Deuteronomy 13:14

My Notes

What Does Deuteronomy 13:14 Mean?

"Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you." Before the judgment falls on a city accused of idolatry, Moses commands THOROUGH INVESTIGATION: ENQUIRE (darash — investigate, seek out), SEARCH (chaqar — explore, probe deeply), and ASK DILIGENTLY (sha'al heitev — question well/thoroughly). THREE verbs of investigation BEFORE any action. The investigation must produce CERTAINTY — 'if it be truth, and the thing certain.' The judgment demands VERIFIED TRUTH, not rumor, not suspicion, not hearsay.

The phrase "enquire, and make search, and ask diligently" (vedarashta vechaqarta vesha'alta heitev — you shall investigate and probe and question thoroughly) prescribes a THREE-STEP investigation process: ENQUIRE (darash — the general investigation, the initial seeking of information). SEARCH (chaqar — the deeper probe, the thorough examination of evidence). ASK DILIGENTLY (sha'al heitev — the careful questioning, the detailed interrogation of witnesses). Each step goes DEEPER than the previous. The investigation ESCALATES in thoroughness.

The "if it be truth, and the thing certain" (vehinneh emet nakhon haddavar — and behold, truth, established is the matter) requires DUAL CONFIRMATION: the report must be TRUE (emet — truth, reliable, accurate) AND CERTAIN (nakhon — established, firm, verified). TRUTH alone isn't sufficient — the truth must be ESTABLISHED. The report must be VERIFIED through the investigation. The certainty must be CONFIRMED through the inquiry. Two standards — truth AND certainty — must BOTH be met before action follows.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What accusation needs thorough investigation before any action?
• 2.What does THREE levels of inquiry (enquire, search, ask) teach about escalating investigation?
• 3.How does requiring BOTH truth AND certainty prevent acting on incomplete information?
• 4.What does the most serious accusation requiring the most thorough investigation teach about due process?

Devotional

ENQUIRE. SEARCH. ASK DILIGENTLY. And ONLY if it's TRUE and CERTAIN — then act. Before judgment on an accused city, THREE levels of investigation are required. The inquiry ESCALATES in depth. The truth must be ESTABLISHED. The certainty must be CONFIRMED. Rumor isn't sufficient. Suspicion isn't adequate. Only VERIFIED, ESTABLISHED truth produces the response.

The 'enquire, search, ask diligently' prescribes ESCALATING investigation: ENQUIRE is the initial look — the first examination, the opening investigation. SEARCH is the deeper probe — the thorough exploration, the digging beneath the surface. ASK DILIGENTLY is the careful questioning — the detailed interrogation, the 'ask WELL' that leaves no stone unturned. Each step requires MORE effort than the last. The investigation INTENSIFIES.

The 'if it be truth AND the thing certain' requires DUAL verification: TRUTH (emet — the report is accurate, the facts are correct) AND CERTAINTY (nakhon — the conclusion is established, the finding is firm). TRUTH alone could be misinterpreted. CERTAINTY alone could be confidently wrong. BOTH together — accurate facts AND firm conclusions — constitute the standard for action. The dual requirement prevents BOTH false information and hasty conclusions.

The DUE PROCESS is the verse's most important teaching: even for the most SERIOUS offense (city-wide idolatry), the law requires INVESTIGATION BEFORE ACTION. The seriousness of the crime doesn't bypass the thoroughness of the inquiry. The severity of the potential judgment demands the MOST CAREFUL investigation, not the least. The bigger the consequences, the deeper the investigation must go.

What accusation in your context needs three-level investigation BEFORE any action is taken?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture