DEUTERONOMY 20:20

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT

To get what Deuteronomy 20:20 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.

“Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.”

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Popularity relative to other verses in Deuteronomy chapter 20 using average monthly Google searches.

Deuteronomy 20:20 Translation & Meaning

What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].

KJV Verse Original Hebrew Meaning/ Definition
This is a simplified translation of the original Hebrew word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail.
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Only רַ֞ק Properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although Only
the trees עֵ֣ץ A tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) trees
which אֲשֶׁר Who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc which
thou knowest תֵּדַ֗ע To know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) knowest
that כִּֽי (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed that
they ה֔וּא He (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are they
be (No Hebrew definition. English implied.)
not לֹא Not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles not
trees עֵ֤ץ A tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) trees
for meat, מַֽאֲכָל֙ An eatable (including provender, flesh and fruit) meat
thou shalt destroy תַשְׁחִ֖ית To decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) destroy
and cut them down; וְכָרָ֑תָּ To cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces) cut down
and thou shalt build וּבָנִ֣יתָ To build (literally and figuratively) build
bulwarks מָצ֗וֹר Something hemming in, i.e., (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a fastness bulwarks
against עַל Above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications against
the city הָעִיר֙ A city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post) city
that אֲשֶׁר Who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc that
maketh עֹשָׂ֧ה To do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application maketh
war מִלְחָמָ֖ה A battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare) war
with עִמְּךָ֛ Adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English) with
thee, until עַ֥ד As far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with) until
it be subdued. רִדְתָּֽהּ׃ To descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications) subdued

Verse Context

See Deuteronomy 20:20 with its adjacent verses in bold below. Follow either of the two large buttons below to see these verses in their broader context of the King James Bible or a Bible concordance.

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  • 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.

  • 19  When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:

  • 20  Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.




Sources:

The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.


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