Deuteronomy 20 דְּבָרִים פרק כ׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Deuteronomy 20 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   כִּי־תֵצֵאki-te/TSEwhen you go outלַמִּלְחָמָהlam/mil/cha/MAto the warעַל־אֹיְבֶךָal-oy/VE/khaagainst your enemyוְרָאִיתָve/ra/I/taand seeסוּסsushorseוָרֶכֶבva/RE/khevand chariotעַםama peopleרַבravgreaterמִמְּךָmim/me/KHAthan youלֹאlonotתִירָאti/RAyou shall be afraidמֵהֶםme/HEMof themכִּי־יְהֹוָהki-Adonaifor the LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godעִמָּךְim/MAKHwith youהַמַּעַלְךָham/ma/al/KHAwho brought you upמֵאֶרֶץme/E/retsfrom the land ofמִצְרָיִם׃Mits/RA/yimEgypt

   When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

2. 2

   וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beכְּקָרׇבְכֶםke/ka/rov/KHEMwhen you draw nearאֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָהel-ham/mil/cha/MAto the battleוְנִגַּשׁve/nig/GASHthat shall approachהַכֹּהֵןhak/ko/HENthe priestוְדִבֶּרve/dib/BERand speakאֶל־הָעָם׃el-ha/AMto the people

   And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

3. 3

   וְאָמַרve/a/MARand shall sayאֲלֵהֶםa/le/HEMto themשְׁמַעshe/MAhearיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELO Israelאַתֶּםat/TEMyouקְרֵבִיםke/re/VIMare drawing nearהַיּוֹםhay/YOMthis dayלַמִּלְחָמָהlam/mil/cha/MAto the warעַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶםal-oy/ve/KHEMagainst your enemiesאַל־יֵרַךְal-ye/RAKHlet not be faintלְבַבְכֶםle/vav/KHEMyour heartsאַל־תִּירְאוּal-ti/re/Udo not fearוְאַל־תַּחְפְּזוּve/AL-tach/pe/ZUand do not be alarmedוְאַל־תַּעַרְצוּve/AL-ta/ar/TSUand do not be terrifiedמִפְּנֵיהֶם׃mip/pe/ne/HEMfrom before them

   And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

4. 4

   כִּיkiforיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶםe/lo/he/KHEMyour Godהַהֹלֵךְha/ho/LEKHis He who goesעִמָּכֶםim/ma/KHEMwith youלְהִלָּחֵםle/hil/la/CHEMto fightלָכֶםla/KHEMfor youעִם־אֹיְבֵיכֶםim-oy/ve/KHEMwith your enemiesלְהוֹשִׁיעַle/ho/SHI/ato saveאֶתְכֶם׃et/KHEMyou

   For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

5. 5

   וְדִבְּרוּve/dib/be/RUand shall speakהַשֹּׁטְרִיםhash/shot/RIMthe officersאֶל־הָעָםel-ha/AMto the peopleלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingמִי־הָאִישׁmi-ha/ISHwho is the manאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatבָּנָהba/NAhas builtבַיִת־חָדָשׁVA/yit-cha/DASHa new houseוְלֹאve/LOand notחֲנָכוֹcha/na/KHOdedicated itיֵלֵךְye/LEKHlet him goוְיָשֹׁבve/ya/SHOVand returnלְבֵיתוֹle/ve/TOto his houseפֶּן־יָמוּתpen-ya/MUTlest he dieבַּמִּלְחָמָהbam/mil/cha/MAin the battleוְאִישׁve/ISHand a manאַחֵרa/CHERotherיַחְנְכֶנּוּ׃yach/ne/KHEN/nudedicate it

   And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

6. 6

   וּמִי־הָאִישׁu/MI-ha/ISHand who is the manאֲשֶׁר־נָטַעa/SHER-na/TAthat has plantedכֶּרֶםKE/rema vineyardוְלֹאve/LOand notחִלְּלוֹchil/le/LOused itיֵלֵךְye/LEKHlet him goוְיָשֹׁבve/ya/SHOVand returnלְבֵיתוֹle/ve/TOto his houseפֶּן־יָמוּתpen-ya/MUTlest he dieבַּמִּלְחָמָהbam/mil/cha/MAin the battleוְאִישׁve/ISHand a manאַחֵרa/CHERotherיְחַלְּלֶנּוּ׃ye/chal/le/LEN/nuuse it

   And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.

7. 7

   וּמִי־הָאִישׁu/MI-ha/ISHand who is the manאֲשֶׁר־אֵרַשׂa/SHER-e/RASthat has betrothedאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanוְלֹאve/LOand notלְקָחָהּle/ka/CHAtaken herיֵלֵךְye/LEKHlet him goוְיָשֹׁבve/ya/SHOVand returnלְבֵיתוֹle/ve/TOto his houseפֶּן־יָמוּתpen-ya/MUTlest he dieבַּמִּלְחָמָהbam/mil/cha/MAin the battleוְאִישׁve/ISHand a manאַחֵרa/CHERotherיִקָּחֶנָּה׃yik/ka/CHEN/natake her

   And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.

8. 8

   וְיָסְפוּve/ya/se/FUand shall addהַשֹּׁטְרִיםhash/shot/RIMthe officersלְדַבֵּרle/dab/BERto speakאֶל־הָעָםel-ha/AMto the peopleוְאָמְרוּve/a/me/RUand sayמִי־הָאִישׁmi-ha/ISHwho is the manהַיָּרֵאhay/ya/REthat is fearfulוְרַךְve/RAKHand faintהַלֵּבָבhal/le/VAVof heartיֵלֵךְye/LEKHlet him goוְיָשֹׁבve/ya/SHOVand returnלְבֵיתוֹle/ve/TOto his houseוְלֹאve/LOthat notיִמַּסyim/MASmeltאֶת־לְבַבet-le/VAVthe heart ofאֶחָיוe/CHAYVhis brethrenכִּלְבָבוֹ׃kil/va/VOlike his heart

   And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

9. 9

   וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beכְּכַלֹּתke/khal/LOTwhen have finishedהַשֹּׁטְרִיםhash/shot/RIMthe officersלְדַבֵּרle/dab/BERto speakאֶל־הָעָםel-ha/AMto the peopleוּפָקְדוּu/fa/ke/DUthat they shall appointשָׂרֵיsa/REcaptains ofצְבָאוֹתtse/va/OTarmiesבְּרֹאשׁbe/ROSHat the head ofהָעָם׃ha/AMthe people

   And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

10. 10

    כִּי־תִקְרַבki-tik/RAVwhen you draw nearאֶל־עִירel-irto a cityלְהִלָּחֵםle/hil/la/CHEMto fightעָלֶיהָa/LE/haagainst itוְקָרָאתָve/ka/RA/tathen you shall proclaimאֵלֶיהָe/LE/hato itלְשָׁלוֹם׃le/sha/LOMfor peace

    When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

11. 11

    וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beאִם־שָׁלוֹםim-sha/LOMif peaceתַּעַנְךָta/an/KHAit answers youוּפָתְחָהu/fa/te/CHAand opensלָךְlakhto youוְהָיָהve/ha/YAthen shall beכׇּל־הָעָםkol-ha/AMall the peopleהַנִּמְצָא־בָהּhan/nim/TSA-vathat is found in itיִהְיוּyih/YUshall beלְךָle/KHAfor youלָמַסla/MASfor forced laborוַעֲבָדוּךָ׃va/a/va/DU/khaand shall serve you

    And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

12. 12

    וְאִם־לֹאve/IM-loand if notתַשְׁלִיםtash/LIMit makes peaceעִמָּךְim/MAKHwith youוְעָשְׂתָהve/a/se/TAbut makesעִמְּךָim/me/KHAwith youמִלְחָמָהmil/cha/MAwarוְצַרְתָּve/tsar/TAthen you shall besiegeעָלֶיהָ׃a/LE/hait

    And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

13. 13

    וּנְתָנָהּu/ne/ta/NAand when gives itיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godבְּיָדֶךָbe/ya/DE/khainto your handוְהִכִּיתָve/hik/ki/TAyou shall strikeאֶת־כׇּל־זְכוּרָהּet-kol-ze/khu/RAall its malesלְפִי־חָרֶב׃le/FI-CHA/revwith the edge of the sword

    And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

14. 14

    רַקrakonlyהַנָּשִׁיםhan/na/SHIMthe womenוְהַטַּףve/hat/TAFand the little onesוְהַבְּהֵמָהve/hab/be/he/MAand the livestockוְכֹלve/KHOLand allאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichיִהְיֶהyih/YEshall beבָעִירva/IRin the cityכׇּל־שְׁלָלָהּkol-she/la/LAall its spoilתָּבֹזta/VOZyou shall take as plunderלָךְlakhfor yourselfוְאָכַלְתָּve/a/khal/TAand you shall eatאֶת־שְׁלַלet-she/LALthe spoil ofאֹיְבֶיךָoy/VE/khayour enemiesאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichנָתַןna/TANhas givenיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godלָךְ׃lakhto you

    But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

15. 15

    כֵּןkensoתַּעֲשֶׂהta/a/SEyou shall doלְכׇל־הֶעָרִיםle/KHOL-he/a/RIMto all the citiesהָרְחֹקֹתha/re/cho/KOTthat are farמִמְּךָmim/me/KHAfrom youמְאֹדme/ODveryאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichלֹא־מֵעָרֵיlo-me/a/REare not of the cities ofהַגּוֹיִם־הָאֵלֶּהhag/go/YIM-ha/EL/lethese nationsהֵנָּה׃HEN/nathey

    Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

16. 16

    רַקrakonlyמֵעָרֵיme/a/REof the cities ofהָעַמִּיםha/am/MIMthe peoplesהָאֵלֶּהha/EL/letheseאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godנֹתֵןno/TENis givingלְךָle/KHAyouנַחֲלָהna/cha/LAas an inheritanceלֹאlonotתְחַיֶּהte/chay/YEyou shall save aliveכׇּל־נְשָׁמָה׃kol-ne/sha/MAanything that breathes

    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:

17. 17

    כִּי־הַחֲרֵםki-ha/cha/REMbut utterly destroyתַּחֲרִימֵםta/cha/ri/MEMyou shall utterly destroy themהַחִתִּיha/Chit/TIthe Hittiteוְהָאֱמֹרִיve/Ha/e/mo/RIand the Amoriteהַכְּנַעֲנִיhak/Ke/na/a/NIthe Canaaniteוְהַפְּרִזִּיve/hap/Pe/riz/ZIand the Perizziteהַחִוִּיha/Chiv/VIthe HiviteוְהַיְבוּסִיVe/hay/vu/SIand the Jebusiteכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasצִוְּךָtsiv/ve/KHAcommanded youיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָ׃e/lo/HE/khayour God

    But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

18. 18

    לְמַעַןle/MA/ansoאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatלֹא־יְלַמְּדוּlo-ye/lam/me/DUthey may not teachאֶתְכֶםet/KHEMyouלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto doכְּכֹלke/KHOLaccording to allתּוֹעֲבֹתָםto/a/vo/TAMtheir abominationsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichעָשׂוּa/SUthey have doneלֵאלֹהֵיהֶםle/lo/he/HEMfor their godsוַחֲטָאתֶםva/cha/ta/TEMand you sinלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaito the LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃e/lo/he/KHEMyour God

    That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

19. 19

    כִּי־תָצוּרki-ta/TSURwhen you besiegeאֶל־עִירel-ira cityיָמִיםya/MIMdaysרַבִּיםrab/BIMmanyלְהִלָּחֵםle/hil/la/CHEMto fightעָלֶיהָa/LE/haagainst itלְתׇפְשָׂהּle/tof/SAto take itלֹא־תַשְׁחִיתlo-tash/CHITyou shall not destroyאֶת־עֵצָהּet-e/TSAits treesלִנְדֹּחַlin/DO/achby swingingעָלָיוa/LAYVagainst itגַּרְזֶןgar/ZENan axeכִּיkiforמִמֶּנּוּmim/MEN/nuof itתֹאכֵלto/KHELyou may eatוְאֹתוֹve/o/TOand itלֹאlonotתִכְרֹתtikh/ROTyou shall cut downכִּיkiforהָאָדָםha/a/DAMthe manעֵץetsthe tree ofהַשָּׂדֶהhas/sa/DEthe fieldלָבֹאla/VOto comeמִפָּנֶיךָmip/pa/NE/khabefore youבַּמָּצוֹר׃bam/ma/TSORinto the siege

    When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:

20. 20

    רַקrakonlyעֵץetsa treeאֲשֶׁר־תֵּדַעa/SHER-te/DAthat you knowכִּי־לֹא־עֵץki-lo-etsthat not a tree ofמַאֲכָלma/a/KHALfoodהוּאhuit isאֹתוֹo/TOitתַשְׁחִיתtash/CHITyou shall destroyוְכָרָתָּve/kha/RAT/taand cut downוּבָנִיתָu/va/NI/taand buildמָצוֹרma/TSORsiege worksעַל־הָעִירal-ha/IRagainst the cityאֲשֶׁר־הִואa/SHER-hivthatעֹשָׂהo/SAmakesעִמְּךָim/me/KHAwith youמִלְחָמָהmil/cha/MAwarעַדaduntilרִדְתָּהּ׃rid/TAit falls

    Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.