Those Excluded from the Congregation

231 No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord. 2 No one born of a forbidden marriage[1] nor any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation. 3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.

Other Translations of Deuteronomy 23:1-3

King James Version

Those Excluded from the Congregation

231 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 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. 3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever:

English Standard Version

Those Excluded from the Congregation

231 "No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord. 2 "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. 3 "No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever,

The Message

Those Excluded from the Congregation

231 No eunuch is to enter the congregation of God. 2 No bastard is to enter the congregation of God, even to the tenth generation, nor any of his children. 3 No Ammonite or Moabite is to enter the congregation of God, even to the tenth generation, nor any of his children, ever.

New King James Version

Those Excluded from the Congregation

231 "He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the assembly of the Lord. 2 "One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord. 3 "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever,

New Living Translation

Those Excluded from the Congregation

231 "If a man's testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be admitted to the assembly of the Lord . 2 "If a person is illegitimate by birth, neither he nor his descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord . 3 "No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:1-3

Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:1-8

(Read Deuteronomy 23:1-8)

We ought to value the privileges of God's people, both for ourselves and for our children, above all other advantages. No personal blemishes, no crimes of our forefathers, no difference of nation, shuts us out under the Christian dispensation. But an unsound heart will deprive us of blessings; and a bad example, or an unsuitable marriage, may shut our children from them.