Deuteronomy 23:18 Meaning: What Is the 'Price of a Dog'?
You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of a male prostitute, into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow; for both of these are an abomination to Yahweh your God.
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.
thou dost not bring a gift of a whore, or a price of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God, for any vow; for the abomination of Jehovah thy God are even both of them.
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the price of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow; for even both these are an abomination to Jehovah thy God.
Meaning in one sentence
This verse forbids bringing earnings from prostitution into God's house. The 'price of a dog' refers to male prostitution.
Context
Deuteronomy 23 contains laws for Israel as a holy people living in God's presence. Just before this verse, the Lord commands that no prostitute or male cult prostitute be found among the people. The following verse then addresses what may be brought as an offering to God. In the ancient Near East, religious prostitution was common in pagan temples where earnings funded worship. Israel was to be different. This verse makes clear that money earned through sexual immorality cannot be transformed into a holy gift simply by giving it to God.
Key Words
The phrase 'hire of a prostitute' points to money received for sexual immorality. The 'price of a dog' is more puzzling. Throughout Scripture, 'dog' can refer to a person who engages in shameful or degrading practices (Psalm 22:16; Revelation 22:15). Many commentators understand it here as a term for a male prostitute, matching the 'sodomite' in verse 17. The word 'abomination' carries the sense of something that repels God, not because the money itself is dirty, but because it represents a life lived against His design. God will not let His sanctuary be funded by what dishonours Him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read this verse in different ways on one point. Some, following Jewish interpretation, understand 'dog' literally as an unclean animal whose price cannot be offered. Others, including many Protestant commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry, see 'dog' as a metaphor for a male prostitute. Both readings agree on the main point: God rejects offerings that come from sin. The heart of the verse is about the kind of worship God accepts, worship that matches a life of obedience.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that the 'price of a dog' refers to selling a literal dog, and that the verse simply bans dog offerings. In fact, the context makes 'dog' a figure for a male prostitute. Verse 17 prohibits male prostitutes among the people; verse 18 forbids offering their earnings. The issue is not the animal but the immorality behind the money.
Living This Out
This verse asks a hard question: where does your offering come from? Maybe not money earned through explicit sin, but what about time you've taken from responsibilities? Praise that masks resentment? A promise to serve God while cutting corners at work. The point is not to obsess over every dollar, but to examine your heart. Let your offering to God this week come from a life you've already given to Him, not a life you're trying to fix by giving.
Main takeaway: God will not be honoured by gifts that come from sin; He wants our whole lives, clean and offered freely.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God doesn't want us to give Him things that were earned by doing wrong. If you got a toy by stealing, you wouldn't give it to your mom. God wants gifts that come from doing right.
For ages 9, 12
This verse shows that God cares about the whole story of our giving. In Bible times, some people earned money through sinful things and then tried to give that money to God, thinking it would fix things. But God sees where the money came from. When you give, whether it's your time, talents, or allowance, ask yourself if it's offered with a clean heart. God loves a cheerful giver who lives honestly.
Questions People Ask
What does 'the price of a dog' mean in Deuteronomy 23:18?
Most commentators understand 'dog' as a metaphor for a male prostitute (the 'sodomite' in verse 17). In Scripture, 'dog' is used to describe those who engage in shameful practices (Psalm 22:16; Revelation 22:15). The verse forbids offering the earnings of male prostitution, just as it forbids offering the hire of a female prostitute.
Is this verse about literal dogs?
Some Jewish interpreters understand it literally as the price of a dog (an unclean animal). However, the context points to a figurative reading: verse 17 prohibits male prostitutes, and verse 18 uses 'dog' as a synonymous term. Both literal and metaphorical readings agree that God rejects offerings from impure sources.
Why does God call the wages of a prostitute an 'abomination'?
The word 'abomination' describes something that God finds repulsive because it offends His holy character. The money itself isn't dirty, but it represents a lifestyle God forbids. Accepting such earnings as an offering would imply that God approves of the sin that produced them.
Does Deuteronomy 23:18 apply to Christians today?
While we are not under the Old Testament law, the principle remains: God cares about the integrity of our giving. He is not impressed by gifts that come from dishonest or immoral practices. Christians are called to give freely and cheerfully, with a clear conscience before God (2 Corinthians 9:7).
For pastors & researchers
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