Deuteronomy 20:16 net — Laws Concerning War with Canaanite Nations As for the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is going to give y…

NET Bible

"Laws Concerning War with Canaanite Nations As for the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive."

— Deuteronomy 20:16, NET Bible

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Deuteronomy 20:16 in Other Translations

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Deuteronomy 20 — Context

13

The LORD your God will deliver it over to you and you must kill every single male by the sword.

14

However, the women, little children, cattle, and anything else in the city– all its plunder– you may take for yourselves as spoil. You may take from your enemies the plunder that the LORD your God has given you.

15

This is how you are to deal with all those cities located far from you, those that do not belong to these nearby nations.

16

Laws Concerning War with Canaanite Nations As for the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive.

17

Instead you must utterly annihilate them– the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites– just as the LORD your God has commanded you,

18

so that they cannot teach you all the abhorrent ways they worship their gods, causing you to sin against the LORD your God.

19

If you besiege a city for a long time while attempting to capture it, you must not chop down its trees, for you may eat fruit from them and should not cut them down. A tree in the field is not human that you should besiege it!

Deuteronomy 20:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Deuteronomy 20:16 say?
Deuteronomy 20:16 in the NET Bible reads: “Laws Concerning War with Canaanite Nations As for the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive.”
Where is Deuteronomy 20:16 in the Bible?
Deuteronomy 20:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 20, verse 16.
Who wrote Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). Largely framed as Moses' farewell speeches; the closing chapter narrating his death was likely added by Joshua or a later editor. It was written c. 1406 BC.
What is the book of Deuteronomy about?
Deuteronomy is Moses' final sermons to Israel before they enter the Promised Land — a renewed call to love and obey the LORD. It re-states the Law, rehearses Israel's history, and lays before the people blessing for obedience and curse for rebellion.
What are the major themes of Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy explores themes including Covenant, Love, Obedience, Remembrance, Blessing & Curse. These themes shape the meaning and context of Deuteronomy 20:16.
What translation should I read Deuteronomy 20:16 in?
Deuteronomy 20:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Deuteronomy 20:16?
Deuteronomy 20:16 reads (NET): “Laws Concerning War with Canaanite Nations As for the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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