King James Version

Deuteronomy 20

1When thou goest outתֵצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318to battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֜הla.mil.cha.MahH4421against thine enemiesאֹיְבֶ֗יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341,and seestוְֽרָאִ֜יתָve.ra.'I.taH7200horsesס֤וּסsusH5483,and chariotsוָרֶ֙כֶב֙va.Re.khevH7393, anda peopleעַ֚ם'amH5971moreרַ֣בravH7227than thou, be not afraidתִירָ֖אti.Ra'H3372of them: for the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430iswith thee, which brought thee upהַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ha.ma.'al.KhaH5927out of the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

2And it shall be, when ye are come nighכְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖םke.ka.ra.ve.KhemH7126unto the battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֑הha.mil.cha.MahH4421,that the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.HenH3548shall approachוְנִגַּ֥שׁve.ni.GashH5066and speakוְדִבֶּ֥רve.di.BerH1696unto the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971,

3And shall sayוְאָמַ֤רve.'a.MarH559unto them, Hearשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,ye approachקְרֵבִ֥יםke.re.VimH7131this dayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117unto battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.MahH4421against your enemiesאֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם'o.ye.vei.KhemH341:let not your heartsלְבַבְכֶ֗םle.vav.KhemH3824faintיֵרַ֣ךְye.RakhH7401,fearתִּֽירְא֧וּti.re.'UH3372not, and do not trembleתַּחְפְּז֛וּtach.pe.ZuH2648,neither be ye terrifiedתַּֽעַרְצ֖וּta.'ar.TzuH6206becauseמִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃mi.pe.nei.HemH6440of them;

4For the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430ishe that goethהַהֹלֵ֖ךְha.ho.LekhH1980with you, to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֥םle.hi.la.ChemH3898for you against your enemiesאֹיְבֵיכֶ֖ם'o.ye.vei.KhemH341,to saveלְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַle.ho.Shi.a'H3467you.

5And the officersהַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ha.sho.te.RimH7860shall speakוְדִבְּר֣וּve.di.be.RuH1696unto the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971,sayingלֵאמֹר֒le.MorH559,What manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376is therethat hath builtבָּנָ֤הba.NahH1129a newחָדָשׁ֙cha.DashH2319houseבַֽיִת־va.yit-H1004,and hath not dedicatedחֲנָכ֔וֹcha.na.KhoH2596it? let him goH3212and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725to his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,lest he dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in the battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421,and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376dedicateיַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ׃yach.ne.Khe.nuH2596it.

6And what manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376is hethat hath plantedנָטַ֥עna.Ta'H5193a vineyardכֶּ֙רֶם֙ke.remH3754, and hath not yeteatenחִלְּל֔וֹchi.le.LoH2490of it? let him alsogoH3212and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725unto his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,lest he dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in the battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421,and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376eatיְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃ye.chal.le.Le.nuH2490of it.

7And what manהָאִ֞ישׁha.'IshH376is therethat hath betrothedאֵרַ֤שׂ'e.RasH781a wifeאִשָּׁה֙'i.ShahH802,and hath not takenלְקָחָ֔הּle.ka.ChahH3947her? let him goH3212and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725unto his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,lest he dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191in the battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421,and anotherאַחֵ֖ר'a.CherH312manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376takeיִקָּחֶֽנָּה׃yi.ka.Che.nahH3947her.

8And the officersהַשֹּׁטְרִים֮ha.sho.te.RimH7860shall speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696furtherוְיָסְפ֣וּve.ya.se.FuH3254unto the peopleהָעָם֒ha.'AmH5971,and they shall sayוְאָמְר֗וּve.'a.me.RuH559,What manהָאִ֤ישׁha.'IshH376is there that isfearfulהַיָּרֵא֙hai.ya.Re'H3373and faintheartedוְרַ֣ךְ הַלֵּבָ֔בve.Rakh ha.le.VavH3824 H7390?let him goH3212and returnוְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.ShoH7725unto his houseלְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.ToH1004,lest his brethren’sאֶחָ֖יו'e.ChavH251heartלְבַ֥בle.VavH3824faintיִמַּ֛סyi.MasH4549as well as his heartכִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃kil.va.VoH3824.

9And it shall be, when the officersהַשֹּׁטְרִ֖יםha.sho.te.RimH7860have made an endכְּכַלֹּ֥תke.kha.LotH3615of speakingלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696unto the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,that they shall makeוּפָֽקְד֛וּu.Fa.ke.DuH6485captainsשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of the armiesצְבָא֖וֹתtze.va.'otH6635to leadבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218the peopleהָעָֽם׃ סha.'AmH5971.

10When thou comest nighתִקְרַ֣בtik.RavH7126unto a cityעִ֔יר'IrH5892to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֖םle.hi.la.ChemH3898against it, then proclaimוְקָרָ֥אתָve.ka.Ra.taH7121peaceלְשָׁלֽוֹם׃le.sha.LomH7965unto it.

11And it shall be, if it make thee answerתַּֽעַנְךָ֔ta.'an.KhaH6030of peaceשָׁל֣וֹםsha.LomH7965,and openוּפָתְחָ֖הu.fa.te.ChahH6605unto thee, then it shall be, thatall the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971that isfoundהַנִּמְצָא־ha.nim.tza'-H4672therein shall be tributariesלָמַ֖סla.MasH4522unto thee, and they shall serveוַעֲבָדֽוּךָ׃va.'a.va.Du.khaH5647thee.

12And if it will make no peaceתַשְׁלִים֙tash.LimH7999with thee, but will makeוְעָשְׂתָ֥הve.'a.se.TahH6213warמִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahH4421against thee, then thou shalt besiegeוְצַרְתָּ֖ve.tzar.TaH6696it:

13And when the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430hath deliveredוּנְתָנָ֛הּu.ne.ta.NahH5414it into thine handsבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,thou shalt smiteוְהִכִּיתָ֥ve.hi.ki.TaH5221every maleזְכוּרָ֖הּze.khu.RahH2138thereof with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחָֽרֶב׃Cha.revH2719:

14But the womenהַ֠נָּשִׁיםHa.na.shimH802,and the little onesוְהַטַּ֨ףve.ha.TafH2945,and the cattleוְהַבְּהֵמָ֜הve.ha.be.he.MahH929,and all that is in the cityבָעִ֛ירva.'IrH5892, evenall the spoilשְׁלָלָ֖הּshe.la.LahH7998thereof, shalt thou takeתָּבֹ֣זta.VozH962unto thyself; and thou shalt eatוְאָֽכַלְתָּ֙ve.'a.khal.TaH398the spoilשְׁלַ֣לshe.LalH7998of thine enemiesאֹיְבֶ֔יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341,which the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430hath givenנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414thee.

15Thus shalt thou doתַּעֲשֶׂה֙ta.'a.SehH6213unto all the citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892which areveryמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966far offהָרְחֹקֹ֥תha.re.cho.KotH7350from thee, whichהֵֽנָּה׃He.nahH2007arenot of the citiesמֵעָרֵ֥יme.'a.ReiH5892of these nationsהַגּֽוֹיִם־ha.go.yim-H1471.

16But of the citiesמֵעָרֵ֤יme.'a.ReiH5892of these peopleהָֽעַמִּים֙ha.'a.MimH5971,which the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430doth giveנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414thee foran inheritanceנַחֲלָ֑הna.cha.LahH5159,thou shalt save aliveתְחַיֶּ֖הte.chai.YehH2421nothing that breathethנְשָׁמָֽה׃ne.sha.MahH5397:

17But thou shalt utterlyהַחֲרֵ֣םha.cha.RemH2763destroyתַּחֲרִימֵ֗םta.cha.ri.MemH2763them; namely,the Hittitesהַחִתִּ֤יha.chi.TiH2850,and the Amoritesוְהָאֱמֹרִי֙ve.ha.'e.mo.RiH567,the Canaanitesהַכְּנַעֲנִ֣יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,and the Perizzitesוְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יve.hap.pe.ri.ZiH6522,the Hivitesהַחִוִּ֖יha.chi.ViH2340,and the Jebusitesוְהַיְבוּסִ֑יve.hay.vu.SiH2983;as the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃'e.lo.Hei.khaH430hath commandedצִוְּךָ֖tzi.ve.KhaH6680thee:

18That they teachיְלַמְּד֤וּye.la.me.DuH3925you not to doלַעֲשׂ֔וֹתla.'a.SotH6213after all their abominationsתּֽוֹעֲבֹתָ֔םto.'a.vo.TamH8441,which they have doneעָשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213unto their godsלֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶ֑םle.lo.hei.HemH430;so should ye sinוַחֲטָאתֶ֖םva.cha.ta.TemH2398against the Lordלַיהוָ֥הla.Yah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ ס'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

19When thou shalt besiegeתָצ֣וּרta.TzurH6696a cityעִיר֩'irH5892a longרַבִּ֜יםra.BimH7227timeיָמִ֨יםya.MimH3117,in making warלְֽהִלָּחֵ֧םle.hi.la.ChemH3898against it to takeלְתָפְשָׂ֗הּle.ta.fe.SahH8610it, thou shalt not destroyתַשְׁחִ֤יתtash.ChitH7843the treesעֵצָהּ֙'e.TzahH6086thereof by forcingלִנְדֹּ֤חַlin.Do.achH5080an axeגַּרְזֶ֔ןgar.ZenH1631against them: for thou mayest eatתֹאכֵ֔לto.KhelH398of them, and thou shalt not cut them downתִכְרֹ֑תtikh.RotH3772(for the treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֔הha.sa.DehH7704isman’sהָֽאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120life)to employלָבֹ֥אla.Vo'H935themin the siegeמִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃mi.pa.Nei.kha ba.ma.TzorH4692 H6440:

20Only the treesעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086which thou knowestתֵּדַ֗עte.Da'H3045that they benot treesעֵ֤ץ'etzH6086for meatמַאֲכָל֙ma.'a.KhalH3978,thou shalt destroyתַשְׁחִ֖יתtash.ChitH7843and cut them downוְכָרָ֑תָּve.kha.Ra.taH3772;and thou shalt buildוּבָנִ֣יתָu.va.Ni.taH1129bulwarksמָצ֗וֹרma.TzorH4692against the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892that makethעֹשָׂ֧ה'o.SahH6213warמִלְחָמָ֖הmil.cha.MahH4421with thee, until it be subduedרִדְתָּֽהּ׃ פrid.TahH3381.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20

King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)