English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 20:10
10"When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.
Deuteronomy 20:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
- New International Version (NIV)When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace.
Context of Deuteronomy 20:10
8And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, 'Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.' 9And when the officers have finished speaking to the people, then commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people. "When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. 11And if it responds to you peaceably and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. 12But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.
Read all of Deuteronomy 20Deuteronomy 20:10 word by word
כִּֽי־תִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־עִ֔יר לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יהָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 20:10
- 2 Samuel 20:18Then she said, "They used to say in former times, 'Let them but ask counsel at Abel,' and so they settled a matter.
- Isaiah 57:19creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the Lord, "and I will heal him.
- Zechariah 9:10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
- Luke 10:5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'
- Acts 10:36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
- 2 Corinthians 5:18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
- 2 Corinthians 6:1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
- Ephesians 2:17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Proclaim peace unto it - Interpreters are greatly divided concerning the objects of this law. The text, taken in connection with the context, (see Deuteronomy 20:15-18;), appears to state that this proclamation or offer of peace to a city is only to be understood of those cities which were situated beyond the limits of the seven anathematized nations, because these latter are commanded to be totally destroyed. Nothing can be clearer than this from the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10-20Verses 10-20 Directions intended to prevent wanton destruction of life and property in sieges. Deuteronomy 20:16 Forbearance, however, was not to be shown toward the Canaanite nations, which were to be utterly exterminated (compare Deuteronomy 7:1-4). The command did not apply to beasts as well as men (compare Joshua 11:11, Joshua 11:14). Deuteronomy 20:19 The parenthesis may he more literally rendered “for man is a tree of the field,” i. e., has his life…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-12Verses 10-12 The Israelites are here directed about the nations on whom they made war. Let this show God's grace in dealing with sinners. He proclaims peace, and beseeches them to be reconciled. Let it also show us our duty in dealing with our brethren. Whoever are for war, we must be for peace. Of the cities given to Israel, none of their inhabitants must be left. Since it could not be expected that they should be cured of their idolatry, they would hurt…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15The people living in the land of Canaan had already been placed under the ban (7:1–6). This means they were set apart for complete destruction as part of God’s judgment. So this command refers to other nations. It applies to people whom Israel would fight outside the land (20:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-2010-20. When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it--An important principle is here introduced into the war law of Israel regarding the people they fought against and the cities they besieged. With "the cities of those people which God doth give thee" in Canaan, it was to be a war of utter extermination (De 20:17, 18). But when on a just occasion, they went against other nations, they were first to make a proclamation…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 20:10
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries