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 fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! 2When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’ 5“Then the officers of the army must address the troops and say, ‘Has anyone here just built a new house but not yet dedicated it? If so, you may go home! You might be killed in the battle, and someone else would dedicate your house.

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— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
• Isaiah 35:3With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.
• Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
• Matthew 10:16“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
• Ephesians 6:11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
• Hebrews 12:12So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.
• Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
• Isaiah 28:16Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
• Psalms 3:6I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.
• Isaiah 8:12“Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.
• Isaiah 57:7You have committed adultery on every high mountain. There you have worshiped idols and have been unfaithful to me.
• Matthew 8:26Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
• Mark 16:6but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.
• Acts 18:9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!
• Acts 27:24and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone 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