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Deuteronomy 20:19

Creation

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.

When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them?

20 But you may destroy the trees that you know do not produce fruit. Use them to build siege works against the city that is waging war against you, until it falls.

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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
When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them?
KJV
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:
WEB
When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; for you may eat of them. You shall not cut them down, for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged by you?
ASV
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 wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of thee?
DARBY
When thou shalt besiege a city many days, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by lifting up an axe against them; for thou canst eat of them; and thou shalt not cut them down, for is the tree of the field a man that it should be besieged?
BLB
When you lay siege to a city many days while making war against it to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. And if you can eat of them, then do not cut them down, for [is] the tree of the field a man, coming from your face to besiege?
ÅB
Når du holder en by kringsatt i lang tid og strider mot den for å innta den, så skal du ikke ødelegge dens trær ved å skadehugge dem med øksen; du kan spise av dem, men du skal ikke hugge dem ned; trærne på marken er da ikke mennesker, så du skulle stride mot dem og?
OTB
Når du beleirer en by i lang tid, kjemper mot den for å innta den, skal du ikke ødelegge trærne ved å sette øksen til dem, for du kan spise av deres frukt. Ikke hugg dem ned. Er trærne på marken mennesker, så du skal beleire dem?
B1930
Når du holder en by kringsatt i lang tid og strider mot den for å innta den, så skal du ikke ødelegge dens trær ved å skadehugge dem med øksen; du kan ete av dem, men du skal ikke hugge dem ned; trærne på marken er da ikke mennesker, så du skulde stride mot dem og?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 3:10

    The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

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  • Matthew 21:19

    Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 26:6

    But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor.

    Read in context

  • John 15:2–8

    He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

    Read in context

  • Luke 13:7–9

    So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

    Read in context

  • Matthew 7:15–20

    Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

    Read in context