Deuteronomy 21:3 net — Then the elders of the city nearest to the corpse must take from the herd a heifer that has not been worked– that has n…

NET Bible

"Then the elders of the city nearest to the corpse must take from the herd a heifer that has not been worked– that has never pulled with the yoke–"

— Deuteronomy 21:3, NET Bible

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Deuteronomy 21:3 in Other Translations

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Deuteronomy 21 — Context

1

Laws Concerning Unsolved Murder If a homicide victim should be found lying in a field in the land the LORD your God is giving you, and no one knows who killed him,

2

your elders and judges must go out and measure how far it is to the cities in the vicinity of the corpse.

3

Then the elders of the city nearest to the corpse must take from the herd a heifer that has not been worked– that has never pulled with the yoke–

4

and bring the heifer down to a wadi with flowing water, to a valley that is neither plowed nor sown. There at the wadi they are to break the heifer’s neck.

5

Then the Levitical priests will approach(for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve him and to pronounce blessings in his name, and to decide every judicial verdict)

6

and all the elders of that city nearest the corpse must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

Deuteronomy 21:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Deuteronomy 21:3 say?
Deuteronomy 21:3 in the NET Bible reads: “Then the elders of the city nearest to the corpse must take from the herd a heifer that has not been worked– that has never pulled with the yoke–”
Where is Deuteronomy 21:3 in the Bible?
Deuteronomy 21:3 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 21, verse 3.
Who wrote Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). Largely framed as Moses' farewell speeches; the closing chapter narrating his death was likely added by Joshua or a later editor. It was written c. 1406 BC.
What is the book of Deuteronomy about?
Deuteronomy is Moses' final sermons to Israel before they enter the Promised Land — a renewed call to love and obey the LORD. It re-states the Law, rehearses Israel's history, and lays before the people blessing for obedience and curse for rebellion.
What are the major themes of Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy explores themes including Covenant, Love, Obedience, Remembrance, Blessing & Curse. These themes shape the meaning and context of Deuteronomy 21:3.
What translation should I read Deuteronomy 21:3 in?
Deuteronomy 21:3 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Deuteronomy 21:3?
Deuteronomy 21:3 reads (NET): “Then the elders of the city nearest to the corpse must take from the herd a heifer that has not been worked– that has never pulled with the yoke–” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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