Deuteronomy 10:17

“For YHWH your Elohim, he is Elohim of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and fearsome El, who does not show favoritism and does not take a bribe.”
Deuteronomy 10:17 · direct translation from the Hebrew

Study it in the app

God takes no bribe and does justice for the orphan, the widow and the foreignerHoliness The God who takes no bribe loves the foreigner and defends the orphanJustice and mercy

With the Hebrew beneath

ForכִּיYHWHיְהוָהyour Elohim,אֱלֹהֵיכֶםheהוּאis Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof godsהָאֱלֹהִיםand Lordוַאֲדֹנֵיof lords,הָאֲדֹנִיםthe great,הַגָּדֹלmighty,הַגִּבֹּרand fearsomeוְהַנּוֹרָאEl,הָאֵלwhoאֲשֶׁרdoes notלֹאshow favoritismיִשָּׂא פָנִיםand does notוְלֹאtakeיִקַּחa bribe.שֹׁחַד

Allusion · Revelation 17:14

Go to Revelation 17:14

Both texts use the title “Lord of lords”; in Deuteronomy 10:17 it is said of YHWH, “Elohim of gods and Lord of lords.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

אֲדֹנִיםadonimH113κύριοςkyriosG2962“lord, master”

Allusion · Revelation 19:16

Go to Revelation 19:16

Both texts use the title “Lord of lords”; in Deuteronomy 10:17 it is said of YHWH, “Elohim of gods and Lord of lords.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

אֲדֹנִיםadonimH113κύριοςkyriosG2962“lord, master”

Deuteronomy 10:17, word by word

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

your Elohimאֱלֹהֵיelohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohe” appears

and Lordאֲדֹנֵיadone

Adonai, Lord

"Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.

Where else “adone” appears

of lordsאֲדֹנִיםadonim

Lord

The Lord, said of God.

Where else “adonim” appears

the greatגָּדֹלgadol

great

Of great size, amount or importance: a river, a city, a king.

Where else “gadol” appears

mightyגִּבֹּרgibor

mighty

Strong, of great power, also YHWH.

Where else “gibor” appears

and fearsomeנּוֹרָאnora

be fearsome

To be so great or powerful that one inspires awe and respect.

Where else “nora” appears

Elאֵלel

El, God, god

"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".

Where else “el” appears

show favoritismיִשָּׂאyisa

lift up

To direct the eyes upward, make the voice loud, or put up the hand.

Where else “yisa” appears

show favoritismפָנִיםfanim

face

The front of the head, of someone or of God.

Where else “fanim” appears

takeיִקַּחyikach

To accept what someone gives, such as teaching or correction.

Where else “yikach” appears

a bribeשֹׁחַדshochad

bribe

Bribe: a gift given to a judge to twist his decision.

Where else “shochad” appears

Translation note

“He does not show favoritism” is, word for word, “he does not lift up faces”: he favors no one because of who he is. Acts 10:34 and Romans 2:11 repeat it. “Lord of lords”: Revelation 17:14.

The context

16So circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn any longer.

17 · This verse (above)

18He does justice for the orphan and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him bread and a cloak.

Read all of Deuteronomy 10

How to use it