Deuteronomy 20:18

Verse

so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

So that you may not take them as your example and do all the disgusting things which they do in the worship of their gods, so sinning against the Lord your God.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Lest they teach you to do all the abominations which they have done to their gods: and you should sin against the Lord your God.

Free Bible Version

This is to prevent them teaching you all the offensive things they do in worshiping their gods, and in so doing make you sin against the Lord your God.

Geneva Bible 1599

That they teache you not to doe after all their abominations, which they haue done vnto their gods, and so ye should sinne against the Lord your God.

King James (Authorized) Version

That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

One Unity Resource Bible

that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done to their deities; so would you sin against Adonai your God.

Translation for Translators

If you do not do that, they will teach you to sin against Yahweh our God and do the disgusting things that they do when they worship their gods.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Do this so that they do not teach you to act in any of their abominable ways, as they have done with their gods. If you do, you will sin against Yahweh your God.

Noah Webster Bible

That they may not teach you to do after all their abominations which they have done to their gods; so would ye sin against the LORD your God.

World English Bible

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

Young's Literal Translation

so that they teach you not to do according to all their abominations which they have done to their gods, and ye have sinned against Jehovah your God.

Context

Laws of Warfare

¹⁷For you must devote them to complete destruction —the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,¹⁸so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

Summary

This verse is part of the instructions given to the Israelites regarding warfare against the nations occupying the Promised Land. It emphasizes the importance of completely destroying their enemies to prevent them from influencing the Israelites with their idolatrous practices. The command to utterly destroy these nations was not due to Israel's military might but as a judgment from God for their wickedness. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need to remain faithful to God's commands.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

That they teach you not to do after all their abominations,.... This is another reason why they were to be utterly destroyed, not only because of the abominations which they committed, but to prevent the Israelites being taught by them to do the same; wherefore, as before observed from Jarchi, such as became proselytes were suffered to live among them, because there was no danger of idolatry from them, which even proselytes of the gate renounced; and though all other abominations are included, yet this is particularly respected, as appears from the following clause: which they have done unto their gods; to the honour of whom not only many superstitious rites and ceremonies were performed, and idolatrous actions committed, but acts of lewdness, and even unnatural uncleanness: so should ye sin against the Lord your God; a sin the most provoking to him, as the sin of idolatry was; and cause his anger to rise to such a degree, as to suffer them to be carried captive from the land he gave them to inherit; and which afterwards, was the case, and that through learning the manners and customs of these people; see Psa 106:34.