Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
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.
- KJV That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
- 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.
- 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, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
- Ezek 18:9has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live,” says the Lord Yahweh.
- Ezek 18:5“But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,
- Mic 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- Deut 25:13–16You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, one heavy and one light.
- Deut 4:1Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you.
- Rom 10:5For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.