Deuteronomy 18:9
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This verse doesn't just forbid practicing the detestable rituals of other nations; it warns against "learning" them. This implies a deliberate choice to adopt these practices, suggesting the danger isn't just accidental mimicry but a conscious turning away from God's ways. It highlights how easily a community can be corrupted by simply observing and then imitating the customs of those around them, especially when settling into new territory.
“When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As the Israelites are about to enter the promised land, God warns them against adopting the corrupt practices of the nations already living there. This prohibition is part of a larger section detailing acceptable ways for Israel to seek divine guidance, contrasting God's appointed prophets with the forbidden practices of sorcerers, diviners, and mediums. The following verses will further elaborate on these forbidden practices and introduce the role of the prophet as God's chosen mediator for Israel.
Imagine moving into a brand new neighborhood. It's exciting, right? But what if that neighborhood has some really unhealthy habits?
God's command to Israel, 'When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations,' isn't just about avoiding bad behavior. It's about establishing a distinct identity.
We often think of sin as a deliberate choice. But sometimes, it's more subtle – a gradual absorption of surrounding culture.
The Hebrew word translated 'learn' here (la-lamad) implies more than just casual observation. It suggests a process of imitation and adoption.
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Understand the original words
to'ebah · Hebrew Noun
Something morally detestable, loathsome, or offensive to God, particularly associated with idolatry, pagan worship, or ethical violations that disrupt the covenant relationship between God and His people.
This passage directly echoes the command in Deuteronomy, forbidding Israel from practicing the customs of the nations they are displacing, emphasizing the need for holiness and distinctiveness.
1 Samuel 15:23This verse shows the severe consequences of disobedience, equating rebellion to idolatry and stubbornness to the sin of divination, highlighting the seriousness of straying from God's commands.
Jeremiah 10:2-3This prophetic passage warns against adopting the ways of the nations, specifically mentioning learning 'the way of the heathen' and the signs of the heavens, similar to the forbidden practices in Deuteronomy.
1 Corinthians 10:14The Apostle Paul urges believers to 'flee from idolatry,' a theme directly connected to Deuteronomy's prohibition against adopting the abominable practices of surrounding nations, which were rooted in idolatry.
Romans 12:2This New Testament passage calls believers to be transformed by the renewal of their minds, rather than being 'conformed to this world' or its practices, mirroring the principle of separation from corrupting influences found in Deuteronomy.
ellicottDeuteronomy 18:9: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations."
(9-14) Certain forms of idolatry to be avoided, especially unlawful means of communication with the unseen world.
calvinDeuteronomy 18:9-14: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations."
- When thou art come. It is too well known from experience how eagerly the human race lays hold of bad examples, and how prone it is to imitate them. Especially those who come into a foreign land, accustom themselves readily to its manners and customs. This is the reason why God expressly commands the Israelites to beware, lest, when th…
This verse doesn't just forbid practicing the detestable rituals of other nations; it warns against "learning" them. This implies a deliberate choice to adopt these practices, suggesting the danger isn't just accidental mimicry but a conscious turning away from God's ways. It highlights how easily a community can be corrupted by simply observing and then imitating the customs of those around them, especially when settling into new territory.
As the Israelites are about to enter the promised land, God warns them against adopting the corrupt practices of the nations already living there. This prohibition is part of a larger section detailing acceptable ways for Israel to seek divine guidance, contrasting God's appointed prophets with the forbidden practices of sorcerers, diviners, and mediums. The following verses will further elaborate on these forbidden practices and introduce the role of the prophet as God's chosen mediator for Israel.
As the Israelites are about to enter the promised land, God warns them against adopting the corrupt practices of the nations already living there. This prohibition is part of a larger section detailing acceptable ways for Israel to seek divine guidance, contrasting God's appointed prophets with the forbidden practices of sorcerers, diviners, and mediums. The following verses will further elaborate on these forbidden practices and introduce the role of the prophet as God's chosen mediator for Israel.
"“When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations." — This verse doesn't just forbid practicing the detestable rituals of other nations; it warns against "learning" them. This implies a deliberate choice to adopt these practices, suggesting the danger i…
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Last reviewed October 2026
