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Deuteronomy 20:16

14 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.

15 This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

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.

17 For you must devote them to complete destruction —the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,

18 so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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:
WEB
But of the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;
ASV
But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;
DARBY
But of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth,
BLB
But from the cities of these peoples that YHWH your God gives to you [as] an inheritance, you shall not keep alive anything that breathes.
ÅB
Men i de byer som hører disse folk til, og som Herren din Gud gir deg til arv, der skal du ikke la noe som drar ånde, bli i live;
OTB
Men i byene til de nasjonene som Herren din Gud gir deg som arv, skal du ikke la noe som puster bli i live.
B1930
Men i de byer som hører disse folk til, og som Herren din Gud gir dig til arv, der skal du ikke la noget som drar ånde, bli i live;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 11:14

    The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed.

    Read in context

  • Numbers 21:2–3

    So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”

    Read in context

  • 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.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 7:1–4

    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—

    Read in context

  • 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.

    Read in context

  • Numbers 21:35

    So they struck down Og, along with his sons and his whole army, until no remnant was left. And they took possession of his land.

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  • Numbers 33:52

    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.

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  • Joshua 11:11–12

    The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself.

    Read in context