Deuteronomy – Chapter 23

Old Testament25 Verses

Chapter Summary

Deuteronomy 23 opens with the words: "An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord." Across its 25 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and God's covenant promises. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord.

2A mamzer, that is to say, one born of a prostitute, shall not enter into the church of the Lord, until the tenth generation.

3The Ammonite and the Moabite, even after the tenth generation shall not enter into the church of the Lord for ever:

4Because they would not meet you with bread and water in the way, when you came out of Egypt: and because they hired against thee Balaam, the son of Beor, from Mesopotamia in Syria, to curse thee.

5And the Lord thy God would not hear Balaam, and he turned his cursing into thy blessing, because he loved thee.

6Thou shalt not make peace with them, neither shalt thou seek their prosperity all the days of thy life for ever.

7Thou shalt not abhor the Edomite, because he is thy brother: nor the Egyptian, because thou wast a stranger in his land.

8They that are born of them, in the third generation shall enter into the church of the Lord.

9When thou goest out to war against thy enemies, thou shalt keep thyself from every evil thing.

10If there be among you any man, that is defiled in a dream by night, he shall go forth out of the camp,

11And shall not return, before he be washed with water in the evening: and after sunset he shall return into the camp.

12Thou shalt have a place without the camp, to which thou mayst go for the necessities of nature,

13Carrying a paddle at thy girdle. And when thou sittest down, thou shalt dig round about, and with the earth that is dug up thou shalt cover

14That which thou art eased of: (for the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thy enemies to thee:) and let thy camp be holy, and let no uncleanness appear therein, lest he go away from thee.

15Thou shalt not deliver to his master the servant that is fled to thee.

16He shall dwell with thee in the place that shall please him, and shall rest in one of thy cities: give him no trouble.

17There shall be no whore among the daughters of Israel, nor whoremonger among the sons of Israel.

18Thou shalt not offer the hire of a strumpet, nor the price of a dog, in the house of the Lord thy God, whatsoever it be that thou hast vowed: because both these are an abomination to the Lord thy God.

19Thou shalt not lend to thy brother money to usury, nor corn, nor any other thing:

20But to the stranger. To thy brother thou shalt lend that which he wanteth, without usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all thy works in the land, which thou shalt go in to possess.

21When thou hast made a vow to the Lord thy God, thou shalt not delay to pay it: because the Lord thy God will require it. And if thou delay, it shall be imputed to thee for a sin.

22If thou wilt not promise, that shalt be without sin.

23But that which is once gone out of thy lips, thou shalt observe, and shalt do as thou hast promised to the Lord thy God, and hast spoken with thy own will and with thy own mouth.

24Going into thy neighbour's vineyard, thou mayst eat as many grapes as thou pleasest: but must carry none out with thee:

25If thou go into thy friend's corn, thou mayst break the ears, and rub them in thy hand: but not reap them with a sickle.

Important Verses in Deuteronomy 23

An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 23:1

And the Lord thy God would not hear Balaam, and he turned his cursing into thy blessing, because he loved thee.

Deuteronomy 23:5

That which thou art eased of: (for the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thy enemies to thee:) and let thy camp be holy, and let no uncleanness appear therein, lest he go away from thee.

Deuteronomy 23:14

Thou shalt not offer the hire of a strumpet, nor the price of a dog, in the house of the Lord thy God, whatsoever it be that thou hast vowed: because both these are an abomination to the Lord thy God.

Deuteronomy 23:18

Historical Context

Deuteronomy belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the new generation of Israel about to cross the Jordan into Canaan. Chapter 23 of 34 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 25 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord." The final verse reads: "If thou go into thy friend's corn, thou mayst break the ears, and rub them in thy hand: but not reap them with a…" The wider setting of Deuteronomy is this: Deuteronomy means 'second law': Moses' final sermons on the plains of Moab, renewing the Sinai covenant for the generation about to enter Canaan. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

Who Wrote It

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC

When It Was Written

Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, Deuteronomy 23 delivers commandments and ritual instructions given under the old covenant. A pivotal line is verse 1: "An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of covenant renewal and the call to love God. Jesus cited Deuteronomy's command to love God as the greatest commandment (CIC 2083). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 2559).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

Reflection for Today

Deuteronomy Chapter 23 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Jesus cited Deuteronomy's command to love God as the greatest commandment (CIC 2083). Here the believer is invited to ponder the beatitudes as a program of life.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 2683) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deuteronomy Chapter 23 about?

Deuteronomy 23 contains 25 verses. It opens with "An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord." and closes with "If thou go into thy friend's corn, thou mayst break the ears, and rub them in thy hand: but not reap them with a…". The book as a whole is covenant discourses and law.

What is a key verse in Deuteronomy 23?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "An eunuch, whose testicles are broken or cut away, or yard cut off, shall not enter into the church of the Lord." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Deuteronomy and when?

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC. Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

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