complete verse (Deuteronomy 17:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 17:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “And again, the king should not take for himself many wives so that they do not destroy his thoughts. He must also not collect for himself much silver and gold.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He must not keep many wives, otherwise his heart will go down the false road. He must not gather much gold and silver for himself.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He must not have many wives for he might turn-(his)-back from the LORD. And he must not accumulate much/plenty of silver and gold.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And he must not have a lot of wives, because if he did that, they would turn him away from worshiping only Yahweh. And he must not acquire a lot of silver and gold.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 17:17

He shall not multiply wives for himself: the same verb is used as in the previous verse, meaning “acquire many wives.” This same instruction is given to the Israelite men as a whole (7.3-4).

Lest his heart turn away: these many wives include foreign women who might lead the king to worship pagan gods and thus forsake his loyalty to Yahweh. Contemporary English Version makes this clear with “they might tempt him to be unfaithful to the LORD.”

Greatly multiply for himself silver and gold: the same verb is used again, with the adverb “exceedingly,” “excessively.” In cultures where the precious metals silver and gold are not recognized as a symbol of wealth, a more general expression may be used: “The king must not become very wealthy,” or even “The king must not acquire a great many possessions.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .