Deuteronomy 20:16 web — But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing tha…

World English Bible

"But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;"

— Deuteronomy 20:16, World English Bible

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Deuteronomy 20:16 in Other Translations

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Deuteronomy 20 — Context

13

and when Yahweh your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword:

14

but the women, and the little ones, and the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its spoil, you shall take for a prey to yourself; and you shall eat the spoil of your enemies, which Yahweh your God has given you.

15

Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.

16

But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;

17

but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Yahweh your God has commanded you;

18

that they not teach you to do after all their abominations, which they have done to their gods; so would you sin against Yahweh your God.

19

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 axe against them; for you may eat of them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of you?

Deuteronomy 20:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Deuteronomy 20:16 say?
Deuteronomy 20:16 in the World English Bible reads: “But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;”
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 (WEB): “But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;” 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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