Deuteronomy 17 in the early church

39 passages quote, allude to, or echo Deuteronomy 17, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19

Deuteronomy 17:1

You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep with any defect or serious flaw, for that is detestable to the LORD your God.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:1Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIII · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 17:1Exhortation to Martyrdom 7 · Origenquotation, high confidence235

Deuteronomy 17:2

If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:2–7On Saint Athanasius 1.6 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361
Deut 17:2–7Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 4.10 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 420–421

Deuteronomy 17:3

and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden—

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:3Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIII · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 17:3Exhortation to Martyrdom 7 · Origenquotation, high confidence235
Deut 17:3Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 17:3Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.12 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400

Deuteronomy 17:6

On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:6Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIII · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 17:6–7Demonstration 3.4 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Deut 17:6Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.13 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 17:6Chapter 11 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 437-450

Deuteronomy 17:7

The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. So you must purge the evil from among you.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:7Against Marcion 5.7 · Tertullianallusion, medium confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Deut 17:7Against Marcion 5.14 · Tertullianquotation, medium confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Deut 17:7Against Marcion 5.18 · Tertullianquotation, medium confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Deut 17:7Commentary on 1 Corinthians 5:13 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 366–384
Deut 17:7Apostolic Constitutions 2.9.3 · Anonymousquotation, medium confidenceca. 380

Deuteronomy 17:8

If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:8–13On Saint Athanasius 1.6 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361

Deuteronomy 17:12

But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:12–13Letter 3.1 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Deut 17:12–13Letter 4.4 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Deut 17:12Letter 43.7 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Deut 17:12–13Letter 59.4 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Deut 17:12–13Letter 66.3 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Deut 17:12Preparation for the Gospel 8.8.28 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 313–324
Deut 17:12On Saint Athanasius 1.7 · Lucifer of Cagliariallusion, high confidenceca. 356–361
Deut 17:12Letter 14.8 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 17:12Letter 98.24 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419

Deuteronomy 17:13

Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will no longer behave arrogantly.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:13Letter 98.24 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419

Deuteronomy 17:14

When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:14–16On Saint Athanasius 1.7 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361

Deuteronomy 17:15

you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:15Letter 98.9 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 17:15Against Helvidius 16 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 383

Deuteronomy 17:16

But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:16Homilies on Ezekiel 12.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Deut 17:16Prophetic Extracts 3.24 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, low confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Deut 17:16Homilies on the Psalms 32.9 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378

Deuteronomy 17:17

He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:17Homilies on Numbers 20.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Deuteronomy 17:18

When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:18Letter to Marcellinus 32 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceuncertain, after 335
Deut 17:18–20On Saint Athanasius 1.7 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361

Deuteronomy 17:19

It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 17:19Letter to Marcellinus 32 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceuncertain, after 335
Deut 17:19Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.8.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397