Deuteronomy 13:8

8 assent thou not to him, neither hear thou him, neither thine eye spare him, that thou have mercy of him, and hide him, (assent thou not to him, nor listen thou to him, nor thine eye spare him, so that thou have mercy on him, or that thou hide him,)

Deuteronomy 13:8 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:8

Thou shall not consent unto him
To commit the idolatry enticed unto, or join with him in it:

nor hearken to him;
not so much as patiently to hear him, but at once express an abhorrence of and indignation at what he recommends:

neither shall thine eye pity him;
pitied he might be for his ignorance, stupidity, and wickedness, and on account of the miserable estate and condition he was in, and of those dreadful consequences which would follow upon it, if not converted from it; but no mercy was to be shown him on account of nearness of relation:

neither shall thou spare;
to reprove him sharply and to expose him to public vengeance:

neither shall thou conceal him;
neither him nor his sin, but make both public, acquaint others with it, and endeavour to bring him before the civil magistrate to be examined, tried, and judged; so far should they be from hiding his offence from others, or excusing and extenuating it, or from harbouring his person privately when sought for upon information.

Deuteronomy 13:8 In-Context

6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, either thy son, either thy daughter, either the wife which is in thy bosom, either thy friend, whom thou lovest as thy (own) soul, will counsel thee, and saith privily, Go we and serve alien gods, which thou knowest not, and thy fathers know not (will counsel thee, and saith privately, Let us go, and serve foreign, or other, gods, which thou knowest not, nor thy fathers knew),
7 (the gods) of all the folks about, that be nigh either far, from the beginning unto the end of the land,
8 assent thou not to him, neither hear thou him, neither thine eye spare him, that thou have mercy of him, and hide him, (assent thou not to him, nor listen thou to him, nor thine eye spare him, so that thou have mercy on him, or that thou hide him,)
9 but anon thou shalt slay him. Thine hand be first upon him, and after thee, all the people put to (the) hand. (but at once thou shalt kill him. Thy hand be the first upon him, and after thee, the hands of all the other people.)
10 He shall be oppressed with stones, and shall be slain; for he would draw thee away from thy Lord God, that led thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of servage, (He shall be killed with stones; for he tried to draw thee away from the Lord thy God, who led thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of servitude, or of slavery,)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.