That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

DEUTERONOMY 16:20KJV
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Deuteronomy 16:20 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 16:20 mean?

Deuteronomy 16:20 commands the Israelites to pursue only what is truly just so that they may live and possess the land that God is giving them. The verse stresses that justice must be the guiding principle for the community’s actions and decisions.

Moses is speaking to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the promised land. He instructs them that their future in the land depends on their commitment to justice, not just in personal life but especially in public and legal matters. This verse comes in a section about appointing fair judges, highlighting that justice is not optional but essential for the community’s survival and blessing.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 16:20

  • The word translated “altogether just” and “just” is צֶדֶק (tsedeq), which means righteousness or justice. The repetition (“justice, justice”) in Hebrew emphasizes the absolute priority and purity of justice, not just the appearance of fairness.
  • The verb “follow” is רָדַף (radaph), which means to pursue or chase after. This word suggests active, persistent effort, not just a passive preference for justice.
  • The word “live” is חָיָה (chayah), which means to live or have life. Here, it connects justice directly to the people’s well-being and survival in the land.
  • The verb “inherit” is יָרַשׁ (yarash), meaning to possess or take ownership of land. The verse links inheriting the land to the pursuit of justice, showing that the gift of land is tied to moral responsibility.

Why Deuteronomy 16:20 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that justice is just one value among many; instead, it shows that justice is central to the life and future of the community.
  • The double use of “justice” in Hebrew underlines how serious and uncompromising this command is—partial or selective justice is not enough.
  • Deuteronomy 16:20 connects the people’s moral choices directly to their experience of God’s promises, showing that the land is not just a gift but also a trust that depends on how they treat each other.

Where else these words appear

“altogether” Hebrew H6664 · used in 109 verses

  • Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
  • Psalms 58:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
  • Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

“follow” Hebrew H7291 · used in 135 verses

  • Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
  • Judges 8:5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
  • Psalms 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.