TRV
Translation
King James Version
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
KJV (with Strong's)
And thou shalt gather H6908 all the spoil H7998 of it into the midst H8432 of the street H7339 thereof, and shalt burn H8313 with fire H784 the city H5892, and all the spoil H7998 thereof every whit H3632, for the LORD H3068 thy God H430: and it shall be an heap H8510 for ever H5769; it shall not be built again H1129.
Complete Jewish Bible
Heap all its spoils in an open space, and burn the city with its spoils to the ground for ADONAI your God; it will remain a tel forever and not be built again -
Berean Standard Bible
And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt.
American Standard Version
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, unto Jehovah thy God: and it shall be a heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
World English Bible Messianic
You shall gather all its plunder into the midst of its street, and shall burn with fire the city, and all every bit of its plunder, to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And thou shalt gather all the spoyle of it into the middes of the streete thereof, and burne with fire the citie and all the spoyle thereof euery whit, vnto the Lord thy God: and it shall be an heape for euer: it shall not be built againe.
Young's Literal Translation
and all its spoil thou dost gather unto the midst of its broad place, and hast burned with fire the city and all its spoil completely, before Jehovah thy God, and it hath been a heap age-during, it is not built any more;
In the KJVVerse 5,289 of 31,102
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Commentary on Deuteronomy 13 verses 12–18
12 ¶ If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
13 Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
14 Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
15 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
16 And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
17 And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
18 When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
Here the case is put of a city revolting from its allegiance to the God of Israel, and serving other gods.
I. The crime is supposed to be committed, 1. By one of the cities of Israel, that lay within the jurisdiction of their courts. The church then judged those only that were within, Co1 5:12, Co1 5:13. And, even when they were ordered to preserve their religion in the first principles of it by fire and sword to propagate it. Those that are born within the allegiance of a prince, if they take up arms against him, are dealt with as traitors, but foreign invaders are not so. The city that is here supposed to have become idolatrous is one that formerly worshipped the true God, but had now withdrawn to other gods, which intimates how great the crime is, and how sore the punishment will be, of those that, after they have known the way of righteousness, turn aside from it, Pe2 2:21. 2. It is supposed to be committed by the generality of the inhabitants of the city, for we may conclude that, if a considerable number did retain their integrity, those only that were guilty were to be destroyed, and the city was to be spared for the sake of the righteous in it; for will not the Judge of all the earth do right? No doubt he will. 3. They are supposed to be drawn to idolatry by certain men, the children of Belial, men that would endure no yoke (so it signifies), that neither fear God nor regard man, but shake off all restraints of law and conscience, and are perfectly lost to all manner of virtue; these are those that say, "Let us serve other gods," that will not only allow, but will countenance and encourage, our immoralities. Belial is put for the devil (Co2 6:15), and the children of Belial are his children. These withdraw the inhabitants of the city; for a little of this old leaven, when it is entertained, soon leavens the whole lump.
II. The cause is ordered to be tried with a great deal of care (Deu 13:14): Thou shalt enquire and make search. They must not proceed upon common fame, or take the information by hearsay, but must examine the proofs, and not give judgment against them unless the evidence was clear and the charge fully made out. God himself, before he destroyed Sodom, is said to have come down to see whether its crimes were according to the clamour, Gen 18:21. In judicial processes it is requisite that time, and care, and pains, be taken to find out the truth, and that search be made without any passion, prejudice, or partiality. The Jewish writers say that, though particular persons who were idolaters might be judged by the inferior courts, the defection of a city was to be tried by the great Sanhedrim; and, if it appeared that they were thrust away to idolatry, two learned men were sent to them to admonish and reclaim them. If they repented, all would be well; if not, then all Israel must go up to war against them, to testify their indignation against idolatry and to stop the spreading of the contagion.
III. If the crime were proved, and the criminals were incorrigible, the city was to be wholly destroyed. If there were a few righteous men in it, no doubt they would remove themselves and their families out of such a dangerous place, and then all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, must be put to the sword (Deu 13:15), all the spoil of the city, both shop-goods and the furniture of houses, must be brought into the marketplace and burned, and the city itself must be laid in ashes and never built again, Deu 13:16. The soldiers are forbidden, upon pain of death, to convert any of the plunder to their own use, Deu 13:17. It was a devoted thing, and dangerous to meddle with, as we find in the case of Achan. Now, 1. God enjoins this severity of show what a jealous God he is in the matters of his worship, and how great a crime it is to serve other gods. Let men know that God will not give his glory to another, nor his praise to graven images. 2. He expects that magistrates, having their honour and power from him, should be concerned for his honour, and use their power for terror to evil doers, else they bear the sword in vain. 3. The faithful worshippers of the true God must take all occasions to show their just indignation against idolatry, much more against atheism, infidelity, and irreligion. 4. It is here intimated that the best expedient for the turning away of God's anger from a land is to execute justice upon the wicked of the land (Deu 13:17), that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, which was ready to break out against the whole nation, for the wickedness of that one apostate city. It is promised that, if they would thus root wickedness out of their land, God would multiply them. They might think it impolitic, and against the interest of their nation, to ruin a whole city for a crime relating purely to religion, and that they should be more sparing of the blood of Israelites: "Fear not the" (says Moses), "God will multiply you the more; the body of your nation will lose nothing by the letting out of this corrupt blood." Lastly, Though we do not find this law put in execution in all the history of the Jewish church (Gibeah was destroyed, not for idolatry, but immorality), yet for the neglect of the execution of it upon the inferior cities that served idols God himself, by the army of the Chaldeans, put it in execution upon Jerusalem, the head city, which, for is apostasy from God, was utterly destroyed and laid waste, and lay in ruins seventy years. Though idolaters may escape punishment from men (nor is this law in the letter of it binding now, under the gospel), yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgements. The New Testament speaks of communion with idolaters as a sin which, above any other, provokes the Lord to jealousy, and dares him as if we were stronger than he, Co1 10:21, Co1 10:22.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–18. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 13:16 issues a severe and uncompromising command for the complete destruction of an Israelite city that has been proven to have apostatized and turned to idolatry. This verse mandates the gathering and burning of all the city's spoil along with the city itself, transforming it into a permanent ruin, never to be rebuilt. This extreme measure underscores the absolute necessity of Israel's undivided loyalty to Yahweh, serving as a stark warning against spiritual defilement and a radical means to preserve the nation's covenant purity in the face of pervasive Canaanite idolatry.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 13:16 employs several potent literary devices to convey its stark message. The most prominent is Hyperbole, where the extreme nature of the command – the utter destruction and perpetual desolation of an entire city – emphasizes the gravity of idolatry in God's eyes. It's a rhetorical amplification designed to impress upon the Israelites the absolute zero-tolerance policy for spiritual infidelity. Symbolism is also central, with the "heap for ever" serving as a powerful symbol of irreversible judgment and a permanent memorial of divine wrath against apostasy. The act of "burning with fire" is symbolic of purification and the consuming holiness of God, eradicating defilement. The Repetition of "all the spoil" (first gathered, then burned) reinforces the totality and comprehensiveness of the destruction, leaving no room for partial obedience or personal gain. Furthermore, the command itself functions as a Legal Precedent within the Deuteronomic law, establishing a clear and uncompromising consequence for the most egregious of covenant violations.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 13:16 profoundly articulates the theological truth of God's uncompromising holiness and His absolute demand for exclusive worship from His covenant people. This command, though specific to ancient Israel's unique historical context, reveals timeless principles about the nature of sin, particularly idolatry, as an affront to God's sovereignty and a threat to spiritual purity. It underscores that God's justice is not merely punitive but also redemptive, aiming to preserve the integrity of His people and the sanctity of His covenant. The severity of the judgment reflects the infinite value God places on His relationship with humanity and the catastrophic spiritual consequences of turning away from Him. It also prefigures the ultimate separation of good from evil in God's final judgment, where all that opposes His holy nature will be utterly consumed.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the literal command of Deuteronomy 13:16 is not directly applied to believers today, its underlying spiritual principles are profoundly relevant for our lives. This passage challenges us to examine our hearts for any form of idolatry – anything that competes with or takes precedence over our devotion to the Lord. This can manifest not only in overt worship of false gods but also in the subtle idols of materialism, ambition, relationships, comfort, or self-reliance. The call to utterly destroy the "spoil" of the apostate city translates into a radical commitment to purge from our lives anything that defiles our relationship with God or hinders our spiritual growth. It demands a ruthless self-examination and a willingness to make costly sacrifices to maintain spiritual purity and undivided loyalty to Christ. This passage reminds us that God's holiness is not to be trifled with, and genuine faith requires a complete turning away from all that opposes His will, embracing a life of radical obedience and wholehearted devotion to the one true God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God command such extreme destruction, including the spoil?
Answer: This command, rooted in the concept of ḥerem (חרם), or "devotion to destruction," was not about vengeance or personal enrichment but about maintaining the absolute spiritual purity of ancient Israel. Idolatry was considered spiritual treason against the unique covenant relationship with Yahweh. The complete destruction of the city and its spoil, rather than allowing it to be plundered, prevented the spread of defilement and ensured that nothing associated with the apostasy could corrupt the rest of the nation. It was a radical surgical procedure designed to excise spiritual cancer from the body of Israel, demonstrating God's uncompromising holiness and His determination to preserve His people from the pervasive paganism of the surrounding cultures. It underscored that the battle was ultimately spiritual, "for the LORD thy God."
Is this command still relevant for believers today, given its harshness?
Answer: While believers today are not commanded to literally destroy cities, the underlying spiritual principles of Deuteronomy 13:16 remain profoundly relevant. The New Testament consistently warns against idolatry, not just the worship of physical idols, but also greed, covetousness, and anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts, as seen in passages like Colossians 3:5 and 1 John 5:21. The command to utterly destroy the city and its spoil spiritually translates to a radical call for believers to identify and eliminate anything in their lives that compromises their devotion to God. It emphasizes the seriousness of sin, God's intolerance for spiritual impurity, and the necessity of radical obedience in pursuing holiness and complete separation from all forms of spiritual defilement.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 13:16, with its stark depiction of judgment against apostasy and the demand for absolute purity, finds its ultimate fulfillment and spiritual reinterpretation in Christ. While the Old Testament command involved the physical destruction of a city to cleanse the land of idolatry, Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, became the ultimate sacrifice who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He bore the full "burning" wrath of God against sin and spiritual idolatry on the cross, making possible a spiritual cleansing far more profound than any physical destruction. Through His atoning work, believers are called to participate in a spiritual ḥerem, not by destroying cities, but by putting to death the deeds of the flesh and crucifying their sinful desires, as taught in Romans 8:13 and Galatians 5:24. The "heap for ever" of the destroyed city foreshadows the final and eternal judgment of all unrighteousness, where every spiritual "idol" and all who cling to them will face complete and irreversible separation from God's presence, as vividly described in Revelation 20:14-15. Thus, Christ fulfills the demand for holiness by both perfectly embodying it and by providing the means for His followers to be purified and set apart for God's exclusive worship, transforming hearts from temples of idols to temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).