Deuteronomy 20:5

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְדִבְּר֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ מִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֤ה בַֽיִת־חָדָשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֲנָכ֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ׃

Transliteration

And dibbĕrû the-šōṭĕrîm to-the-ʿām lēmōr: Who-is-the-ʾîš who bānāh bayit-ḥādāš and-not ḥănāḵô, yēlēḵ and-yāšōḇ to-bêtô, lest-yāmût in-the-milḥāmāh and-ʾîš ʾaḥēr yaḥnĕḵennû.

Grammar Details

*wĕ-dibbĕrû*: conjunction + piel perfect 3rd person masculine plural - and they shall speak
*haššōṭĕrîm*: definite article + masculine plural noun - the officers
*ʾel-hāʿām*: preposition + definite article + masculine singular noun - to the people
*lēmōr*: preposition + qal infinitive construct - saying
*mî*: interrogative pronoun - who
*hāʾîš*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the man
*ʾăšer*: relative pronoun - who/that/which
*bānāh*: qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular - has built
*bayit-ḥādāš*: masculine singular noun + adjective - new house
*wĕ-lōʾ*: conjunction + negative particle - and not
*ḥănāḵô*: qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - dedicated it
*yēlēḵ*: qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular jussive - let him go
*wĕ-yāšōḇ*: conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular jussive - and let him return
*lĕ-bêtô*: preposition + masculine singular noun + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - to his house
*pen*: conjunction - lest
*yāmût*: qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - he die
*ba-milḥāmāh*: preposition + definite article + feminine singular noun - in the battle
*wĕ-ʾîš*: conjunction + masculine singular noun - and a man
*ʾaḥēr*: adjective - another/different
*yaḥnĕḵennû*: qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - will dedicate it

Word Meanings

*dibbĕrû*: speak/talk/address
*šōṭĕrîm*: officers/officials/scribes
*ʿām*: people/troops/nation
*lēmōr*: saying/to say
*ʾîš*: man/person/each
*bānāh*: build/construct/establish
*bayit*: house/home/household
*ḥādāš*: new/fresh/renewed
*ḥănāḵô*: dedicate it/inaugurate it/initiate it
*yēlēḵ*: go/proceed/depart
*yāšōḇ*: return/turn back/go back
*yāmût*: die/perish
*milḥāmāh*: battle/war/fighting
*ʾaḥēr*: another/other/different
*yaḥnĕḵennû*: dedicate it/inaugurate it/initiate it

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Neh 12:27 : 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
Num 31:14 : 14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.
Num 31:48 : 48 And the officers that were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses;
Deut 1:15 : 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes.
Deut 16:18 : 18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, according to thy tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
1 Sam 17:18 : 18 and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
Ps 30:1 : 1 A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. [A Psalm] of David. I will extol thee, O Jehovah; For thou hast raised me up, And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Deut 20:6-13
8 verses
80%
6And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof.
7And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart melt as his heart.
9And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people.
10When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
11And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee.
12And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
13and when Jehovah thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:
Deut 24:5
72%
5When a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go out in the host, neither shall he be charged with any business: he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he hath taken.
Deut 22:8
72%
8When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thy house, if any man fall from thence.
Deut 20:1-4
4 verses
70%
1When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
2And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
3and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them;
4for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
1 Chr 22:19
69%
19Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Jehovah your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of Jehovah God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Jehovah.
1 Kgs 8:44
69%
44If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Jehovah toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name;
2 Chr 6:34
68%
34If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
Deut 21:10
68%
10When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and Jehovah thy God delivereth them into thy hands, and thou carriest them away captive,
Deut 6:10
68%
10And it shall be, when Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee, great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not,
Deut 8:12
68%
12lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
Deut 20:19-20
2 verses
68%
19When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of thee?
20Only the trees of which thou knowest that they are not trees for food, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it fall.
1 Chr 26:27
67%
27Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Jehovah.
Deut 20:15
67%
15Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.
Jer 35:7
67%
7neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any; but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land wherein ye sojourn.
Jer 29:5
67%
5Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
Num 32:20
67%
20And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will arm yourselves to go before Jehovah to the war,
Deut 19:1
67%
1When Jehovah thy God shall cut off the nations, whose land Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
Josh 1:10
67%
10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
2 Tim 2:4
66%
4No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
Lev 27:14-15
2 verses
66%
14And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto Jehovah, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.
15And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.
Deut 28:30
66%
30Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not use the fruit thereof.
Josh 22:19
66%
19Howbeit, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of Jehovah, wherein Jehovah's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against Jehovah, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.
Deut 12:9-10
2 verses
66%
9for ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
10But when ye go over the Jordan, and dwell in the land which Jehovah your God causeth you to inherit, and he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;
Prov 24:27
66%
27Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.
Deut 3:18-20
3 verses
66%
18And I commanded you at that time, saying, Jehovah your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valor.
19But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you,
20until Jehovah give rest unto your brethren, as unto you, and they also possess the land which Jehovah your God giveth them beyond the Jordan: then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.
1 Chr 28:3
66%
3But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.
Josh 22:23
66%
23that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Jehovah; or if to offer thereon burnt-offering or meal-offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace-offerings thereon, let Jehovah himself require it;
2 Kgs 22:5
66%
5and let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of Jehovah; and let them give it to the workmen that are in the house of Jehovah, to repair the breaches of the house,
Num 31:27-28
2 verses
66%
27and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation.
28And levy a tribute unto Jehovah of the men of war that went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, [both] of the persons, and of the oxen, and of the asses, and of the flocks:
Num 32:18
65%
18We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.
Josh 24:13
65%
13And I gave you a land whereon thou hadst not labored, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell therein; of vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
1 Chr 28:10
65%
10Take heed now; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
Josh 22:26
65%
26Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice:
Deut 19:3
65%
3Thou shalt prepare thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which Jehovah thy God causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither.