---
title: "What Does the Title of Deuteronomy Mean?"
canonical: "https://www.bibletolife.com/resources/questions/what-does-the-title-of-deuteronomy-mean"
markdown: "https://www.bibletolife.com/resources/questions/what-does-the-title-of-deuteronomy-mean.md"
type: "questions"
typeTitle: "Questions"
authors:
  - "James Coakley"
date: "2024-05-24"
updated: "2026-09-15"
topics:
  - "Interpreting the Bible"
perspective: "Learn"
relatedBook: "The Moody Bible Commentary"
relatedBookUrl: "https://www.bibletolife.com/resources/books/the-moody-bible-commentary"
---

# What Does the Title of Deuteronomy Mean?

> The title "Deuteronomy" comes from a Greek mistranslation meaning "second law," while the original Hebrew title "these are the words" better reflects the book's true nature as Moses's speeches to Israel.

**Type:** Questions  
**Published:** May 24, 2024  
**Authors:** [James Coakley](https://www.bibletolife.com/resources/authors/james-coakley)  
**Topics:** [Interpreting the Bible](https://www.bibletolife.com/resources/topics/interpreting-the-bible)  
**Perspective:** Learn

The English title for the fifth book of Moses comes from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) name Deuteronomion, meaning “second law.” The LXX derived this from the phrase “copy of this law” from Dt 17:18, erroneously understanding the book as a repetition of the book of Exodus. The Jewish title for the book is elleh haddebarim, the first Hebrew words of the book, meaning “these are the words.” This is a more accurate reflection of Deuteronomy since the bulk of it consists of the speeches Moses gave to the nation Israel just before they entered the promised land. Also, this title reflects the sermonic element of this material, rather than focusing on the legislative quality of the book.

## For Further Reading

[The Moody Bible Commentary](https://www.bibletolife.com/resources/books/the-moody-bible-commentary)

by Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham