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New King James Version

Deuteronomy 20:1

"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Faith;   War;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fellowship-Estrangement;   Presence, Divine;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Priests;   Protection;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - War, Holy War;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Alms;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Chariot;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Army;   Spoil;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Gideon;   War;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Army;   Deuteronomy;   War;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anointing;   Commandments, the 613;   Genesis, the Book of;   Judas Maccabeus;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
Hebrew Names Version
When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim.
King James Version
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Lexham English Bible
"If you go out to war against your enemies and you see a horse and a chariot, an army larger that you, you shall not be afraid because of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, the one who brought you from the land of Egypt.
English Standard Version
"When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
New Century Version
When you go to war against your enemies and you see horses and chariots and an army that is bigger than yours, don't be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you.
New English Translation
When you go to war against your enemies and see chariotry and troops who outnumber you, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
Amplified Bible
"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.
New American Standard Bible
"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
When thou shalt go forth to warre against thine enemies, and shalt see horses & charets, & people moe then thou, be not afrayde of them: for the Lorde thy God is with thee, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
Legacy Standard Bible
"If you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.
Contemporary English Version
Moses said to Israel: If you have to go to war, you may find yourselves facing an enemy army that is bigger than yours and that has horses and chariots. But don't be afraid! The Lord your God rescued you from Egypt, and he will help you fight.
Complete Jewish Bible
"When you go out to fight your enemies and see horses, chariots and a force larger than yours, you are not to be afraid of them; because Adonai your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.
Darby Translation
When thou goest out to war against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more numerous than thou, thou shalt not fear them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Easy-to-Read Version
"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and you see horses, chariots, and many more people than you have, you must not be afraid of them. The Lord your God is with you—and he brought you out of Egypt.
George Lamsa Translation
WHEN you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Good News Translation
"When you go out to fight against your enemies and you see chariots and horses and an army that outnumbers yours, do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who rescued you from Egypt, will be with you.
Literal Translation
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them. For Jehovah your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whan thou goest out to battayll agaynst thine enemies, and seyst horses and charettes of the people more then thou, be not afrayed of them: for the LORDE thy God which brought ye out of the londe of Egipte, is with the.
American Standard Version
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Bible in Basic English
When you go out to war against other nations, and come face to face with horses and war-carriages and armies greater in number than yourselves, have no fear of them: for the Lord your God is with you, who took you up out of the land of Egypt.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When thou goest out to battayle agaynst thine enemies, & seest horses, and charettes, and people, mo then thou, be not afrayde of them: for the Lorde thy God is with thee, which brought thee out of the lande of Egypt.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for the LORD thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
King James Version (1611)
When thou goest out to battell against thine enemies, and seest horses and charets, and a people more then thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee vp out of the land of Egypt.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if thou shouldest go forth to war against thine enemies, and shouldest see horse, and rider, and a people more numerous than thyself; thou shalt not be afraid of them, for the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
English Revised Version
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Berean Standard Bible
When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If thou goist out to batel ayens thin enemyes, and seest multitude of knyytis, and charis, and grettere multitude of the aduersarie oost than thou hast, thou schalt not drede hem; for thi Lord God is with thee, that ledde thee out of the lond of Egipt.
Young's Literal Translation
`When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot -- a people more numerous than thou -- thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God [is] with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt;
Update Bible Version
When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Webster's Bible Translation
When thou goest out to battle against thy enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
World English Bible
When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
New Living Translation
"When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!
New Life Bible
"When you go to battle against those who hate you and see more horses and war-wagons and soldiers than you have, do not be afraid of them. For the Lord your God, Who brought you from the land of Egypt, is with you.
New Revised Standard
When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
When thou shalt go out to wage war against thine enemy, and shalt see the horses and chariots of a people more in number than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them, - for, Yahweh thy God, is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou go out to war against thy enemies, and see horsemen and chariots, and the numbers of the enemy’s army greater than thine, thou shalt not fear them: because the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
Revised Standard Version
"When you go forth to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
THE MESSAGE
When you go to war against your enemy and see horses and chariots and soldiers far outnumbering you, do not recoil in fear of them; God , your God, who brought you up out of Egypt is with you. When the battle is about to begin, let the priest come forward and speak to the troops. He'll say, "Attention, Israel. In a few minutes you're going to do battle with your enemies. Don't waver in resolve. Don't fear. Don't hesitate. Don't panic. God , your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.

Contextual Overview

1 "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 2 So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. 3 And he shall say to them, "Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; 4 for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.' 5 "Then 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. 6 Also what man is there who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man eat of it. 7 And what man is there who is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.' 8 The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, 'What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint [fn] like his heart.' 9 And so it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

goest out: Deuteronomy 3:21, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 7:1

horses: Joshua 10:5-8, Joshua 11:4-6, Joshua 11:9, Judges 4:3-9, 2 Chronicles 14:11, 2 Chronicles 20:12, Psalms 20:7, Psalms 33:16, Psalms 33:17, Isaiah 31:1, Isaiah 37:24, Isaiah 37:25

the Lord: Deuteronomy 2:7, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Genesis 26:3, Numbers 23:21, Joshua 1:5, Joshua 1:9, Judges 6:12, 2 Chronicles 32:7, 2 Chronicles 32:8, Psalms 46:7, Psalms 46:11, Psalms 118:6, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:9, Isaiah 8:10, Isaiah 43:2, Romans 8:31

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:19 - God shall Numbers 14:9 - the Lord Deuteronomy 1:21 - fear not Deuteronomy 1:30 - he shall Joshua 10:8 - General Joshua 17:18 - for thou shalt 1 Samuel 10:7 - God 1 Samuel 17:32 - Let 1 Kings 8:44 - go out to battle 1 Kings 20:1 - and horses 2 Kings 19:6 - Be not afraid 2 Chronicles 6:34 - thy people 2 Chronicles 15:2 - The Lord 2 Chronicles 20:15 - Be not afraid Ecclesiastes 8:8 - discharge Isaiah 41:10 - Fear Zechariah 10:5 - because

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
Genesis 13:1
Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. [fn]
Genesis 14:7
Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
Genesis 16:1
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
Genesis 16:7
Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
Genesis 16:14
Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; [fn] observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
Genesis 18:1
Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, [fn] as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
Genesis 20:13
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, "This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, "He is my brother.""'
Genesis 20:14
Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.
Genesis 24:62
Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies,.... There were two sorts of war the Israelites were engaged in, one commanded and another permitted, as Maimonides c distinguishes; one was by the order and appointment of God, as against the seven nations of Canaan; the other was voluntary and arbitrary, which was left to their own discretion and will, as they saw fit, when they were provoked or distressed, or were invaded by their enemies, or they saw reason to go out against them, and either act the offensive or defensive part, or both; and of each of these some things are said in this chapter:

and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou; the Israelites had no horses, and so no chariots, their armies were all infantry; but their neighbouring nations that made war with them had a large cavalry, and multitudes of chariots, which made them very formidable; thus Shishak, king of Egypt, in the times of Rehoboam, came against Jerusalem with 1200 chariots and 60,000, horsemen, and people without number; and Zerah the Ethiopian, in the times of Asa, came against him with an host of 100,000 men, and three hundred chariots, 2 Chronicles 12:2

be not afraid of them; because of the strength of their cavalry, the terrible approaches of their chariots, and the number of their men:

for the Lord thy God is with thee; hence, as Hezekiah says, more would be with them than with their enemies, with whom was an arm of flesh, but with them the Lord their God, 2 Chronicles 32:7 and so the Targum of Jonathan,

"for all of them shall be reckoned as one horse and one chariot before the Lord your God;''

with whom numbers are nothing; and which adds,

"for his Word shall be your help;''

the eternal Logos, or Word of God; so Onkelos; and if God and his Word, his only begotten Son, are on the side of his people, they have nothing to fear from enemies, though ever so many and mighty:

which brought thee out of the land of Egypt; which is observed for the encouragement of their faith and confidence in him; for he that did that for them, what is it he cannot or will not do?

c Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Horses, and chariots - The most formidable elements of an Oriental host, which the Canaanites possessed in great numbers; compare Joshua 17:16; Jdg 4:3; 1 Samuel 13:5. Israel could not match these with corresponding forces (compare Deuteronomy 17:16 note and references), but, having the God of battles on its side, was not to be dismayed by them; the assumption being that the war had the sanction of God, and was consequently just.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XX

Directions concerning campaigns, 1.

The priest shall encourage the people with the assurance that

God will accompany and fight for them, 2-4.

The officers shalt dismiss from the army all who had just built

a new house, but had not dedicated it, 5.

All who had planted a vineyard, but had not yet eaten of its

fruits, 6.

All who had betrothed a wife, but had not brought her home, 7.

And all who were timid and faint-hearted, 8.

The commanders to be chosen after the timid, c., had retired, 9.

No city to be attacked till they had proclaimed conditions of

peace to it, provided it be a city beyond the bounds of the

seven Canaanitish nations if it submitted, it was to become

tributary; if not, it was to be besieged, sacked, and all the

males put to the sword; the women, children, and cattle to be

taken as booty, 19-15.

No such offers to be made to the cities of the Canaanites; of

them nothing shall be preserved, and the reason, 16-18.

In besieging a city no trees to be cut down but those which do

not bear fruit, 19, 20.

NOTES ON CHAP. XX

Verse Deuteronomy 20:1. When thou goest out to battle — This refers chiefly to the battles they were to have with the Canaanites, in order to get possession of the promised land; for it cannot be considered to apply to any wars which they might have with the surrounding nations for political reasons, as the Divine assistance could not be expected in wars which were not undertaken by the Divine command.


 
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