Deuteronomy 21:10

Marrying a Captive Woman

10 When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives,

Deuteronomy 21:10 in Other Translations

KJV
10 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
ESV
10 "When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God gives them into your hand and you take them captive,
NLT
10 “Suppose you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD your God hands them over to you, and you take some of them as captives.
MSG
10 When you go to war against your enemies and God, your God, gives you victory and you take prisoners,
CSB
10 "When you go to war against your enemies and the Lord your God hands them over to you and you take some of them prisoner, and

Deuteronomy 21:10 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:10

When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies
This refers to an arbitrary war, as Jarchi remarks, which they entered into of themselves, of choice, or through being provoked to it by their enemies; and not a war commanded by the Lord, as that against the seven nations of Canaan, and against Amalek; since there were to be no captives in that war, but all were to be destroyed:

and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands;
given them the victory over their enemies, so that they were obliged to surrender themselves to them prisoners of war:

and thou hast taken them captive,
or "led his or their captivity F2 captive"; led them captive who used to lead others, denoting their conquest of victorious nations; see a like phrase in ( Psalms 68:18 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F2 (wybv tybvw) "et captivam duxerit captivitatem ejus", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus.

Deuteronomy 21:10 In-Context

8 Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, LORD, and do not hold your people guilty of the blood of an innocent person.” Then the bloodshed will be atoned for,
9 and you will have purged from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.
10 When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives,
11 if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife.
12 Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails

Cross References 2

  • 1. Joshua 21:44
  • 2. 1 Kings 8:46; 1 Chronicles 9:1; Ezra 5:12; Jeremiah 40:1; Ezekiel 1:1; Ezekiel 17:12; Daniel 2:25; Micah 4:10
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