Deuteronomy 20:13

Verse

When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword.

American Standard Version (1901)

and when Jehovah thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

And when the Lord your God has given it into your hands, let every male in it be put to death without mercy.

And when the Lord thy God shall deliver it into thy bands, thou shalt slay all that are therein of the male sex, with the edge of the sword,

Free Bible Version

Once the Lord your God has handed it over to you, kill every male with the sword.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the Lord thy God shall deliuer it into thine handes, and thou shalt smite all the males thereof with the edge of the sworde.

King James (Authorized) Version

And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

One Unity Resource Bible

When Adonai your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword;

Translation for Translators

Then, when Yahweh our God enables you to capture [IDM] the city, you must kill all the men in the city.

Unlocked Literal Bible

and when Yahweh your God gives you victory and puts them under your control, you must kill every man in the town.

Noah Webster Bible

And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thy hands, thou shalt smite every male of it with the edge of the sword:

World English Bible

When Yahweh your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword;

Young's Literal Translation

and Jehovah thy God hath given it into thy hand, and thou hast smitten every male of it by the mouth of the sword.

Context

Laws of Warfare

¹²But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city.¹³When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword.¹⁴But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.

Summary

In this verse, the Lord instructs the Israelites on how to handle cities that resist their peaceful offer of surrender. If a city refuses to make peace and instead chooses to fight, the Israelites are to lay siege to it. However, they are not to show mercy to the inhabitants but are to kill all the men. This harsh command reflects the seriousness of rebellion against God and the consequences of rejecting His ways.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands,.... When, what with pressures without, and calamities within, the city is obliged to surrender: this is not to be imputed to the methods and arts of war used in besieging, or to the courage and skill of the besiegers; but to the power and providence of God succeeding means used, and sending famine or pestilence among the besieged, and inclining their hearts to deliver up their city: thou shall smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword; the men in it, grown persons, as distinguished from little ones in the next verse; because it was owing to these it was not surrendered at once, when terms of peace were offered.