Deuteronomy 21:19

Verse

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,

American Standard Version (1901)

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;

Bible in Basic English

Then let his father and mother take him to the responsible men of the town, to the public place;

Douay-Rheims 1899

They shall take him and bring him to the ancients of his city, and to the gate of judgment,

Free Bible Version

his parents must take him to the town elders, to the court in his hometown,

Geneva Bible 1599

Then shall his father and his mother take him, and bring him out vnto the Elders of his citie, and vnto the gate of the place where he dwelleth,

King James (Authorized) 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;

One Unity Resource 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.

Translation for Translators

If that happens, his parents must take him to the ◄gate of/central meeting place in► the city where he lives and have him stand in front of the elders of the city.

Unlocked Literal Bible

then his father and his mother must lay hold on him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his city.

Noah Webster 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;

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.

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,

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.”

Summary

This verse addresses a situation where a rebellious son is brought before the elders of the city for discipline. It emphasizes the importance of parental authority and the seriousness of disobedience within the community. The passage underscores the need for discipline and order in society, highlighting the consequences of persistent rebellion. While the punishment described may seem harsh, it serves as a deterrent to maintain respect for authority and uphold moral standards.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him,.... With their own hands, or cause him to be apprehended by others, in which they were to agree, and which the Jews gather from hence;"if (say they (y)) the father is willing (to bring him to justice), and the mother not willing, if his father is not willing and the mother is willing, he is not reckoned a stubborn or rebellious son, until they both agree:" and bring him out unto the elders of his city; according to the Misnah (z), the sanhedrim, or court of judicature, consisting of twenty three; for they say, that after he has been admonished and scourged by order of the bench of three, if he returns to his corrupt and wicked ways again, he is judged by the court of twenty three: and unto the gate of his place; or city, where the court sat; so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, to the gate of the sanhedrim of his place. (y) Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 8. sect. 4. (z) Ibid.