That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall follow that which is altogether just, that you may live, and inherit the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- BSB Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
- NKJV You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
- NASB Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
- NLT Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel was to pursue justice wholeheartedly so they might live and keep the land God was giving them. National well-being depended on doing what is right.
Overview
The emphatic 'justice, and only justice' calls Israel to relentless pursuit of righteousness, tying it to life and possession of the land. Justice was not optional but a condition of covenant flourishing. This vision of a society marked by righteousness anticipates the kingdom of Christ, in which righteousness fully dwells.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Phil 4:8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- Ezek 18:9Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
- Ezek 18:5But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
- Mic 6:8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
- Deut 25:13–16Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
- Deut 4:1Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
- Rom 10:5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 16:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.