Deuteronomy 21 in the early church

85 passages quote, allude to, or echo Deuteronomy 21, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 3 · 7 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 18 · 21 · 22 · 23

Deuteronomy 21:1

If one is found slain, lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:1Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:1–23Deuteronomy, lines 78–102 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Deuteronomy 21:3

Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:3Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)

Deuteronomy 21:7

and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:7Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)

Deuteronomy 21:10

When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:10Miscellanies 2.18.88 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:10Homilies on Leviticus 7.6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Deut 21:10Preparation for the Gospel 8.8.46 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 313–324
Deut 21:10–13Letter 66.8 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 21:10Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.76.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397

Deuteronomy 21:11

if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:11Miscellanies 2.18.88 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:11Miscellanies 3.11.71 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:11Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:11Homilies on Leviticus 7.6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Deut 21:11Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.76.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397

Deuteronomy 21:12

then you shall bring her into your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:12Miscellanies 2.18.88 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:12Miscellanies 2.18.89 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:12Miscellanies 3.11.71 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:12Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:12Homilies on Leviticus 7.6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Deut 21:12Commentary on Matthew 17.34 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248
Deut 21:12Letter 21.13 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 21:12Letter 70.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 21:12Letters 23.10 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413

Deuteronomy 21:13

and put aside the clothing of her captivity. After she has lived in your house a full month and mourned her father and mother, you may have relations with her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:13Miscellanies 2.18.88 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:13Miscellanies 3.11.71 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:13Homilies on Leviticus 7.6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Deut 21:13Commentary on Matthew 17.34 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248
Deut 21:13Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.76.1 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-397

Deuteronomy 21:14

And if you are not pleased with her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes. But you must not sell her for money or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:14Miscellanies 2.18.89 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Deut 21:14Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:14Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.76.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397

Deuteronomy 21:15

If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:15Commentary on Matthew 17.34 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248
Deut 21:15Oration I Against the Arians 56 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, low confidenceca. 339–346
Deut 21:15Oration II Against the Arians 4 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, medium confidenceca. 339–346
Deut 21:15–17On Cain and Abel 1.13 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 375-378
Deut 21:15Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:2 (2) · Theodore of Mopsuestiaecho, low confidence392–428

Deuteronomy 21:18

If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:18Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:18Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 809 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254

Deuteronomy 21:21

Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:21Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:21Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 809 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Deut 21:21Preparation for the Gospel 8.8.39 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 313–324

Deuteronomy 21:22

If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:22–23Gospel of Peter (Akhmim fragment) 5 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 100–200
Deut 21:22–23On Pascha 70 · text not on this site · Melito of Sardisecho, medium confidenceca. 160-180
Deut 21:22–23On Pascha 96 · text not on this site · Melito of Sardisecho, low confidenceca. 160-180
Deut 21:22–23Against the Jews 10 · Tertullianquotation, high confidenceca. 197–207
Deut 21:22Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:22–23Commentary on Galatians 3:13 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 366–384
Deut 21:22Apostolic Constitutions 2.48.2 · Anonymousallusion, low confidenceca. 380
Deut 21:22Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 42 · Evagrius of Gaulquotation, high confidenceca. 400

Deuteronomy 21:23

you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Deut 21:23Gospel of Peter (Akhmim fragment) 15 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 100–200
Deut 21:23Dialogue with Trypho 32.1 · Justin Martyrallusion, high confidenceca. 155–160
Deut 21:23Dialogue with Trypho 89.2 · Justin Martyrallusion, high confidenceca. 155–160
Deut 21:23Dialogue with Trypho 94.5 · Justin Martyrallusion, high confidenceca. 155–160
Deut 21:23Dialogue with Trypho 96.1 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Deut 21:23Against Heresies 3.18.3 · Irenaeus of Lyonsquotation, high confidenceca. 180–190
Deut 21:23On Patience 8 · Tertullianallusion, high confidenceca. 198–206
Deut 21:23Arabic Pentateuch fragment XXIV (on Deut 19–23) · Hippolytus of Romequotation, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Deut 21:23Against Marcion 1.11 · Tertullianallusion, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Deut 21:23Against Marcion 3.18 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Deut 21:23Against Marcion 5.3 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Deut 21:23On Flight in Persecution 12 · Tertullianallusion, medium confidenceca. 208–213
Deut 21:23Against Praxeas 29 · Tertullianallusion, high confidenceca. 213 or later
Deut 21:23Prophetic Extracts 1.13 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, medium confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Deut 21:23Preparation for the Gospel 8.7.7 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, low confidenceca. 313–324
Deut 21:23Demonstration of the Gospel 1.10.23 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Deut 21:23On the Incarnation 25.2 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, medium confidenceca. 318–325
Deut 21:23Letter 55.3 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Deut 21:23Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 42.11.8 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377
Deut 21:23Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 42.12.3 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377
Deut 21:23On the Christian Faith 2.11 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378–380
Deut 21:23Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 41 · Evagrius of Gaulquotation, high confidenceca. 400
Deut 21:23Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 42 · Evagrius of Gaulquotation, high confidenceca. 400
Deut 21:23Sermon 264.6 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 391-430
Deut 21:23Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 21 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 394
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.1 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.6 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.7 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.12 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.5 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.24 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 32.5 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Faustus the Manichaean 32.14 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Deut 21:23Against Felix the Manichaean 2.10 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceDecember 404
Deut 21:23Against Felix the Manichaean 2.11 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceDecember 404