Deuteronomy 23:17-18
New English Translation
Cultic Prostitution Banned
17 There must never be a sacred prostitute[a] among the young women[b] of Israel nor a sacred male prostitute[c] among the young men[d] of Israel. 18 You must never bring the pay of a female prostitute[e] or the wage of a male prostitute[f] into the temple of the Lord your God in fulfillment of any vow, for both of these are abhorrent to the Lord your God.
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- Deuteronomy 23:17 tn The Hebrew term translated “sacred prostitute” here (קְדֵשָׁה [qedeshah], from קַדֵשׁ [qadesh, “holy”]; cf. NIV “shrine prostitute”; NASB “cult prostitute”; NRSV, TEV, NLT “temple prostitute”) refers to the pagan fertility cults that employed female and male prostitutes in various rituals designed to evoke agricultural and even human fecundity (cf. Gen 38:21-22; 1 Kgs 14:24; 15:12; 22:47; 2 Kgs 23:7; Hos 4:14). The Hebrew term for a regular, noncultic (i.e., “secular”) female prostitute is זוֹנָה (zonah).
- Deuteronomy 23:17 tn Heb “daughters.”
- Deuteronomy 23:17 tn The male cultic prostitute was called קָדֵשׁ (qadesh; see note on the phrase “sacred prostitute” earlier in this verse). The colloquial Hebrew term for a “secular” male prostitute (i.e., a sodomite) is the disparaging epithet כֶּלֶב (kelev, “dog”) which occurs in the following verse (cf. KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB).
- Deuteronomy 23:17 tn Heb “sons.”
- Deuteronomy 23:18 tn Here the Hebrew term זוֹנָה (zonah) refers to a noncultic (i.e., “secular”) female prostitute; see note on the phrase “sacred prostitute” in v. 17.
- Deuteronomy 23:18 tn Heb “of a dog.” This is the common Hebrew term for a noncultic (i.e., “secular”) male prostitute. See note on the phrase “sacred male prostitute” in v. 17.
Deuteronomy 23:17-18
World English Bible
17 There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of a male prostitute,[a] into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow; for both of these are an abomination to Yahweh your God.
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- 23:18 literally, dog
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