Deuteronomy 20:13

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And when the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} hath delivered {H5414} it into thine hands {H3027}, thou shalt smite {H5221} every male {H2138} thereof with the edge {H6310} of the sword {H2719}:

Complete Jewish Bible

When ADONAI your God hands it over to you, you are to put every male to the sword.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 20:13 outlines a specific military directive for Israel concerning cities located *outside* the Promised Land that resist a prior offer of peace. This verse commands that once the Lord God has supernaturally delivered such a city into Israel's control, all its male inhabitants are to be put to death by the sword. This instruction is part of a broader set of laws governing Israel's conduct in warfare, distinguishing between the treatment of distant cities and the complete destruction mandated for the idolatrous nations within Canaan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Deuteronomy chapter 20, a comprehensive legal section detailing Israel's conduct in warfare. The preceding verses, [Deuteronomy 20:10-12](/deuteronomy/20-10 "Deuteronomy 20:10-12 - Offering Peace to Distant Cities"), establish a protocol for engaging distant cities: an initial offer of peace is to be extended. If accepted, the city's inhabitants are to become forced laborers. However, if the city refuses peace and engages in battle, then the command of verse 13 applies, focusing specifically on the male population. This directive stands in stark contrast to the more severe command for cities *within* the Promised Land, as detailed in [Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - The Command of Cherem for Canaanite Cities"), where utter destruction (*cherem*) was mandated for the Canaanite nations due to their egregious idolatry and moral corruption, to prevent their defiling influence on Israel. The immediate follow-up in [Deuteronomy 20:14](/deuteronomy/20-14 "Deuteronomy 20:14 - Taking Plunder from Distant Cities") clarifies that women, children, and livestock from these distant, resisting cities were to be taken as plunder, further highlighting the specific nature of the command in verse 13.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command in Deuteronomy 20:13 must be understood within the brutal realities of ancient Near Eastern warfare. In this period, the complete elimination of male fighting forces was a common and often necessary tactic to secure victory, prevent future rebellion, and ensure the safety of the conquering army. Israel's wars were not merely geopolitical conflicts but were often understood as "holy wars" or divinely commissioned campaigns, particularly during the conquest period. God, as the divine warrior, was seen as fighting on behalf of Israel, delivering enemies into their hands. This context underscores the idea that Israel was acting as an agent of divine judgment against nations that had filled up the measure of their iniquity, as seen in [Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites"). The distinct treatment of distant cities versus those within Canaan reflects a nuanced divine strategy, balancing the immediate military objective with the unique theological imperative to cleanse the Promised Land of its pagan inhabitants.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment** in warfare, illustrating that God is actively involved in the affairs of nations, delivering those who resist His purposes into the hands of His people. Secondly, it highlights the **Distinction in Divine Law and Application**, showcasing that God's commands were not monolithic but nuanced, with different stipulations for different contexts (e.g., distant cities vs. Canaanite nations). This distinction underscores God's specific purposes for the conquest and the establishment of Israel as a holy nation. Thirdly, the verse speaks to the **Realities of Ancient Warfare**, acknowledging the harsh necessities of securing victory and preventing future threats in that historical period. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Obedience to Covenantal Commands**, as Israel's success and well-being were directly tied to their faithful adherence to God's detailed instructions, even those that seem severe to modern sensibilities.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **delivered (Hebrew, נָתַן, _natan_):** This verb signifies "to give," "to place," or "to hand over." Its use here, "when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands," is crucial. It underscores the divine initiative and agency in Israel's military success. The victory is not merely a result of Israel's strength or strategy, but a gift and a sovereign act of God. This theological framing shifts the focus from human might to divine enablement, placing the responsibility and the glory squarely on Yahweh.
* **smite (Hebrew, הִכָּה, _hikkah_):** This verb means "to strike," "to hit," or "to kill." In a military context, it denotes a decisive and often violent action to defeat an enemy. The command to "smite every male thereof" indicates a complete neutralization of the male fighting force, ensuring no future resistance from that population. It is a strong, definitive verb signifying the execution of the divine judgment.
* **edge of the sword (Hebrew, לְפִי-חֶרֶב, _lefi-cherev_):** Literally, "by the mouth of the sword," this is a common Hebrew idiom for "by the sword" or "with the sword." It signifies execution by means of a blade, emphasizing a direct, physical act of killing. The idiom personifies the sword, giving it an active role in the act of judgment, reinforcing the finality and severity of the command.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands":** This clause establishes the prerequisite for the action: divine enablement and victory. The phrase "delivered it into thine hands" is a theological idiom signifying God granting victory and control over the enemy. It emphasizes that Israel's conquest is not an act of unprovoked aggression but a divinely ordained and empowered mission. This highlights God's sovereignty over the outcomes of battles and His active participation in Israel's history.
* **"thou shalt smite every male thereof":** This is the direct command, specifying the target of the action. "Every male" refers to all adult males, who would typically constitute the fighting force of a city. This directive aims to eliminate potential combatants and prevent future insurrections, ensuring the security of the conquering Israelites. The specificity of "every male" is key to distinguishing this command from the *cherem* (utter destruction) applied to the Canaanites, where women, children, and livestock were also to be destroyed.
* **"with the edge of the sword":** This phrase specifies the method of execution. As discussed in the key word analysis, "with the edge of the sword" signifies killing by means of a blade. It denotes a direct, physical, and decisive act of judgment. This method was common in ancient warfare for eliminating enemy combatants and securing a captured city.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 20:13 employs several literary devices to convey its message. The primary device is **Divine Command**, expressed through the imperative "thou shalt smite," which directly conveys God's authoritative instruction to Israel. This highlights the covenantal nature of the law and Israel's role as an agent of divine will. The phrase "when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands" utilizes **Divine Agency**, attributing the success of the military operation directly to God's sovereign intervention rather than Israel's might. Furthermore, the expression "with the edge of the sword" is a form of **Metonymy**, where the instrument (sword's edge) stands for the action (killing). This vivid imagery emphasizes the brutal and decisive nature of the commanded act. There is also an implicit **Contrast** with the more severe *cherem* command for Canaanite cities, which serves to highlight the nuanced application of God's justice based on the specific context and purpose of the warfare.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 20:13, while challenging to modern sensibilities, is profoundly theological. It reveals God as sovereign over nations and history, capable of using human agents to execute His righteous judgments. The distinction between the treatment of distant cities and the Canaanite nations underscores God's nuanced justice, where the severity of judgment is proportional to the depth of wickedness and the specific covenantal relationship. For the Canaanites, the *cherem* was a unique act of divine judgment against extreme idolatry and moral depravity that threatened to corrupt Israel's very existence as a holy people. For distant cities, the command to slay males reflected the realities of ancient warfare and the necessity of neutralizing a military threat, while still allowing for the preservation of other lives and plunder, indicating a different purpose for these engagements. This passage reminds us that God's justice is not always comprehensible to us, but it is always rooted in His perfect character and His ultimate purposes for redemption and holiness.

* [Joshua 10:28](/joshua/10-28 "Joshua 10:28 - Conquest of Makkedah")
* [1 Samuel 15:3](/1_samuel/15-3 "1 Samuel 15:3 - Command to Destroy Amalek")
* [Psalm 149:6-9](/psalm/149-6 "Psalm 149:6-9 - Praise and Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 20:13 compels us to grapple with difficult aspects of divine justice and ancient warfare. For contemporary believers, it is crucial to interpret such passages within their specific historical, covenantal, and redemptive-historical context. This command was given to ancient Israel for a unique, divinely commissioned period of conquest and nation-building, not as a universal blueprint for all warfare or personal conduct. While we do not engage in physical warfare in the same manner, the passage can prompt reflection on spiritual principles. It reminds us that God is just and that there are consequences for rebellion against Him. Spiritually, believers are called to engage in a decisive "warfare" against sin, evil, and spiritual forces that oppose God's kingdom, not with physical weapons, but with the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" ([Ephesians 6:17](/ephesians/6-17 "Ephesians 6:17 - The Sword of the Spirit")). We are to "smite" (spiritually speaking) the strongholds of sin in our lives and decisively put to death the "old self" with its sinful desires ([Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Put to Death Earthly Members")). This verse also highlights God's sovereignty and His ability to use even harsh circumstances to accomplish His purposes, urging us to trust in His ultimate wisdom and justice, even when His ways are beyond our full comprehension.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we reconcile the severity of this command with God's character of love and mercy?**
* **What are the spiritual parallels we can draw from this passage regarding our fight against sin and evil in our own lives?**
* **How does understanding the historical and covenantal context help us interpret seemingly difficult Old Testament commands?**
* **In what ways does this passage affirm God's sovereignty over nations and the course of history?**

### FAQ
**Is this command applicable to Christians today as a literal directive for warfare?**

Answer: No, this command is not applicable to Christians today as a literal directive for warfare. This instruction was part of the Mosaic Covenant given specifically to ancient Israel for their unique role as a nation-state during the conquest and establishment of the Promised Land. The context of Israel's divinely commissioned holy wars, acting as agents of God's judgment against specific, idolatrous nations, is distinct from the mission and calling of the New Testament church. The New Testament teaches that believers' warfare is primarily spiritual, against "spiritual forces of evil" ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Spiritual Warfare")), using spiritual weapons like the Word of God and prayer, not physical swords.

**Why did God command such violence, even if only for male combatants?**

Answer: God commanded such actions within the specific historical and cultural context of the ancient Near East, where the elimination of male combatants was a common and often necessary practice to secure victory and prevent future rebellion in warfare. Theologically, these commands were part of God's righteous judgment against nations that had reached a point of extreme moral depravity and rebellion against Him ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")). While severe, it's crucial to note the distinction in Deuteronomy 20:13 from the *cherem* (utter destruction) commanded for the Canaanites within the Promised Land ([Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - The Command of Cherem for Canaanite Cities")). This nuance suggests a specific purpose for each type of engagement, reflecting God's justice and His unique covenantal relationship with Israel at that time. It was about establishing a holy nation free from corrupting influences and securing their divinely promised inheritance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 20:13, though rooted in the ancient context of physical warfare, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in literal violence but in the spiritual conquest achieved by Jesus Christ. The "delivery" of the enemy into Israel's hands foreshadows Christ's decisive victory over the powers of sin, death, and the devil. Just as the Lord delivered cities into Israel's control, so God "has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from Darkness")). Christ, the true Divine Warrior, did not "smite every male" with a physical sword, but through His sacrificial death and resurrection, He "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). The "edge of the sword" for the believer now is the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" ([Ephesians 6:17](/ephesians/6-17 "Ephesians 6:17 - The Sword of the Spirit")), wielded by Christ and His church in spiritual warfare against spiritual wickedness. Ultimately, the judgment foreshadowed in Deuteronomy 20:13 culminates in Christ's final judgment, where all spiritual enemies will be decisively defeated, and His eternal kingdom of peace and righteousness will be fully established, as prophesied in passages like [Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11-16 - The Rider on the White Horse").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 2:6

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psalms 2:12

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.

Numbers 31:17

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

Numbers 31:18

But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

1 Kings 11:15

For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

1 Kings 11:16

(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

Psalms 110:1

¶ A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.