Deuteronomy 23:18
What is Deuteronomy 23:18 about? Read the meaning and summary with full commentary explained, historical context, verse insights, word analysis, and cross-references.
Deuteronomy chapter 23 - Assembly Purity And Camp Sanitation
Deuteronomy 23 articulates specific exclusions from the public assembly based on lineage and physical condition to emphasize the high cost of covenant membership. It further mandates strict sanitary practices for military camps and regulates the ethics of vows, usury, and the treatment of runaway slaves.
Deuteronomy 23:18
ESV: You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
KJV: 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 even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
NIV: You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because the LORD your God detests them both.
NKJV: You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
NLT: When you are bringing an offering to fulfill a vow, you must not bring to the house of the LORD your God any offering from the earnings of a prostitute, whether a man or a woman, for both are detestable to the LORD your God.
Meaning
Deuteronomy 23:18 states that any money obtained through prostitution, whether from a female prostitute or from a "dog" (a derogatory term for a male cult prostitute), must never be brought into the LORD's sanctuary or temple. This prohibition extends even to funds intended to fulfill a vow made to God. The command explicitly declares that the LORD God finds both the sources of these earnings and the practices themselves to be detestable and utterly offensive to His holy character.
Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 18:22 | "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." | Defines homosexual acts as an abomination. |
| Lev 19:29 | "Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, so that the land does not fall to prostitution and become full of wickedness." | Prostitution profanes individuals and defiles the land. |
| Lev 20:13 | "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination..." | Reiterates the abomination of homosexual acts. |
| Deut 18:9 | "...you must not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations." | Warning against adopting pagan and detestable customs. |
| 1 Kgs 14:24 | "...there were also male cult prostitutes in the land." | Historical presence of male cult prostitution in Judah. |
| 1 Kgs 15:12 | "[King Asa] expelled the male cult prostitutes from the land..." | A righteous king purging cult prostitution. |
| 2 Kgs 23:7 | "[King Josiah] tore down the houses of the male cult prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD..." | Josiah's comprehensive reform against cultic perversion. |
| Prov 1:19 | "...the way of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it." | Warning against ill-gotten gain. |
| Prov 10:2 | "Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death." | Unrighteous wealth lacks true and lasting benefit. |
| Prov 13:11 | "Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow." | Money gained dishonestly is not blessed and dissipates. |
| Prov 21:6 | "Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, a deadly snare." | The deceitful nature and danger of ill-gotten wealth. |
| Jer 3:9 | "Because of her casual harlotry the land became defiled. She committed adultery with stone and tree." | Israel's spiritual prostitution (idolatry) defiling the land. |
| Ezek 16:35-37 | "Therefore, O prostitute, hear the word of the LORD!" | Prophetic judgment on Jerusalem for its spiritual harlotry. |
| Hos 4:14 | "...men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with them." | Shows religious and moral defilement through association with prostitutes. |
| Mal 1:8 | "When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong?..." | God rejects blemished and unacceptable offerings. |
| Isa 1:13 | "Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me..." | God rejecting worship when offered by those with defiled lives. |
| Psa 24:3-4 | "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart..." | Requires moral purity for approaching God's presence. |
| Rom 12:1 | "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice..." | Call to offer one's whole self, holy and acceptable, to God. |
| 1 Cor 6:18-20 | "Flee from sexual immorality... Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit..." | Emphasizes the body's sanctity, opposite to prostitution. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-18 | "What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" | Call for separation from practices opposed to God's nature. |
| Heb 13:4 | "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure..." | God's expectation for purity and honor in sexual relations. |
| Rev 21:8 | "...the sexually immoral... and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." | Final judgment on those practicing sexual immorality. |
| Lev 22:25 | "Nor shall you accept food from the hand of a foreigner as an offering to your God from any of these, for they are corrupted..." | Broader principle of rejecting tainted offerings. |
| Amos 2:7 | "...a man and his father use the same girl, defiling my holy name." | Indicts severe sexual immorality that profanes God's name. |
Context
Deuteronomy chapter 23 contains a series of regulations aimed at maintaining the purity and holiness of the Israelite community, particularly regarding access to and conduct within the assembly of the LORD. These rules distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations by stipulating who is allowed into God's presence and what practices are considered an abomination. Verse 18 follows instructions concerning loans and vows, but introduces a critical principle regarding the source of contributions to the sanctuary. This prohibition was vital in preventing the corrupting influence of Canaanite religious practices, which often integrated various forms of sexual immorality, including cultic prostitution (both male and female), into their worship of fertility gods. The verse served to draw a sharp ethical and theological line, ensuring that the worship of YHWH remained distinct, holy, and untainted by the moral degradation common in pagan cults.
Word analysis
- You must not bring: (Hebrew: Lo' tavi - לֹא תָבִיא). This is a strong, definitive negative command, emphasizing an absolute prohibition. It signals an action that is strictly forbidden by divine decree.
- the wages / earnings (ethnan - אֶתְנַן): This Hebrew term specifically refers to the hire or payment received for engaging in prostitution. Its usage immediately highlights the illicit and morally tainted origin of the funds, stressing their unholy source.
- of a prostitute (zonah - זוֹנָה): Refers to a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for payment, a harlot. In the ancient world, zonah could also denote a cultic prostitute, meaning one performing sexual acts as part of religious worship.
- or the earnings of a dog (kelev - כֶּלֶב): While literally meaning "dog," this term is used pejoratively here, contextually understood by scholars to refer to a male cult prostitute (qadesh - קָדֵשׁ), often involved in homosexual practices within pagan worship. This parallel to "prostitute" condemns male cultic sexual practices, further underscoring the severity of the abomination. It signifies a person of depraved sexual conduct.
- into the house of the LORD your God: Refers to the sanctuary—the Tabernacle, and later the Temple in Jerusalem. This emphasizes the sanctity of God's dwelling place, which must be preserved from defilement by tainted offerings.
- to pay any vow (neder - נֶדֶר): A vow was a solemn promise or pledge made to God, often involving a material sacrifice or offering. The verse underscores that even pious acts cannot sanctify or legitimize funds obtained through practices detestable to God, highlighting the necessity of purity in both intent and means.
- because the LORD your God detests both of them (to'ebah - תּוֹעֵבָה): To'ebah is a powerful Hebrew word meaning "abomination," "detestable thing," or "horrific thing." It signifies something that is morally repugnant and spiritually abhorrent to God's nature. Its use here indicates God's deep and unequivocal rejection of these practices and the associated earnings.
Commentary
Deuteronomy 23:18 sternly commands against using earnings from prostitution or male cultic prostitution for any offering in the LORD’s sanctuary. This directive was essential in setting Israel apart from surrounding pagan cultures, which commonly incorporated various forms of sacred prostitution into their worship. The term "detests" (Hebrew: to'ebah) conveys God’s profound repulsion for such defiling practices, declaring them utterly incompatible with His holiness. This prohibition ensures that true worship remains pure in both deed and source, emphasizing that what is presented to God must reflect His unblemished character. Even acts of devotion like fulfilling a vow could not redeem funds derived from sin, highlighting that God demands integrity in the means as much as in the end. This foundational principle underlines that only what is holy, pure, and obtained righteously is fit for His presence and purposes.
Bonus section
The reference to "dog" (kelev) in Deuteronomy 23:18 is particularly significant as it often carries strong derogatory connotations in ancient Near Eastern and biblical texts. While literally meaning a domestic dog, contextually, and particularly in parallel with "prostitute," it functions as a metaphor for a male cult prostitute, or a man engaged in sexually perverted acts, especially homosexuality associated with pagan rituals. This underscores the verse's direct challenge to the common cultic prostitution and homosexual practices found in the fertility cults of Canaan. The command acts as a sharp polemic, enforcing Israel’s unique identity as a holy nation dedicated to YHWH, whose worship required strict moral integrity and separation from all pagan abominations. It reflects that the character of God demands moral consistency in all aspects of life, including economic transactions tied to worship.
Read deuteronomy 23 chapter and explore various translations, from word-for-word KJV and ESV to thought-for-thought NIV and NLT.
Understand why physical cleanliness and social boundaries were essential for a nation that hosted the literal presence of God. Begin your study with deuteronomy 23 summary.
The law allowing runaway slaves to seek asylum in Israel was unique in the ancient world, where they were usually returned to their owners like lost property. The Word Secret is Qahal, the 'assembly' or 'congregation,' representing the formal body of believers gathered for judicial and worship purposes. Discover the riches with deuteronomy 23 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Explore deuteronomy 23 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines