Deuteronomy 21:19
New International Version
his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town.

New Living Translation
In such a case, the father and mother must take the son to the elders as they hold court at the town gate.

English Standard Version
then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives,

Berean Standard Bible
his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown,

King James Bible
Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

New King James Version
then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city.

New American Standard Bible
then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown.

NASB 1995
then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown.

NASB 1977
then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his home town.

Legacy Standard Bible
then his father and mother shall seize him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown.

Amplified Bible
then his father and mother shall take hold of him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown.

Christian Standard Bible
his father and mother are to take hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
his father and mother must take hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown.

American Standard Version
then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

Contemporary English Version
If a son is like that, his parents must drag him to the town gate, where the leaders of the town hold their meetings.

English Revised Version
then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
His father and mother must take him to the leaders of the city at the city gate.

Good News Translation
His parents are to take him before the leaders of the town where he lives and make him stand trial.

International Standard Version
then his parents are to seize him and bring him before the elders at the gate of his city.

Majority Standard Bible
his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown,

NET Bible
his father and mother must seize him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his city.

New Heart English Bible
then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place;

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place;

World English Bible
then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his place.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
then his father and his mother have laid hold on him, and they have brought him out to [the] elderly of his city, and to the gate of his place,

Young's Literal Translation
then laid hold on him have his father and his mother, and they have brought him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place,

Smith's Literal Translation
And his father and his mother laid hold on him and brought him to the old men of his city, and to the gate of his place;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They shall take him and bring him to the ancients of his city, and to the gate of judgment,

Catholic Public Domain Version
they shall take him and lead him to the elders of the city and to the gate of judgment.

New American Bible
his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders at the gate of his home city,

New Revised Standard Version
then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the gate of that place.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then his father and his mother shall lay hold on him, and bring him out to the eiders of the city, at the gate of his place;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
His father and his mother shall seize him and they shall bring him out to the Elders of the town and to the gate of his place;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
then shall his father and his mother take hold of him, and bring him forth to the elders of his city, and to the gate of the place:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Rebellious Son
18If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined, 19his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown, 20and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”…

Cross References
Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die. / Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

Proverbs 29:15
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.

Exodus 21:15
Whoever strikes his father or mother must surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:17
Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.

Leviticus 20:9
If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Numbers 15:30-31
But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people. / He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.”

1 Samuel 2:25
If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

Matthew 15:4
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

Matthew 18:15-17
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. / But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ / If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Mark 7:10
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place;

and bring

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 16:18
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

Deuteronomy 25:7
And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother.

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Deuteronomy 21
1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder
10. The usage of a captive taken to wife
15. The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection
18. A rebellious son is to be stoned to death
22. The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree














his father and mother
In the Hebrew context, the family unit was central to societal structure. The father and mother represent the primary authority figures in a child's life, responsible for his upbringing and moral guidance. The Hebrew words for father (אָב, 'av') and mother (אֵם, 'em') emphasize the nurturing and authoritative roles they play. This phrase underscores the importance of parental responsibility and the expectation that parents will guide their children in the ways of the Lord, as seen throughout the Old Testament.

shall take hold of him
The phrase "take hold" (תָּפַשׂ, 'taphas') implies a firm and deliberate action. It suggests that the parents are not acting out of anger or impulsiveness but are taking a serious and considered step. This action reflects the gravity of the situation and the parents' commitment to addressing their child's behavior in accordance with God's law. It also highlights the communal aspect of discipline, where the family seeks the involvement of the broader community.

and bring him
The act of bringing the child to the elders signifies a transition from private to public accountability. The Hebrew verb (בּוֹא, 'bo') indicates movement towards a place or person of authority. This reflects the biblical principle that unresolved issues within the family should be addressed within the community, emphasizing the role of the community in maintaining moral and social order.

to the elders of his city
Elders (זָקֵן, 'zaqen') were respected leaders and judges within the community, often chosen for their wisdom and experience. Their role was to provide guidance, resolve disputes, and uphold justice. By bringing the child to the elders, the parents are seeking a fair and impartial judgment, recognizing the elders' authority to mediate and decide on matters of community concern.

to the gate of his hometown
The gate of the city was a place of legal and civic activity in ancient Israel. It was where transactions were made, disputes were settled, and justice was administered. The gate symbolizes transparency and public accountability. By bringing the matter to the gate, the parents and elders are ensuring that the issue is addressed openly and justly, in accordance with God's law. This setting underscores the importance of community involvement in upholding righteousness and justice.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
his father
אָבִ֣יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

and mother
וְאִמּ֑וֹ (wə·’im·mōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

are to lay hold
וְתָ֥פְשׂוּ (wə·ṯā·p̄ə·śū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably

of him
ב֖וֹ (ḇōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

and bring
וְהוֹצִ֧יאוּ (wə·hō·w·ṣî·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

him to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the elders
זִקְנֵ֥י (ziq·nê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of his city,
עִיר֖וֹ (‘î·rōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

to
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the gate
שַׁ֥עַר (ša·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

of his hometown,
מְקֹמֽוֹ׃ (mə·qō·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:19 Then shall his father and his mother (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 21:18
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