Ella 
Read the Bible Verse of the Day – Deuteronomy 17:10 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
Deuteronomy 17:10 is a verse that deals with the importance of obeying God‘s appointed authorities and following righteous judgment. It emphasizes listening to God’s ordained leaders and not turning aside from their instructions. This verse is a call for submission to justice and reverence for God’s law.
The Context of Deuteronomy 17:10 KJV
What is the Book of Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. It was written by Moses under God’s direction. The book contains Moses’ final speeches to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. It summarizes laws, encourages obedience, and prepares the people to live in a new land with God’s guidance.
Deuteronomy is full of commands, statutes, and guidelines for a righteous society. It repeats and clarifies many laws first found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It is both a legal and spiritual book.
What Is Deuteronomy Chapter 17 About?
Deuteronomy 17 contains laws about governing the people of Israel justly. It addresses:
The punishment for idolatry (verses 1–7)
Instructions for judging difficult cases (verses 8–13)
Rules for appointing kings (verses 14–20)
The middle section of the chapter, where verse 10 is found, deals with how to handle hard legal matters. These include cases that are too difficult for local judges to resolve, such as disputes involving bloodshed, lawsuits, or violent acts. When that happens, the people are instructed to go to the central place of worship and seek judgment from the priests and judges God has appointed.
Verses Surrounding Deuteronomy 17:10
To fully understand verse 10, let’s look briefly at the surrounding verses:
Verse 8: If a matter is too hard to judge, the people must go to the place God has chosen.
Verse 9: They must consult the Levitical priests and judges.
Verse 10: Once the decision is made, the people must do as instructed.
Verse 11: They are not to turn aside from the verdict, right or left.
Verse 12–13: If someone acts presumptuously and refuses to obey, they are to be put to death, so others will fear and obey.
This shows how serious God is about justice and following the instructions of the leaders He has placed over His people.
Deuteronomy 17:10 (KJV)
Let’s now look at the verse itself in the King James Version:
“And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:” — Deuteronomy 17:10 (KJV)
This verse is direct and clear. It says that the people must do exactly what the priests and judges command them. These leaders are appointed by God, and they speak on His behalf in matters of law.
Deuteronomy 17:10 Meaning
Let’s now break this verse into its key parts and explain what each means in simple terms.
“And thou shalt do according to the sentence…”
This part commands obedience. The “sentence” refers to the legal decision or verdict given by the priests or judges. God commands His people to follow their ruling.
This is important. It’s not a suggestion. It’s a requirement. In a world where people often question authority, this verse shows that when God has appointed leaders and they speak in righteousness, their words must be obeyed.
“which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee…”
The priests and judges are not operating on their own. They are in a place God has chosen — likely referring to the tabernacle or, later, the temple in Jerusalem. God’s presence was associated with this place. So their decisions are made in God’s name, with His authority.
God is reminding Israel that He is ultimately the one behind the judgments. The place is holy, the people are chosen, and the decision is not random.
“and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:”
Again, the command is to follow the ruling exactly. The people are not allowed to pick and choose which parts of the judgment to obey. They are to “observe to do” — which means to pay careful attention and carry out all the instructions.
This shows that obedience to God’s law is not partial. It is complete. God values full obedience from the heart.
Summary of the Meaning
In simple terms, Deuteronomy 17:10 means:
- When there is a difficult case, go to God’s appointed leaders.
- They will give a verdict.
- You must follow their decision completely.
- You must not turn away from it or disobey.
This verse shows that God’s justice must be respected and followed. It also shows that those who represent God — priests and judges — speak with authority when they follow His word.
Deuteronomy 17:10 Application in Life
Though this verse was written for ancient Israel, its principles still apply to Christians today. Let’s explore how we can live out the truths in this verse.
1. Respect God-Ordained Authority
In the Old Testament, God placed priests and judges over Israel. Today, God still ordains authority in the form of:
- Church leaders (pastors, elders)
- Government officials
- Spiritual mentors
Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.” Respecting godly authority is a biblical command.
We may not always agree with leaders, but if they lead in righteousness and truth, we must submit in humility.
2. Seek Godly Counsel for Hard Decisions
The people in Deuteronomy were told to go to God’s leaders for help in hard cases. Today, when we face difficult choices, we should also seek help from those who know God’s Word well.
- A pastor may help you navigate a moral choice.
- A Christian counselor may help you with a relationship issue.
- A mature believer may offer wisdom from Scripture.
We should not rely only on our emotions or opinions. God has placed wise people in our lives for guidance.
3. Obey God’s Word Fully
The people were told to do everything the leaders instructed them. For us today, this applies to God’s Word. We are to obey all of it — not just the parts we like.
Jesus said in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
We should not twist Scripture or avoid the hard parts. God wants complete obedience.
4. Avoid Rebellion and Presumption
Later in Deuteronomy 17, God says that anyone who rejects the decision of the priest or judge is acting presumptuously and must be punished.
This teaches us that rebellion against godly authority is serious. In 1 Samuel 15:23, it says, “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.”
We must watch our hearts for pride, arrogance, or a rebellious spirit. True humility submits to God and those He appoints.
5. Live With Reverence for Justice
This verse teaches that justice matters to God. He wants us to live in a way that honors fairness, righteousness, and truth.
We must:
- Defend the innocent
- Avoid partiality
- Reject favoritism
- Promote peace and truth
Micah 6:8 sums it up: “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Modern Life Examples
Let’s look at some modern-day examples of how Deuteronomy 17:10 applies:
Church Decision: A church elder board decides on a discipline case involving a member. The church is called to respect and support the decision after prayerful, biblical consideration.
Civil Law: Christians should obey the law unless it clearly violates God’s commands. This includes paying taxes, obeying speed limits, or respecting court decisions.
Family Structure: Children should obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1). This verse reminds us that honoring authority begins in the home.
Discipleship: When a Christian mentor gives godly advice based on Scripture, we should listen and follow it with a humble heart.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 17:10 is a powerful verse that teaches us about obedience, authority, and justice. In its original setting, it commanded the Israelites to respect the decisions of God-appointed judges and priests. They were to obey every instruction given, without turning aside.
Today, we can apply this verse by:
- Respecting godly authority in our lives
- Seeking wise counsel for hard decisions
- Obeying God’s Word completely
- Avoiding rebellion and pride
- Promoting justice, truth, and humility in all we do
God is a God of order. He wants His people to live in peace, guided by His truth and leadership. When we obey Him and honor those He places over us, we reflect His character in a dark and confused world.
You Might Be Interested In: