Deuteronomy 20:10

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms 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

8“The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’ 9And so it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people. “When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. 11And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. 12Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.

Deuteronomy 20:10 word by word

כִּֽי־תִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־עִ֔יר לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יהָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When thou comest nighקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• unto a cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• to fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• against it, then proclaimקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 20:10

• 2 Samuel 20:18So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,’ and so they would end disputes.
• Isaiah 57:19“I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.”
• Zechariah 9:10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.’
• Luke 10:5But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
• Acts 10:36The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
• 2 Corinthians 5:18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
• 2 Corinthians 6:1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
• Ephesians 2:17And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and 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

• Siege

In the dictionaries

• Faint
• Fearful
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• Cruel; Cruelty
• Deuteronomy
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Give
• Leviticus

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