Deuteronomy 21:18-21

A Rebellious Son

18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined, ¹

19 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,

20 and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”

21 Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, ^[a] and all Israel will hear and be afraid.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 21

This chapter treats of the beheading of the heifer, for the expiation of unknown murder, and the rules to be observed in it, De 21:1-9 of a beautiful captive woman an Israelite is desirous of having for his wife, and what methods he must take to accomplish it, De 21:10-14, of giving the double portion to the firstborn, which he must not be deprived of in favour of the son of a beloved wife, De 21:15-17 and of the stubborn and rebellious son, who remaining so must be put to death, De 21:18-21 and of burying a person hanged on a tree the same day he is executed, De 21:22,23.

Cross References

• 1. (Luke 15:11–32)

Footnotes

• [a] Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13