“And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;”
My Notes
What Does Deuteronomy 13:17 Mean?
This verse comes from the instructions about a city in Israel that has turned entirely to idol worship. The directive is severe: the city and everything in it is to be destroyed, and nothing from it — no plunder, no possessions — is to be kept. The word translated "cursed thing" (cherem) means something devoted to destruction, something placed under a ban. Taking any of it would be like carrying contamination out of a quarantine zone.
The promise attached to this obedience is remarkable: if Israel refuses to profit from what God has condemned, then He will turn from His fierce anger and show mercy, compassion, and multiplication. The logic is counterintuitive — by destroying rather than keeping, you receive more than you lost. God's generosity is triggered by Israel's willingness to let go of what He's declared off-limits.
The phrase "as he hath sworn unto thy fathers" connects this back to the Abrahamic covenant. God's promise to multiply Israel isn't cancelled by this severe judgment — it's actually protected by it. Removing what's corrupted preserves the channel through which blessing flows.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Is there something in your life that you know God has told you to release completely, but you're still holding a piece of it? What is it?
- 2.The verse promises mercy, compassion, and multiplication after obedience. Have you experienced God's generosity on the other side of a painful letting-go?
- 3.Why do you think God requires total separation rather than just moderation when it comes to things He's condemned?
- 4.What's the difference between giving something up out of fear and giving it up because you trust that God has something better?
Devotional
This is a hard verse, and there's no softening it. The destruction it describes is severe. But the principle it reveals is one that threads through the entire Bible: you cannot carry what God has condemned and expect to receive what God has promised. The two are incompatible.
The "cursed thing" here isn't just an idol — it's anything that represents a life oriented away from God. And God's instruction is radical: don't just avoid it, don't just disapprove of it — let go of it completely. Don't keep a souvenir. Don't hold onto it "just in case." The word cherem means total separation, and that's what God requires before He releases mercy and compassion.
Here's what's beautiful buried inside this difficult passage: God wants to show you mercy. He wants to have compassion. He wants to multiply what He's given you. But He can't do that while you're clutching something He's told you to release. If there's something in your life that you know God has put under a ban — a relationship, a habit, an ambition, a way of living — and you're still holding a piece of it, this verse says: let it go, and watch what He gives you in return.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand,.... That is, they might not take anything whatever to…
Here the case is put of a city revolting from its allegiance to the God of Israel, and serving other gods.
I. The crime…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture