Deuteronomy 20:17

KJV

But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

KJV (with Strong's)

But thou shalt utterly {H2763} destroy {H2763} them; namely, the Hittites {H2850}, and the Amorites {H567}, the Canaanites {H3669}, and the Perizzites {H6522}, the Hivites {H2340}, and the Jebusites {H2983}; as the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} hath commanded {H6680} thee:

Complete Jewish Bible

Rather you must destroy them completely - the Hitti, the Emori, the Kena'ani, the P'rizi, the Hivi and the Y'vusi - as ADONAI your God has ordered you;

Berean Standard Bible

For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,

American Standard Version

but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 20:17 delivers a severe and unequivocal divine command to the Israelites concerning the indigenous inhabitants of the land of Canaan. It mandates the complete and utter destruction of specific Canaanite tribes—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as a direct and non-negotiable instruction from the LORD their God. This injunction is presented not as an act of arbitrary cruelty, but as a necessary measure for the spiritual preservation of Israel and the execution of God's righteous judgment against profound wickedness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader legal framework of Deuteronomy 20, which meticulously details the laws of warfare for ancient Israel. The chapter distinguishes between how Israel was to treat cities outside the promised land, where terms of peace could be offered and inhabitants potentially enslaved (as seen in [Deuteronomy 20:10-15](/deuteronomy/20-10 "Deuteronomy 20:10-15 - Laws for Cities Outside Canaan")), and the unique, uncompromising directive for the cities within Canaan. The command to "utterly destroy them" (the _ḥerem_ command) applies exclusively to the seven nations listed, highlighting its distinct and specific nature as a divine judgment rather than a general military policy. This distinction underscores the theological rather than purely military rationale behind the command.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command in Deuteronomy 20:17 must be understood against the backdrop of the ancient Near Eastern world, where warfare often involved brutal conquest. However, Israel's mandate was unique. The Canaanite peoples were known for pervasive idolatry, including the worship of Baal and Asherah, ritual prostitution, and the horrific practice of child sacrifice, which were considered abominations to the LORD ([Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Child Sacrifice Prohibited") and [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - Abominable Practices of Canaanites")). The land itself was described as "vomiting out" its inhabitants due to their defilement ([Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - The Land Vomits Out Its Inhabitants")). God's command to Israel was thus an act of divine judgment against generations of accumulated sin, similar to the judgment of the flood or Sodom and Gomorrah, and served to prevent the moral and spiritual corruption of the nascent Israelite nation.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 20:17 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it exemplifies **Divine Judgment**, showcasing God's righteous wrath against extreme moral depravity and idolatry. The severity of the command underscores the seriousness of the Canaanites' iniquity. Secondly, it highlights **God's Holiness and Purity**, emphasizing the necessity of removing spiritual contamination to preserve Israel's covenant relationship with a holy God. This act was crucial to prevent Israel from being lured into pagan practices and idolatry, which would inevitably lead to their own covenant unfaithfulness ([Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Warning Against Idolatry")). Finally, the command underscores the theme of **Obedience and Land Possession**. Israel's continued possession of the Promised Land was explicitly contingent upon their unwavering obedience to God's commands, including this difficult one, which served as a test of their commitment to maintaining a holy nation set apart for God ([Deuteronomy 9:5](/deuteronomy/9-5 "Deuteronomy 9:5 - Not for Your Righteousness")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **utterly destroy (Hebrew, _ḥāram'_):** This word is a translation of the Hebrew verb חָרַם ( _ḥāram_ ), which carries the profound theological concept of _ḥerem_. It signifies "to devote to destruction," "to put under a ban," or "to utterly destroy." In this specific context, it means that these peoples and their possessions were to be completely consecrated to God by destruction, not for Israel's personal gain or plunder, but as an act of divine cleansing and judgment against their profound wickedness. This ensured that no vestige of their corrupting influence—their idolatry, immorality, and pagan practices—remained to tempt or defile the Israelites, thereby preserving the spiritual purity and covenant fidelity of God's chosen people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But thou shalt utterly destroy them;":** This initial clause issues the absolute and non-negotiable command for Israel to carry out the _ḥerem_ against the specified nations. The force of "utterly destroy" (from _ḥāram_) indicates a complete and total eradication, leaving no survivors from these particular groups within the land. This was a unique, divinely ordained act of judgment, not a general principle of warfare.
* **"[namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites;":** This parenthetical clarification precisely identifies the six (out of seven, with the Girgashites often implied or included in "Canaanites") nations targeted by the _ḥerem_ command. These were the primary inhabitants of the land of Canaan whose practices had reached the full measure of iniquity, necessitating God's judgment. The specificity of the list emphasizes that this was not a blanket command against all peoples, but a targeted divine decree.
* **"as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:":** This concluding phrase reinforces the divine origin and authority of the command. It underscores that Israel was not acting on its own initiative or out of nationalistic ambition, but was serving as an instrument of God's righteous judgment. This phrase also serves as a reminder of Israel's covenant obligation to obey every command of the LORD, even those that were difficult or seemingly harsh, for their own spiritual well-being and the fulfillment of God's redemptive purposes.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 20:17 employs several significant literary devices that amplify its message. The most prominent is **Enumeration**, as it meticulously lists the specific Canaanite tribes (Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) targeted by the command. This precise listing leaves no ambiguity about the scope of the directive, emphasizing its particular and limited application. Coupled with this is the device of **Divine Command**, which is evident in the imperative "thou shalt utterly destroy them" and reinforced by the concluding "as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee." This highlights the absolute authority and divine origin of the instruction, framing it as a non-negotiable decree from God Himself. The use of the strong verb "utterly destroy" (from _ḥāram_) also functions as a form of **Emphasis**, underscoring the completeness and severity of the required action, signaling that this was not a partial or conditional measure but a total devotion to destruction for the sake of holiness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 20:17 stands as a stark reminder of God's absolute holiness and His righteous intolerance for sin, particularly the pervasive idolatry and moral corruption that characterized the Canaanite nations. This command reveals God's commitment to protecting the spiritual purity of His covenant people, Israel, from the defiling influences of the surrounding cultures. It is an act of divine surgery, cutting out a cancerous growth to preserve the health of the body. While challenging to modern sensibilities, it must be understood within the broader narrative of God's justice and His long-suffering patience that eventually reaches a point of judgment when iniquity is complete. This passage foreshadows the ultimate confrontation between God's holiness and human sin, which finds its resolution in Christ.

* [Numbers 33:55-56](/numbers/33-55 "Numbers 33:55-56 - Consequences of Not Driving Out Inhabitants")
* [Joshua 11:20](/joshua/11-20 "Joshua 11:20 - God Hardens Hearts for Destruction")
* [Psalm 106:34-40](/psalm/106-34 "Psalm 106:34-40 - Israel's Failure to Destroy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the literal command to "utterly destroy" was a unique historical directive for ancient Israel's conquest of Canaan, the underlying spiritual principles remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This passage calls us to soberly consider God's absolute holiness and His intolerance for sin. For Christians, the "utter destruction" can be understood metaphorically as the necessity to decisively and uncompromisingly deal with sin and evil influences in our own lives and communities. We are called to engage in vigorous [spiritual warfare](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Our Struggle Against Spiritual Forces"), casting down strongholds of sin, idolatry, and ungodliness within ourselves and refusing to compromise with the corrupting values of the world. This involves a radical commitment to repentance, sanctification, and spiritual purity, ensuring that no "Canaanite" influence of sin remains to defile our devotion to God. It is a call to be set apart, holy as God is holy, actively pursuing righteousness and rejecting all forms of evil that would hinder our walk with Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the severity of God's command in Deuteronomy 20:17 deepen your understanding of His holiness and justice?**
* **In what ways might the "Canaanites" or "idolatrous practices" manifest in your own life or culture today, requiring spiritual "utter destruction"?**
* **What practical steps can you take to "utterly destroy" sin and compromising influences in your personal walk with God?**

### FAQ
**Was God unjust in commanding the destruction of the Canaanites?**

Answer: This is a complex and often challenging question. From a biblical perspective, God's command was not an act of injustice but a righteous judgment against generations of profound and pervasive wickedness. The Canaanite cultures were characterized by extreme moral depravity, including widespread idolatry, sexual perversions, and child sacrifice ([Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Abominations of the Land")). God had shown immense patience, allowing their iniquity to "reach its full measure" ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")). Israel acted as an instrument of divine judgment, similar to how God used other nations to judge Israel later for their own disobedience. Furthermore, the command was limited to specific tribes within a specific geographical area, not a general license for conquest, and was intended to preserve the spiritual purity of Israel, who were to be a holy nation set apart for God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 20:17, with its command for the utter destruction of the Canaanites, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in physical conquest, but in the spiritual warfare waged by Christ and for believers. Jesus Christ is the true and ultimate warrior who decisively conquers sin, death, and the devil. His work on the cross represents the definitive "utter destruction" of the power of sin over humanity ([Hebrews 2:14](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14 - Destroying the Power of Death")). Through His sacrifice, the "iniquity" that separates humanity from God is atoned for, and the "idolatry" of the human heart is confronted. For the believer, the command to "utterly destroy" is transformed into the call to put to death the deeds of the flesh ([Romans 8:13](/romans/8-13 "Romans 8:13 - Putting to Death the Deeds of the Body")) and to crucify the old self with its passions and desires ([Galatians 5:24](/galatians/5-24 "Galatians 5:24 - Crucifying the Flesh")). Just as Israel was to cleanse the land of corrupting influences, so too are believers called to cleanse their hearts and lives of all that is contrary to God's holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The ultimate "Promised Land" is the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness dwells and all "Canaanite" influences of sin and evil will be utterly destroyed by Christ at His return ([Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Nothing Unclean Will Enter")).

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

Isaiah 34:5

For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

Isaiah 34:6

The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

Deuteronomy 7:1

¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

Deuteronomy 7:2

And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

Jeremiah 50:35

A sword [is] upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise [men].

Jeremiah 50:40

As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour [cities] thereof, saith the LORD; [so] shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

Ezekiel 38:21

And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.