Deuteronomy 2:35 — Word Study
WLCרַ֥ק הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה בָּזַ֣זְנוּ לָ֑נוּ וּשְׁלַ֥ל הֶעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָכָֽדְנוּ׃
BSAWe carried off for ourselves onlyraq [took as plunder, seized, except, but] the livestockbᵉhêmâh [animals, beasts] and the plundershâlâl [spoils, booty] from the citiesʻîyr [towns, settlements] we capturedlâkad■ [seized, took control of]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| רַ֥ק | only | Adverb |
| הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה | the livestock | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| בָּזַ֣זְנוּ | we plundered | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common plural |
| לָ֑נוּ | for ourselves | Preposition, suffix |
| וּשְׁלַ֥ל | and [the] booty of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הֶעָרִ֖ים | the cities | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | which | Particle |
| לָכָֽדְנוּ׃ | we had captured | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | We carried off for ourselves only the livestock and the plunder from the cities we captured. |
| KJV | Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took. |
| ASV | only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken. |
| YLT | only, the cattle we have spoiled for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we have captured. |
| WEB | Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities which we had taken. |
| BBE | Only the cattle we took for ourselves, with the goods from the towns we had taken. |
Where they part company is in the nuances of רַק — see How Translations Differ.
The structure centers around the main action of taking, with additional phrases providing context and detail about the spoils.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּזַז
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 2:35
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Conquest of Citiesgenerated
Deuteronomy 2:35 describes the aftermath of Israel's military campaigns, emphasizing what they retained after their victories. The verse highlights the selective nature of their plunder, focusing on livestock and valuables from the conquered cities, aligning with the broader narrative of Israel's conquests as they entered the Promised Land.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 20:14 | But 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. |
| 2 | Numbers 31:9–11 | The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods. |
| 3 | Joshua 8:27 | Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רַק, rakgenerated
The word רַק (rak) is an adverb that means 'only' or 'except', indicating limitation or exclusivity. It emphasizes that the Israelites took nothing but the specified items, underscoring a selective approach to their spoils.
In this verse, it serves to limit the scope of what was taken, contrasting the plunder with the total destruction of the cities. Its use here aligns with similar expressions in the Hebrew Bible where it conveys a sense of restriction.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the meaning of רַק as 'only'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb בָּזַזְנוּ (ba.Zaz.nu), meaning 'we plundered', governs the sentence, with the phrase 'for ourselves' following it to clarify the subject's intent. The structure indicates a direct action taken by the Israelites.
The sentence includes a series of noun phrases detailing what was taken: 'the livestock' and 'the plunder from the cities we captured', providing clarity on the spoils.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּזַזְנוּ as ἐπρονομεύσαμεν, which carries the meaning of having taken as spoils. This choice reflects a focus on the act of seizing rather than merely possessing.
The Greek term narrows the emphasis on the act of plundering, suggesting a more aggressive connotation in the context of conquest.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 2:35 tells us that after capturing the cities, the Israelites took only the livestock and the spoils from those cities. This indicates their selective approach to what they retained from their conquests.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that the Israelites took the spoils for their own benefit, highlighting their ownership of the livestock and plunder.
This reflects a strategic decision to limit their gains to what was necessary for their survival and prosperity, rather than taking everything.
It emphasizes the distinction between total destruction of the cities and the selective acquisition of valuable resources, illustrating their military strategy.
It denotes the spoils of war, indicating that the Israelites engaged in military actions that resulted in acquiring wealth and resources from their enemies.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this selective plundering reveal about the Israelites' priorities during their conquests?
- How can we understand the concept of 'plunder' in the context of warfare today?
- What lessons can be drawn from the Israelites' approach to their victories?
- In what ways does this verse challenge or confirm our understanding of justice in conflict?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 2:35 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOnly the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves,.... These they did not destroy, but preserved alive for their own use and profit, and took them as their own property: and the spoil of the cities
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 2 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges35. See previous note on Deuteronomy 2:24
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 2 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleOF THE , Deuteronomy 2:24-37.The Israelites were not to make war upon the Edomites, nor Moabites, nor Ammonites, but they are told that Jehovah has given Sihon the Amorite and his land to them.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 2 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
We carried off for ourselves only the livestock and the plunder from the cities we captured.
Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities which we had taken.
We carried off for ourselves only the livestock and the plunder from the cities we captured.
We kept only the livestock and plunder from the cities for ourselves.
Tyndale line
Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.
only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken.
only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken.
Only the cattle we took for a prey to ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.
Onely the cattell we tooke to our selues, and the spoyle of the cities which we tooke,
Strictly literal
Only the cattle we took as booty for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.
only, the cattle we have spoiled for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we have captured.
only, we have spoiled the livestock for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we have captured.
Only the cattle we took as booty unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we had captured.
Only the cattle we took as spoils for ourselves, along with the spoil of the cities that we had taken.
From the Latin
Except the cattle which came to the share of them that took them: and the spoils of the cities, which we took:
Simplified
All we took for ourselves was the livestock and plunder from the towns we'd captured.
Only the cattle we took for ourselves, with the goods from the towns we had taken.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text aligns with the Samaritan Pentateuch, both agreeing word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls show one word on the leather, with the rest supplied by an editor, indicating some damage but no significant variation in meaning.
רַ֥ק הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה בָּזַ֣זְנוּ לָ֑נוּ וּשְׁלַ֥ל הֶעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָכָֽדְנוּ׃
6 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
רק הבהמה בזזנו לנו ושׁלל הערים אשׁר לכדנו
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[רק] הבהמה [בזזנו] [ל׳נו] [ושלל] [הערים] [אשר] [לכדנו]
1 word on the leather — 7 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 2:35
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
רַק (raq) is an adjective meaning 'thin' and an adverb indicating limitation, such as 'only' or 'altogether.' It conveys a sense of restriction or exclusivity in various contexts, including affirmations and negations. The entries align on its meanings, with no significant disagreement noted.
רַק
adj. thin
adv. with restrictive force, only, altogether, surely
base
H7535 רַק . adj. thin
. adv. with restrictive force, only, altogether, surely
7535 raq rak
the same as 7534 as a noun; properly, leanness, i.e.
(figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or
conjunctional, although:--but, even, except, howbeit
howsoever, at the least, nevertheless, nothing but,
notwithstanding, only, save, so (that), surely, yet (so), in
any wise.
see HEBREW for 07534
רַק (raq) — except.
1) only, altogether, surely
1a) only
1b) only, nought but, altogether (in limitation)
1c) save, except (after a negative)
1d) only, altogether, surely (with an affirmative)
1e) if only, provided only (prefixed for emphasis)
1f) only, exclusively (for emphasis)
DirObjM — AdverbHD
בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to a beast or animal, typically denoting domesticated livestock or cattle, and occasionally wild beasts. It is derived from a root that suggests being mute, implying a 'dumb beast.' The term encompasses all living creatures other than humans, with a specific mention of large quadrupeds.
בְּהֵמָה 187 n.f. beast, animal, cattle
of living creatures other than man
opp. also to wild beasts
rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora
base
H929 בְּהֵמָה beast, animal, cattle . of living creatures other than man
. opp. also to wild beasts
. rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora
929 bhemah be-hay-maw'
from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly,
a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often
collective):--beast, cattle.
בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) — animal.
1) beast, cattle, animal
1a) beasts (coll of all animals)
1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals)
1c) wild beasts
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
בָּזַז (bazaz) is a primitive root meaning to plunder or spoil. It covers actions like robbing, seizing, and being taken as spoil, with forms in Qal (to spoil), Niphal (to be plundered), and Pual (to be taken as spoil). The entries consistently emphasize its focus on acts of taking or seizing by force.
בָּזַז vb. spoil, plunder
Qal spoil
Niph. be spoiled, plundered
Pu. be taken as spoil
base
H962 בָּזַז spoil, plunder
962 bazaz baw-zaz'
a primitive root; to plunder:--catch, gather, (take) for a
prey, rob(-ber), spoil, take (away, spoil), X utterly.
בָּזַז (ba.zaz) — to plunder.
1) to spoil, plunder, prey upon, seize
1a) (Qal) to spoil, plunder, despoil
1b) (Niphal) to be spoiled, plundered
1c) (Pual) to be taken as spoil
HVqp1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common pluralHVqp1cp
נוּ (nu) — us.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person plural
HR/Sp1bp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bp
שָׁלָל (shalal) refers to prey, spoil, or plunder, often in the context of war. It is derived from the root word שָׁלַל (H7997). The term encompasses various forms of gain, including private plunder and booty. The entries consistently emphasize its association with spoils of war.
שָׁלָל 75 n.m. prey, spoil, plunder, booty
base
H7998 שָׁלָל prey, spoil, plunder, booty
7998 shalal shaw-lawl'
from 7997; booty:--prey, spoil.
see HEBREW for 07997
שָׁלָל (sha.lal) — spoil.
1) prey, plunder, spoil, booty
1a) prey
1b) booty, spoil, plunder (of war)
1c) plunder (private)
1d) gain (meaning uncertain)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
base
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
city, town, abode of men
of fortress in a city
appar. fortified place, of any size
base
H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men
. of fortress in a city
. appar. fortified place, of any size
5892 `iyr eer
or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)
{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a
watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or
post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
see HEBREW for 05782
עִיר (ir) — excitement.
1) excitement, anguish
1a) of terror
עִיר (ir) — city.
1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town
עִיר (ir) — City (of On).
Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)
This name means city, town
Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)
עִיר (ir) — Ir-.
#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;
son of: Tehinnah (H8468)
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. (Genesis 4:17) After the confusion of tongues the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being "a great city." The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, (Genesis 19:1-22) Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, (Genesis 12:14,15; Numbers 13:22) and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses.…
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
HTr — ParticleHTr
לָכַד (lakad) means to capture, seize, or take, often by lot. It can refer to catching in a net or trap, as well as figuratively to describe things sticking together. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to capture), Niphal (to be captured), and Hithpael (to grasp each other).
לָכַד 121 vb. capture, seize, take (by lot)
Qal
capture, seize
fig. of entrapping men
of taking by lot
Niph.
be captured in war
of men, be caught
be taken by lot
Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated
base
H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)
3920 lakad law-kad'
a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit);
generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot);
figuratively, to cohere:--X at all, catch (self), be frozen,
be holden, stick together, take.
לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.
1) to capture, take, seize
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to capture, seize
1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.)
1a3) to take (by lot)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other
V-Qal-Perf-1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common pluralHVqp1cp