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cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad15.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-14.htm" title="Deuteronomy 20:14">◄</a> Deuteronomy 20:15 <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm" title="Deuteronomy 20:16">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“But these instructions apply only to distant towns, not to the towns of the nations in the land you will enter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities <i>which are</i> very far off from thee, which <i>are</i> not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Thus you shall do to all the cities <i>which are</i> very far from you, which <i>are</i> not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/deuteronomy/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />That is what you shall do to all the cities that are very far away from you, which are not among the cities of these nations nearby [which you are to dispossess].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/deuteronomy/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and are not among the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and are not among the cities of these nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/deuteronomy/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/deuteronomy/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />This is what you must do to all the cities that are far away which don't belong to the nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />That is how you are to deal with those cities that are far away from the land you will settle in. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/deuteronomy/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Do this to all the cities that are distant from you—that is, to those cities that are not in neighboring nations."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/deuteronomy/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />This is how you are to deal with all those cities located far from you, those that do not belong to these nearby nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Thus shalt thou do to all the cities which are very distant from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/deuteronomy/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/deuteronomy/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />So you do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> So thou dost do to all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/deuteronomy/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Thus shalt thou do to all the cities greatly far off from thee which are not of the cities of these nations.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />So shalt thou do to all cities that are at a great distance from thee, and are not of these cities which thou shalt receive in possession. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />So shall you do to all the cities which are at a great distance from you, those which are not among the cities that you shall receive as a possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />That is how you shall deal with any city at a considerable distance from you, which does not belong to these nations here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Thus you shall treat all the towns that are very far from you, which are not towns of the nations here.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Thus shall you do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />So do to all the towns that are very distant from you that were not from towns of these nations.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/deuteronomy/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Thus shalt thou do to all the cities that are very far off from thee, not <i>being</i> of the cities of these nations which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit their land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=5613" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/20.htm">Laws of Warfare</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">14</span>But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you. <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: kên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">This is how</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ta·‘ă·śeh (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">you are to treat</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: lə·ḵāl (Prep-l:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: he·‘ā·rîm (Art:: N-fp) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">the cities</a> <a href="/hebrew/7350.htm" title="7350: hā·rə·ḥō·qōṯ (Art:: Adj-fp) -- Or rachoq; from rachaq; remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially.">that are far away</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: mim·mə·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">from you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3966.htm" title="3966: mə·’ōḏ (Adv) -- Muchness, force, abundance. From the same as 'uwd; properly, vehemence, i.e. vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">and do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: mê·‘ā·rê (Prep-m:: N-fpc) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense."></a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">belong to the</a> <a href="/hebrew/2007.htm" title="2007: hên·nāh (Pro-3fp) -- They. Prolongation for hen; themselves."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: hag·gō·w·yim- (Art:: N-mp) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">nations nearby.</a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/11-19.htm">Joshua 11:19-20</a></span><br />No city made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites living in Gibeon; all others were taken in battle. / For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-20.htm">1 Kings 9:20-21</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/8-7.htm">2 Chronicles 8:7-8</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/31-7.htm">Numbers 31:7-12</a></span><br />Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. / Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. / The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/9-3.htm">Joshua 9:3-15</a></span><br />But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, / acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. / They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/1-27.htm">Judges 1:27-33</a></span><br />At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. / When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely. / Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/8-2.htm">2 Samuel 8:2</a></span><br />David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">2 Kings 17:24</a></span><br />Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-24.htm">Nehemiah 9:24-25</a></span><br />So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished. / They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-6.htm">Isaiah 10:6</a></span><br />I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/25-9.htm">Jeremiah 25:9</a></span><br />behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/25-14.htm">Ezekiel 25:14</a></span><br />I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-43.htm">Matthew 5:43-44</a></span><br />You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ / But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-27.htm">Luke 19:27</a></span><br />And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Thus shall you do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/10-14.htm">Belong</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/19-11.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-24.htm">Distance</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-24.htm">Distant</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-1.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/genesis/21-16.htm">Nearby</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/19-11.htm">Towns</a> <a href="/numbers/27-14.htm">Treat</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/29-29.htm">Belong</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-2.htm">Distance</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-22.htm">Distant</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/job/1-14.htm">Nearby</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Towns</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-14.htm">Treat</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-1.htm">The priest's exhortation to encourage the people to battle</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-5.htm">The officers' proclamation of who are to be dismissed from the war</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-10.htm">How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">What cities must be devoted</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-19.htm">Trees must not be destroyed in the siege</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/deuteronomy/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>This is how you are to treat</b><br>This phrase introduces a specific set of instructions given by God to the Israelites through Moses. It reflects the divine command for how Israel was to conduct warfare, emphasizing obedience to God's directives. The context is the broader set of laws given in Deuteronomy, which outlines how Israel is to live as a holy nation set apart for God.<p><b>all the cities that are far away from you</b><br>The cities referred to here are those outside the immediate land of Canaan, which God had promised to the Israelites. These cities are distinguished from those within the Promised Land, which were subject to different rules of engagement. This distinction underscores the unique covenant relationship between God and Israel concerning the land of Canaan. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of differentiating between local and distant enemies.<p><b>and do not belong to the nations nearby.</b><br>The nations nearby refer to the Canaanite tribes that inhabited the land God promised to Israel. These nations were subject to complete destruction due to their idolatry and moral corruption, as seen in other parts of Deuteronomy and the book of Joshua. This phrase highlights the separation between Israel and the surrounding pagan cultures, emphasizing the need for Israel to remain pure and devoted to God. Theologically, it points to the concept of holiness and the call for God's people to be distinct from the world, a theme echoed in the New Testament in passages like <a href="/1_peter/1-16.htm">1 Peter 1:16</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, receiving instructions on how to conduct warfare.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/cities_far_away.htm">Cities Far Away</a></b><br>Refers to cities outside the immediate vicinity of the Promised Land, indicating a different approach in warfare.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/n/nations_nearby.htm">Nations Nearby</a></b><br>The Canaanite nations within the Promised Land, which were to be treated differently according to God's command.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/promised_land.htm">Promised Land</a></b><br>The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which the Israelites were to inhabit.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_god's_justice.htm">Understanding God's Justice</a></b><br>God's instructions for warfare reflect His justice and sovereignty. The distinction between nearby and distant cities underscores His specific plan for the Promised Land.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>The Israelites were called to obey God's commands precisely. This obedience was crucial for maintaining purity and avoiding the influence of idolatry.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Believers today can draw parallels to spiritual warfare, understanding the importance of discerning and following God's guidance in battling sin and temptation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_context_and_application.htm">Cultural Context and Application</a></b><br>While the specific commands were for a particular time and people, the principles of seeking God's will and maintaining spiritual purity remain relevant.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_plan.htm">God's Sovereignty and Plan</a></b><br>Recognizing that God's plans are perfect, even when they involve difficult commands, encourages trust in His overarching purpose for His people.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_offer_peace_then_show_no_mercy.htm">How can God's people be told to offer terms of peace in one situation but show no mercy in another (Deuteronomy 20:10-18)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_spare_gibeonites_despite_deut._20_16-17.htm">How does sparing the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:15) align with instructions to destroy all Canaanite inhabitants (Deuteronomy 20:16-17)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_joshua_11_12-15_align_with_sparing.htm">How does the absolute obedience in Joshua 11:12-15 align with prior instructions about sparing certain peoples?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_god's_goodness_prompt_repentance.htm">Did God command killings in the Old Testament?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">This is how</span><br /><span class="heb">כֵּ֤ן</span> <span class="translit">(kên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> </span><span class="str2">So -- thus</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you are to treat</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּעֲשֶׂה֙</span> <span class="translit">(ta·‘ă·śeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="heb">לְכָל־</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the cities</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(he·‘ā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that are far away</span><br /><span class="heb">הָרְחֹקֹ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(hā·rə·ḥō·qōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7350.htm">Strong's 7350: </a> </span><span class="str2">Remote, of place, time, precious</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from you</span><br /><span class="heb">מִמְּךָ֖</span> <span class="translit">(mim·mə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> </span><span class="str2">A part of, from, out of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and do not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">belong to the</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֵ֖לֶּה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’êl·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> </span><span class="str2">These, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">nations nearby.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגּֽוֹיִם־</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gō·w·yim-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Deuteronomy 20:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 20:15 Thus you shall do to all (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 20:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 20:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 20:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 20:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>