If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
DEUTERONOMY 21:18KJVWhat does Deuteronomy 21:18 mean?
Deuteronomy 21:18 describes a situation where a son is persistently stubborn and rebellious, refusing to listen to his father or mother even after they have tried to correct him. The verse sets up a case where parental discipline has failed, and the child will not respond to their guidance.
In this part of Deuteronomy, Moses is speaking to the Israelites, giving them laws for community life as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This verse introduces a specific family problem: a son who continually rejects both parental authority and repeated attempts at correction. The focus is on the seriousness of ongoing disobedience within the family and the community’s role in addressing it.
The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 21:18
- עַתָּה (ish, H376): This word for "man" here refers to a father, but the context includes both parents, showing the shared responsibility in raising children.
- סוֹרֵר (sorer, H5637): Translated as "stubborn," this word often means someone who turns away or refuses to be guided, highlighting a willful resistance rather than a one-time mistake.
- מוֹרֶה (moreh, H4784): "Rebellious" carries the sense of open defiance, not just passive resistance, making clear that the son’s actions are deliberate and ongoing.
- יִסְּרוּ (yisru, H3256): "Chastened" means disciplined or corrected, showing that the parents have made real efforts to guide the son before reaching this point.
- שָׁמַע (shama, H8085): Used for both "obey" and "hearken," this verb means to listen with the intent to act, so the verse emphasizes not just hearing words but responding to them.
Why Deuteronomy 21:18 matters
- This verse clarifies that the law addresses repeated, ongoing disobedience, not a single act of rebellion or a minor disagreement.
- The emphasis on both parents and their efforts to discipline shows that the community’s involvement comes only after family attempts have truly failed.
- Deuteronomy 21:18 sets the stage for the following verses, which describe how the community is to respond, highlighting the balance between family authority and communal responsibility in ancient Israel.