Deuteronomy 17

“Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath…” 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.

“And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that…” The line’s distinctive content terms include woman, committed, gates. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.