Deuteronomy 23:2
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This passage isn't just about exclusion; it highlights how deeply God valued purity within the covenant community. The incredibly long exclusion period—even to the tenth generation—was a stark, generational marker intended to brand the sin of forbidden unions and preserve the integrity of Israel's family and spiritual lineage. It underscores that even if a person's lineage was tainted by such a union, they were barred from representing God's people in the assembly.
“No one born of a forbidden union may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes right after laws about who is excluded from Israel's assembly due to physical deficiencies or castration. Moses is now outlining prohibitions related to sexual purity, emphasizing that those born from forbidden unions, particularly incest or adultery, were permanently barred from the community of the LORD. This exclusion extended through generations, serving as a stark warning and a societal mechanism to maintain moral and familial integrity within Israel.
Ever wondered why some rules in the Old Testament seem so strict, especially regarding lineage? This verse deals with a significant exclusion.
Deuteronomy 23:2 states that someone born of a 'forbidden union' could not enter the assembly of the Lord, and this exclusion extended for ten generations. The Hebrew word used here, 'mamzer,' is often translated as 'bastard,' but it specifically refers to the offspring of illicit sexual relations, particularly those forbidden by Levitical law such as adultery or incest.
This wasn't just about a personal stain; it was about preserving the holiness and purity of Israel as a people set apart for God. The extended generational limit served as a powerful deterrent, showing that such sins had consequences that rippled far beyond the individuals involved, affecting their entire family line.
What exactly did it mean to be excluded from the 'assembly of the LORD'?
The 'congregation of the LORD' wasn't just a casual gathering; it referred to the entire community of Israel, especially in its covenant relationship with God. Entry into this assembly symbolized full participation in God's people, access to worship, civic rights, and the privileges of the covenant.
Exclusion from the assembly meant being set apart from the covenant community. While some scholars debate the exact nature of the exclusion (e.g., if it barred all participation or specifically leadership roles), the intent was clear: to mark the seriousness of the sexual sins that produced such offspring and to safeguard the distinct identity of Israel.
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Understand the original words
mamzer · Hebrew Noun
A union forbidden by the laws of kinship or morality (such as incestuous or adulterous relationships). The offspring of such unions faced social and legal restrictions within the community of Israel.
This passage lays out the specific incestuous relationships that were forbidden, providing the context for what constituted a 'forbidden union' in Deuteronomy 23:2.
Nehemiah 13:1This passage echoes Deuteronomy's command, showing how the prohibition against Ammonites and Moabites (descendants of forbidden unions) entering the assembly persisted even centuries later.
Matthew 1:1-3This genealogy of Jesus includes Rahab and Ruth, who were non-Israelites, demonstrating God's inclusion of people from outside the direct lineage, offering a contrast to the strict exclusion in Deuteronomy.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10This passage lists various sins that will exclude people from the Kingdom of God, showing a broader spiritual exclusion based on unrepentant behavior, rather than solely on birth status.
ellicottDeuteronomy 23:2: "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD."
(2) A bastard shall not enter. —Such a person would not, even now, be circumcised by the Jews, or permitted to marry an Israelitish woman, or be buried with his people; therefore he was excluded from the covenant. It is manifest how efficacious would be the enforcement of this law also in preserving the purity of family life.
gillDeuteronomy 23:2: "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD."
A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord,.... That is born of whoredom, as the Targum of Jonathan; and for the sake of avoiding whoredom and deterring from it was this law made, according to Maimonides (h), that adulterers might see, as he observes, that they affect their whole family with an irreparable stain, sho…
This passage isn't just about exclusion; it highlights how deeply God valued purity within the covenant community. The incredibly long exclusion period—even to the tenth generation—was a stark, generational marker intended to brand the sin of forbidden unions and preserve the integrity of Israel's family and spiritual lineage. It underscores that even if a person's lineage was tainted by such a union, they were barred from representing God's people in the assembly.
This passage comes right after laws about who is excluded from Israel's assembly due to physical deficiencies or castration. Moses is now outlining prohibitions related to sexual purity, emphasizing that those born from forbidden unions, particularly incest or adultery, were permanently barred from the community of the LORD. This exclusion extended through generations, serving as a stark warning and a societal mechanism to maintain moral and familial integrity within Israel.
This passage comes right after laws about who is excluded from Israel's assembly due to physical deficiencies or castration. Moses is now outlining prohibitions related to sexual purity, emphasizing that those born from forbidden unions, particularly incest or adultery, were permanently barred from the community of the LORD. This exclusion extended through generations, serving as a stark warning and a societal mechanism to maintain moral and familial integrity within Israel.
"“No one born of a forbidden union may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD." — This passage isn't just about exclusion; it highlights how deeply God valued purity within the covenant community. The incredibly long exclusion period—even to the tenth generation—was a stark, gener…
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Last reviewed October 2026
