Deuteronomy 20:16

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

Deuteronomy 20:16 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
16 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:
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 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,
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 In those towns that the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing.
The Message Bible (MSG)
16 But with the towns of the people that God, your God, is giving you as an inheritance, it's different: don't leave anyone alive.
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
16 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.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 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.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
16 But what about the cities the LORD your God is giving you as your own? Kill everything in those cities that breathes.

Deuteronomy 20:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:16

But of the cities of those people, which the Lord thy God doth
give thee for an inheritance
The cities of the seven nations, six of which are mentioned by name in the next verse:

thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;
the reason of this severity was because of their wickedness, the capital crimes and gross abominations they were guilty of, and for which they deserved to die; and on account whereof they were reserved to this destruction, when the measure of their iniquities was full, such as idolatry, incest, witchcraft, soothsaying, necromancy see ( Leviticus 18:3 Leviticus 18:24 Leviticus 18:25 Leviticus 18:27 ) ( 20:2-23 ) ( Deuteronomy 18:9-12 ) .

Deuteronomy 20:16 In-Context

14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies.
15 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.
16 However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.
17 Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you.
18 Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Exodus 23:31-33; Numbers 21:2-3; S Deuteronomy 7:2; Joshua 6:21; Joshua 10:1; Joshua 11:14
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