Deuteronomy 20:16
New International Version
However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.

New Living Translation
In those towns that the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing.

English Standard Version
But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes,

Berean Standard Bible
However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.

King James Bible
But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

New King James Version
“But of the cities of these peoples which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive,

New American Standard Bible
Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave anything that breathes alive.

NASB 1995
“Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes.

NASB 1977
“Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes.

Legacy Standard Bible
Only in the cities of these peoples that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes.

Amplified Bible
Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes.

Christian Standard Bible
However, you must not let any living thing survive among the cities of these people the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
However, you must not let any living thing survive among the cities of these people the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

American Standard Version
But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;

Contemporary English Version
Whenever you capture towns in the land the LORD your God is giving you, be sure to kill all the people and animals.

English Revised Version
But of the cities of these peoples, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
However, you must not spare anyone's life in the cities of these nations that the LORD your God is giving you as your property.

Good News Translation
"But when you capture cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, kill everyone.

International Standard Version
"You are not to leave even one person alive in the cities of these nations that the LORD your God is about to give you as an inheritance.

Majority Standard Bible
However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.

NET Bible
As for the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive.

New Heart English Bible
But of the cities of these peoples, that the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;

Webster's Bible Translation
But of the cities of these people which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

World English Bible
But of the cities of these peoples that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Only, of the cities of these peoples which your God YHWH is giving to you [for] an inheritance, you do not keep alive any [that are] breathing;

Young's Literal Translation
Only, of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee for an inheritance, thou dost not keep alive any breathing;

Smith's Literal Translation
Only of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God gave to thee an inheritance, thou shalt not preserve alive and breathing:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But of those cities that shall be given thee, thou shalt suffer none at all to live:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But among those cities which shall be given to you, you shall not permit anyone at all to live.

New American Bible
But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD, your God, is giving you as a heritage, you shall not leave a single soul alive.

New Revised Standard Version
But as for the towns of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not let anything that breathes remain alive.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But of the cities of these people which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Only from towns of these nations that LORD JEHOVAH your God gives to you as an inheritance, no breathing thing shall live:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Howbeit of the cities of these peoples, that the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Of these ye shall not take any thing alive;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws of Warfare
15This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby. 16However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. 17For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,…

Cross References
Joshua 6:17-21
Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.” ...

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

Numbers 33:51-56
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, / you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places. / You are to take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. ...

Exodus 23:31-33
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you. / You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. / They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Exodus 34:11-16
Observe what I command you this day. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst. / Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. ...

Leviticus 18:24-30
Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. / Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants. / But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances, and you must not commit any of these abominations—neither your native-born nor the foreigner who lives among you. ...

Deuteronomy 7:1-5
When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. / Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, ...

Deuteronomy 7:16
You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

Deuteronomy 9:4-5
When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD is driving out these nations before you because of their wickedness. / It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 12:2-3
Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. / Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place.

Judges 2:1-3
Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, / and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? / So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

1 Kings 9:20-21
As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

2 Chronicles 8:7-8
As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

Psalm 106:34-36
They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

Ezra 9:1-2
After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. / Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”


Treasury of Scripture

But of the cities of these people, which the LORD your God does give you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes:

Deuteronomy 7:1-4,16
When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; …

Numbers 21:2,3,35
And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities…

Numbers 33:52
Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

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Deuteronomy 20
1. The priest's exhortation to encourage the people to battle
5. The officers' proclamation of who are to be dismissed from the war
10. How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace
16. What cities must be devoted
19. Trees must not be destroyed in the siege














However
This word serves as a conjunction, indicating a contrast or exception to the previous instructions given in the chapter. In the context of Deuteronomy 20, God provides specific rules for warfare, and this word introduces a significant shift in the instructions regarding certain cities. It highlights the seriousness and gravity of the command that follows, emphasizing that what is about to be stated is of utmost importance and not to be taken lightly.

in the cities
The phrase refers to specific urban centers within the Promised Land that the Israelites were to conquer. These cities were often fortified and represented the heart of the Canaanite culture and religion, which were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh. Archaeological evidence shows that many of these cities were well-established with their own religious practices, which were often abhorrent to the Israelites, such as child sacrifice and idolatry.

of the nations
This phrase identifies the inhabitants of these cities as belonging to the various Canaanite nations. Historically, these nations were known for their polytheistic beliefs and practices that were contrary to the monotheistic worship of the Israelites. The term underscores the distinction between the people of God and those who were outside the covenant community, highlighting the need for separation to maintain the purity of Israel's worship and obedience to God.

the LORD your God
This phrase is a reminder of the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the personal name of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and faithfulness. "Your God" personalizes this relationship, reminding the Israelites that their actions are under the direct command and authority of the God who delivered them from Egypt and who is now leading them into the Promised Land.

is giving you
This phrase indicates the divine initiative and gift of the land to the Israelites. It is not by their own strength or merit that they receive the land, but by the gracious provision of God. This underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and grace throughout the conquest narratives, reminding the Israelites of their dependence on God for victory and inheritance.

as an inheritance
The concept of inheritance in the Hebrew context is deeply tied to the promises made to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It signifies a permanent possession, a fulfillment of God's covenant promises. The land is not just a temporary dwelling place but a lasting heritage for the people of Israel, meant to be passed down through generations as a testament to God's faithfulness.

you must not leave alive
This command is a direct and unequivocal instruction for the Israelites to completely destroy the inhabitants of these cities. It reflects the seriousness of eradicating the influence of pagan practices and ensuring that the Israelites remain faithful to God. The command is rooted in the need to prevent the corruption of Israel's worship and moral life by the surrounding nations.

anything that breathes
This phrase emphasizes the totality of the destruction commanded. It is a sobering reminder of the severity of God's judgment against sin and idolatry. The breath of life, given by God, is to be taken away as a consequence of persistent rebellion and wickedness. This command, while difficult to comprehend, reflects the holiness of God and the necessity of purging evil to establish a society that honors Him.

Verses 16-20. - This was for cities at a distance; it was to be otherwise with the cities of the Canaanites. To them no offer of peaceful submission was to be made, and when the city was taken, all the inhabitants without reserve were to be destroyed. This was in accordance with God's command to Israel (Exodus 23:31-33; Exodus 34:11-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-3), and as a precaution against the risk of the people being seduced into idolatry by the heathen should they be allowed to remain in the land. But whilst engaged in besieging a town, they were not to destroy the fruit trees that were outside the walls; but trees that were not for food they might cut down and use in their operations against the city.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
However,
רַ֗ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

in the cities
מֵעָרֵ֤י (mê·‘ā·rê)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of the
הָאֵ֔לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

nations
הָֽעַמִּים֙ (hā·‘am·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

that
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is giving
נֹתֵ֥ן (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you
לְךָ֖ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

as an inheritance,
נַחֲלָ֑ה (na·ḥă·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion

you must not leave alive
תְחַיֶּ֖ה (ṯə·ḥay·yeh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

anything
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that breathes.
נְשָׁמָֽה׃ (nə·šā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5397: A puff, wind, angry, vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, an animal


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 20:16 But of the cities of these peoples (Deut. De Du)
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