And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

DEUTERONOMY 21:22KJV
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Deuteronomy 21:22 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 21:22 mean?

Deuteronomy 21:22 describes a situation where a man has committed a serious crime deserving death, is executed, and then his body is displayed by hanging on a tree. The verse sets up instructions for what should happen to the body after execution, showing a specific practice in ancient Israel’s justice system.

In this part of Deuteronomy, Moses is speaking to the Israelites, giving them laws to follow as they prepare to enter the land of Canaan. The verse addresses what to do when someone is found guilty of a capital offense. Hanging the body on a tree was not the method of execution, but a public display after death, meant to show the seriousness of the crime and serve as a warning to others.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 21:22

  • man (אִישׁ, ish): This word refers specifically to an individual man, emphasizing personal responsibility for the crime.
  • sin (חֵטְא, chet’): This word means an offense or wrongdoing, highlighting that the punishment is for a specific, serious violation.
  • hang (תָּלָה, talah): This verb means to hang up or suspend, and in this context, it refers to displaying the executed body, not the act of killing itself.
  • tree (עֵץ, etz): This word means tree or wooden structure, indicating the body was hung on something made of wood, which could be a literal tree or a wooden post.

Why Deuteronomy 21:22 matters

  • Deuteronomy 21:22 clarifies that the public display of a body was a separate act from the execution itself, which helps avoid confusion about ancient Israelite practices.
  • This verse sets the stage for the following verse, which commands that the body must not remain on the tree overnight, showing concern for dignity even after judgment.
  • Understanding this law helps readers see how Israelite justice balanced public warning with respect for the dead, a theme that appears throughout the book of Deuteronomy.

Where else these words appear

“hang” Hebrew H8518 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 40:19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
  • 2 Samuel 21:12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
  • Esther 9:25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

“sin” Hebrew H2399 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 41:9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
  • Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
  • Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.