Deuteronomy 20:7
5 Furthermore, the officers are to address the army, saying, “Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.
6 Has any man planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”
8 Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”
9 When the officers have finished addressing the army, they are to appoint commanders to lead it.
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
- Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- What man is there who has pledged to be married to a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.”
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- And who [is] the man who is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.”
- ÅB
- Og er her noen mann som har lovet seg i ekteskap til en kvinne, men enda ikke har tatt henne til ekte, så kan han gå og vende tilbake til sitt hus, for at han ikke skal dø i striden og en annen ekte henne.
- OTB
- Er det noen som er forlovet med en kvinne og ennå ikke har giftet seg med henne? La ham vende tilbake til sitt hus, så han ikke dør i striden og en annen gifter seg med henne.”
- B1930
- Og er her nogen mann som har trolovet sig med en kvinne, men ennu ikke har tatt henne til ekte, så kan han gå og vende tilbake til sitt hus, forat han ikke skal dø i striden og en annen ekte henne.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 24:5
If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 28:30
You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit.
Read in context2 Timothy 2:4
A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 22:23–25
If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her,
Read in contextMatthew 1:18
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Read in contextLuke 14:18–20
But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’
Read in context