Deuteronomy 20:3

Deuteronomy 20:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
• New International Version (NIV)He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them;

Context of Deuteronomy 20:3

1“When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. 2When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. He is to say to them, ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. 4For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’ 5“The officers are to address the army, ‘Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him leave and return home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.

Deuteronomy 20:3 word by word

וְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַֽל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And shall sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, Hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• ye approachקָרֵבqârêb · approachingH7131
• this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• unto battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• against your enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• let not your heartsלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
• faintרָכַךְrâkak · be tenderH7401
• fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• not, and do not trembleחָפַזchâphaz · to hurryH2648
• neither be ye terrifiedעָרַץ‛ârats · to trembleH6206
• becauseפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 20:3

• Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — whom should I dread?
• Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the weak hands, steady the shaking knees!
• Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
• Matthew 10:16“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
• Hebrews 12:12Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees,
• Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
• Isaiah 28:16Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.
• Psalms 3:6I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side.
• Isaiah 8:12Do not call everything a conspiracy that these people say is a conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not be terrified.
• Isaiah 57:7You have placed your bed on a high and lofty mountain; you also went up there to offer sacrifice.
• Matthew 8:26He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
• Mark 16:6“Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him.
• Acts 18:9The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent.
• Acts 27:24and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20:3

• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people--Jewish writers say that there was a war priest appointed by a special ceremonial to attend the army. It was natural that the solemn objects and motives of religion should have been applied to animate patriotism, and so give additional impulse to valor; other people have done this. But in the case of Israel, the regular attendance of a priest on the…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 20:3

• Armies
• Priest

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Faint
• Fearful
• Army
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• Deuteronomy
• Exodus, the Book of

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings