Deuteronomy 20:8

Fear Courage and strength

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.

⁷ 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.”

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.

¹⁰ When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace.

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: 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.”
KJV: 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.
WEB: The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, “What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.”
ASV: And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren`s heart melt as his heart.
DARBY: And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and shall say, What man is there that is timid and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart melt as well as his heart.
BLB: And the officers shall add to speak to the people and say, “Who [is] the man fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, so that the heart of his brothers shall not melt like his heart.”

ÅB: Og tilsynsmennene skal fremdeles tale til folket og si: Er her noen mann som er redd og motfallen, så kan han gå og vende tilbake til sitt hus, for at ikke hans brødres hjerte skal bli mistrøstig, slik som hans eget hjerte er.
OTB: Offiserene skal også si: “Er det noen som er redd eller motløs? La ham vende tilbake til sitt hus, så ikke hans medsoldaters hjerter smelter som hans eget.”
B1930: Og tilsynsmennene skal fremdeles tale til folket og si: Er her nogen mann som er redd og motfallen, så kan han gå og vende tilbake til sitt hus, forat ikke hans brødres hjerte skal bli mistrøstig, likesom hans eget hjerte er.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Judges 7:3
Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.
Read in context
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Read in context
Deuteronomy 1:28
Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”
Read in context
Acts 15:37–38
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 23:9
When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing.
Read in context
Numbers 32:9
For when your fathers went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land that the LORD had given them.
Read in context
Luke 9:62
Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Read in context
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Read in context