Deuteronomy 20:17

20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

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

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but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Yahweh your God has commanded you;

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:

But you shall utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD your God has commanded you:

20:18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

What does Deuteronomy 20:17 mean?

Deuteronomy 20:17 is a verse in the book of Deuteronomy, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include חָרַם (châram), חִתִּי (Chittîy), אֱמֹרִי (ʼĔmôrîy). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

But

thou

shalt

utterlyחָרַםchâram/khaw-ram'/H2763to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose

destroyחָרַםchâram/khaw-ram'/H2763to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose

them;

namely,

the

Hittites,חִתִּיChittîy/khit-tee'/H2850a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth

and

the

Amorites,אֱמֹרִיʼĔmôrîy/em-o-ree'/H567an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes

the

Canaanites,כְּנַעַנִיKᵉnaʻanîy/ken-ah-an-ee'/H3669a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans)

and

the

Perizzites,פְּרִזִּיPᵉrizzîy/per-iz-zee'/H6522a Perizzite, one of the Canaanitish tribes

the

Hivites,חִוִּיChivvîy/khiv-vee'/H2340a Chivvite, one of the aboriginal tribes of Palestine

and

the

Jebusites;יְבוּסִיYᵉbûwçîy/yeb-oo-see'/H2983a Jebusite or inhabitant of Jebus

the

LORDיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

thy

Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

hath

commandedצָוָהtsâvâh/tsaw-vaw'/H6680(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

thee:

Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:17

HENRY_FULL · Deuteronomy 20:17

Moses is still upon that necessary subject concerning the peril of idolatry. In the close of the foregoing chapter he had cautioned them against the peril that might arise from their predecessors the Canaanites. In this chapter he cautions them against the rise of idolatry from among themselves; they must take heed lest any should draw them to idolatry, I. By the pretence of prophecy, ver. 1-5 . II. By the pretence of friendship and relation, ver. 6-11 . III. By the pretence of numbers, ver. 12-18 . But in all these cases the temptation must be resolutely resisted and the tempters punished and cut off.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 7:22

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

Deuteronomy 18:22

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

1 Kings 13:3

And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

Jeremiah 28:9

The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.

Matthew 7:22

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23

And then will I profess unto them I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 24:24

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

2 Corinthians 11:13

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:9

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Revelation 13:13

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Revelation 13:14

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Topics

Amorites Perizzites

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Deuteronomy 20:17.

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;

Exodus 23:23

For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

Exodus 3:17

And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Exodus 3:8

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 33:2

And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

Exodus 34:11

Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

Exodus 13:5

And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Joshua 11:3

And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.

Frequently asked questions

What does Deuteronomy 20:17 say?

Deuteronomy 20:17 (King James Version) reads: "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:"

Is Deuteronomy 20:17 in the Old or New Testament?

Deuteronomy 20:17 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Deuteronomy.

Reflect

As you read Deuteronomy 20:17, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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