The Meaning of Deuteronomy 17:18 Explained

Deuteronomy 17:18

KJV: And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

YLT: And it hath been, when he sitteth on the throne of his kingdom, that he hath written for himself the copy of this law, on a book, from that before the priests the Levites,

Darby: And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests, the Levites;

ASV: And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it shall be, when he sitteth  upon the throne  of his kingdom,  that he shall write  him a copy  of this law  in a book  out of [that which is] before  the priests  the Levites: 

What does Deuteronomy 17:18 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 17

1  The things sacrificed must be sound
2  Idolaters must be slain
8  Hard controversies are to be determined by the priests and judges
12  The one who shows contempt for the judge must die
14  The election
16  and duty of a king

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 17:18 mean?

And it shall be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom that he shall write for himself - a copy of law this in a book from [the one] before the priests the Levites
וְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ וְכָ֨תַב ל֜וֹ אֶת־ מִשְׁנֵ֨ה הַתּוֹרָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ עַל־ סֵ֔פֶר מִלִּפְנֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים הַלְוִיִּֽם

וְהָיָ֣ה  And  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ  when  he  sits 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
כִּסֵּ֣א  the  throne 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כִּסֵּא 
Sense: seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool.
מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ  of  his  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.
וְכָ֨תַב  that  he  shall  write 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
ל֜וֹ  for  himself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִשְׁנֵ֨ה  a  copy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁנֶה  
Sense: double, copy, second, repetition.
הַתּוֹרָ֤ה  of  law 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
הַזֹּאת֙  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
סֵ֔פֶר  a  book 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
מִלִּפְנֵ֥י  from  [the  one]  before 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַלְוִיִּֽם  the  Levites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.