chr 19:8-9 : 8 Moreover, in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, This you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 And whatever cause shall come to you from your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them that they do not trespass against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren: this do, and you shall not trespass.
  • Ps 122:4-5 : 4 Where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
  • Exod 18:26 : 26 And they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
  • Exod 21:12-14 : 12 He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13 However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint a place for you where he may flee. 14 But if a man acts presumptuously against his neighbor, to kill him with guile, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
  • Exod 21:20 : 20 And if a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
  • Exod 21:22 : 22 If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished according as the woman's husband imposes upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
  • Exod 21:28 : 28 If an ox gores a man or a woman, and they die, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted.
  • Exod 22:2 : 2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodshed for him.
  • Num 35:11 : 11 Then you shall appoint cities for yourselves to be cities of refuge; that the slayer may flee there, who kills any person accidentally.
  • Num 35:16 : 16 And if he strikes him with an iron instrument, so that he dies, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
  • Num 35:19-34 : 19 The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meets him, he shall slay him. 20 But if he pushes him out of hatred, or hurls at him by lying in wait so that he dies; 21 Or in enmity strikes him with his hand, so that he dies, he who struck him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meets him. 22 But if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything upon him without lying in wait, 23 Or with any stone, by which a man may die, seeing him not, and throw it upon him, so that he dies, and was not his enemy, nor sought his harm: 24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments: 25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, where he had fled: and he shall abide in it until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the slayer shall at any time come outside the border of the city of his refuge, where he had fled; 27 And the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the city of his refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: 28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return to the land of his possession. 29 So these things shall be for a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30 Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the testimony of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 31 Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death: but he shall surely be put to death. 32 And you shall take no ransom for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. 33 So you shall not pollute the land where you are: for blood defiles the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it. 34 Therefore do not defile the land which you shall inhabit, where I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
  • Deut 1:17 : 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid of anyone, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too difficult for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Deut 17:9-11
    3 verses
    84%

    9and you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge who is in office in those days, and inquire, and they shall declare to you the verdict of the judgment.

    10You shall do according to the decision they give you at the place which the LORD chooses, and you shall be careful to do according to all that they instruct you.

    11According to the sentence of the law which they teach you, and according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the sentence they show you, to the right hand or to the left.

  • Deut 19:17-18
    2 verses
    78%

    17Then both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who serve in that time;

    18And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness who has testified falsely against his brother;

  • Deut 1:16-17
    2 verses
    76%

    16And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger who is with him.

    17You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid of anyone, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too difficult for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.

  • Deut 16:18
    75%

    18Judges and officers you shall make for yourself in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, throughout your tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

  • Deut 25:1
    75%

    1If there is a dispute between men, and they come to judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

  • 2 Chr 19:10
    74%

    10And whatever cause shall come to you from your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them that they do not trespass against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren: this do, and you shall not trespass.

  • 2 Chr 19:8
    74%

    8Moreover, in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

  • Deut 21:5
    74%

    5And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for them the LORD your God has chosen to minister to Him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word every controversy and every stroke shall be tried:

  • Exod 18:22-23
    2 verses
    73%

    22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves; so it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.

    23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will go to their place in peace.

  • Deut 14:24-25
    2 verses
    73%

    24And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it; or if the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God shall choose to set His name there, when the LORD your God has blessed you:

    25Then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which the LORD your God shall choose.

  • Deut 17:7
    73%

    7The hands of the witnesses shall be the first to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put the evil away from among you.

  • 2 Chr 19:6
    72%

    6And said to the judges, Take heed what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

  • Deut 18:6
    72%

    6And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD shall choose;

  • Deut 21:2
    72%

    2Then your elders and your judges shall come forth, and they shall measure to the cities which are around him that is slain;

  • Exod 18:16
    72%

    16When they have a dispute, they come to me, and I judge between one and another, and make them know the statutes of God and His laws.

  • Josh 20:4
    71%

    4And when he who flees to one of those cities shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and shall declare his case in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city to them and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

  • Isa 3:13
    71%

    13The LORD stands up to plead and stands to judge the people.

  • Num 35:24
    71%

    24Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments:

  • Deut 12:5
    71%

    5But you shall seek the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, to His habitation you shall come:

  • Deut 16:20
    71%

    20That which is altogether just you shall follow, that you may live, and inherit the land which the LORD your God gives you.

  • Deut 19:2-3
    2 verses
    71%

    2You shall set apart three cities for yourself in the midst of your land, which the LORD your God gives you to possess.

    3You shall prepare a road for yourself, and divide the territory of your land, which the LORD your God gives you to inherit, into three parts, so that every manslayer may flee there.

  • Deut 17:2
    70%

    2If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you, a man or woman who has done wickedness in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant,

  • Deut 31:11
    70%

    11When all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

  • Deut 12:11
    70%

    11Then there will be a place which the LORD your God will choose to make His name dwell there; there you shall bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to the LORD:

  • Jer 7:5
    70%

    5For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your deeds; if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;

  • Exod 21:1
    70%

    1Now these are the judgments you shall set before them.

  • Deut 13:12
    70%

    12If you shall hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God has given you to dwell there, saying,

  • 1 Cor 6:1
    70%

    1Do any of you, having a matter against someone else, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

  • Deut 19:12-13
    2 verses
    70%

    12Then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, so that he may die.

    13Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you.

  • Luke 12:58
    69%

    58When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are on the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him; lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.

  • Exod 18:19
    69%

    19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you. Be for the people a representative to God, that you may bring the causes to God.

  • Deut 12:26
    69%

    26Only the holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take and go to the place which the LORD shall choose:

  • Mic 6:1
    69%

    1Hear now what the LORD says; Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.

  • Deut 12:14
    69%

    14But in the place which the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

  • Deut 17:5
    69%

    5then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has committed this wicked thing, and shall stone them with stones until they die.

  • Exod 18:26
    69%

    26And they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

  • Isa 28:6
    69%

    6And for a spirit of judgment to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn the battle to the gate.

  • Acts 19:39
    69%

    39But if you seek anything concerning other matters, it shall be settled in a lawful assembly.

  • Jer 17:19
    69%

    19Thus said the LORD to me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;

  • 1 Kgs 8:31-32
    2 verses
    69%

    31If any man trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before your altar in this house:

    32Then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

  • Deut 19:7
    69%

    7Therefore I command you, saying, You shall set apart three cities for yourself.