Revised Literal Translation

Deuteronomy 20:1-9

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 Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.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 Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.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.

Read all of Deuteronomy 20

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20