Deuteronomy 23

“He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD ; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD ; even to their tenth generation shall they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing…” Naming Balaam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger…” Naming Edomite and Egyptian keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.” The line’s distinctive content terms include enemies, goeth, host. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou…” The line’s distinctive content terms include comest, fill, grapes. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou…” The line’s distinctive content terms include corn, standing, comest. Its relationship to verses 24 shows what work it does in this passage.