Deuteronomy 20:5

The officers shall speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

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WEBBE

The officers shall speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

BSB

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.

KJV

And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

ASV

And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

BBE

And let the overseers say to the people, If there is any man who has made for himself a new house and has not gone into it, let him go back to his house, so that in the event of his death in the fight, another may not take his house for himself.

Original Hebrew

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וְדִבְּרוּ ve·di·be·ru and they will say H1696 הַשֹּׁטְרִים ha·sho·te·rim the officials H7860 אֶל־ 'el- to H413 הָעָם ha·'am the people H5971 לֵאמֹר le·mor (to) saying H559 מִי־ mi- who H4310 הָאִישׁ ha·'ish [is] the man H376 אֲשֶׁר 'a·sher who H834 בָּנָה ba·nah he has built H1129 בַיִת־ va·yit- a house H1004 חָדָשׁ cha·dash new H2319 וְלֹא ve·lo' and not H3808 חֲנָכוֹ cha·na·kho he has dedicated it H2596 יֵלֵךְ ye·lekh let him go H1980 וְיָשֹׁב ve·ya·sho and let him return H7725 לְבֵיתוֹ le·vei·to to house his H1004 פֶּן־ pen- lest H6435 יָמוּת ya·mut he should die H4191 בַּמִּלְחָמָה ba·mil·cha·mah in the battle H4421 וְאִישׁ ve·'ish and a man H376 אַחֵר 'a·cher another H312 יַחְנְכֶנּוּ yach·ne·khe·nu he will dedicate it H2596

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–9

In the wars wherein Israel engaged according to the will of God, they might expect the Divine assistance. The Lord was to be their only confidence. In these respects they were types of the Christian's warfare. Those unwilling to fight, must be sent away. The unwillingness might arise from a man's outward condition. God would not be served by men forced against their will. Thy people shall be willing, Psa 110:3. In running the Christian race, and fighting the good fight of faith, we must lay aside all that would make us unwilling. If a man's unwillingness rose from weakness and fear, he had leave to return from the war. The reason here given is, lest his brethren's heart fail as well as his heart. We must take heed that we fear not with the fear of them that are afraid, Is 8:12.

Read Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 20 →

Cross-references

7

Topics

ArmiesHouseSoldiersDedication

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.