Deuteronomy 20:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל־אֹיְבֶ֗יךָ וְֽרָאִ֜יתָ ס֤וּס וָרֶ֙כֶב֙ עַ֚ם רַ֣ב מִמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א מֵהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ הַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Transliteration

When tēṣē to-the-milḥāmāh against-ʾōyḇêḵā wə-rāʾîtā sûs and-reḵeḇ ʿam raḇ than-you, not tîrā from-them, for YHWH ʾĕlōhêḵā with-you, the-one-who-maʿalḵā from-ʾereṣ miṣrayim.

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - because/for
• *tēṣē*: qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular - you go out
• *lamilḥāmāh*: preposition + definite article + feminine noun - to the battle/war
• *ʿal*: preposition - against
• *ʾōyḇêḵā*: masculine plural noun + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your enemies
• *wə-rāʾîtā*: conjunction + qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular - and you see/saw
• *sûs*: masculine singular noun - horse
• *wā-reḵeḇ*: conjunction + masculine singular noun - and chariot
• *ʿam*: masculine singular noun - people
• *raḇ*: adjective - many/greater
• *mimməḵā*: preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - than you
• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *tîrā*: qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular - you will fear
• *mēhem*: preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - from them
• *YHWH*: divine name - LORD
• *ʾĕlōhêḵā*: masculine plural noun + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your God
• *ʿimmāḵ*: preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - with you
• *hammaʿalḵā*: definite article + hiphil participle + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - the one bringing you up
• *mēʾereṣ*: preposition + feminine singular construct - from land of
• *miṣrayim*: proper noun - Egypt

Word Meanings

• *tēṣē*: go out/depart/proceed
• *milḥāmāh*: battle/war/fighting
• *ʾōyḇêḵā*: enemies/adversaries/foes
• *sûs*: horse/cavalry
• *reḵeḇ*: chariot/chariotry/vehicles
• *ʿam*: people/nation/troops
• *raḇ*: many/numerous/greater
• *tîrā*: fear/be afraid/dread
• *ʾĕlōhêḵā*: your God/gods/deity
• *maʿalḵā*: bringing you up/causing you to ascend

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and a people more than you, do not be afraid of them: for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  When thou goest forth{H3318} to battle{H4421} against thine enemies,{H341} and seest{H7200} horses,{H5483} and chariots,{H7393} [and] a people{H5971} more{H7227} than thou, thou shalt not be afraid{H3372} of them; for Jehovah{H3068} thy God{H430} is with thee, who brought thee up{H5927} out of the land{H776} of Egypt.{H4714}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  When thou goest out{H3318}{(H8799)} to battle{H4421} against thine enemies{H341}{(H8802)}, and seest{H7200}{(H8804)} horses{H5483}, and chariots{H7393}, and a people{H5971} more{H7227} than thou, be not afraid{H3372}{(H8799)} of them: for the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430} is with thee, which brought thee up{H5927}{(H8688)} out of the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  When thou goest out to batayle agenste thine enemyes, and seest horses and charettes and people moo then thou, be not aferde of them, for the Lorde thy God is with the whiche broughte the out of the londe off Egipte.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Whan thou goest out to battayll agaynst thine enemies, and seyst horses and charettes of the people more then thou, be not afrayed of them: for the LORDE thy God which brought ye out of the londe of Egipte, is with the.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  When thou shalt go forth to warre against thine enemies, and shalt see horses & charets, & people moe then thou, be not afrayde of them: for the Lorde thy God is with thee, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  When thou goest out to battayle agaynst thine enemies, & seest horses, and charettes, and people, mo then thou, be not afrayde of them: for the Lorde thy God is with thee, which brought thee out of the lande of Egypt.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot -- a people more numerous than thou -- thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God `is' with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  When 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  When 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  When you go out to war against other nations, and come face to face with horses and war-carriages and armies greater in number than yourselves, have no fear of them: for the Lord your God is with you, who took you up out of the land of Egypt.

• World English Bible (2000)

  When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Laws Concerning War with Distant Enemies When you go to war against your enemies and see chariotry and troops who outnumber you, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Chr 32:7-8 : 7 "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." The people regained confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
• Ps 20:7 : 7 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the victorious power of His right hand.
• Deut 31:6 : 6 Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or be terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
• Deut 31:8 : 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
• Isa 31:1 : 1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, relying on horses and trusting in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel and do not seek the LORD.
• Rom 8:31 : 31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Isa 7:14 : 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
• Isa 8:9-9 : 9 Be shattered, you nations, and be terrified! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle and be terrified; prepare for battle and be shattered. 10 Devise your plans, but they will be thwarted; issue your orders, but they will not stand, for God is with us.
• Judg 6:12 : 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.'
• 2 Chr 14:11 : 11 The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.
• 2 Chr 20:12 : 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
• Isa 43:2 : 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you cross the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not consume you.
• Josh 1:5 : 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor abandon you.
• Josh 1:9 : 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
• Ps 33:16-17 : 16 A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a false hope for victory, and its great strength does not provide escape.
• Ps 46:7 : 7 Nations rage, kingdoms totter; He lifts His voice, the earth melts.
• Ps 46:11 : 11 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
• Ps 118:6 : 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
• Deut 3:21-22 : 21 At that time, I also commanded Joshua, saying, 'Your own eyes have seen everything the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms where you are crossing over.' 22 Do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is the one who fights for you.
• Deut 7:1 : 1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of, and He drives out many nations before you—the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites—seven nations more numerous and stronger than you,
• Gen 26:3 : 3 Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your descendants and will fulfill the oath I swore to Abraham your father.
• Num 23:21 : 21 'He has not observed iniquity in Jacob or seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of a king is among them.'
• Deut 2:7 : 7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.
• Josh 10:5-8 : 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces, and they and their armies moved out, camped near Gibeon, and prepared to attack it. 6 The men of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, for all the kings of the Amorites living in the hill country have gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with all the warriors and the mighty men of valor. 8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. I have given them into your hand; not one of them will be able to stand against you.”
• Josh 11:4-6 : 4 They came out with all their armies, a vast number of people as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a large number of horses and chariots. 5 All these kings joined forces and came together to camp at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. 6 The LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots in the fire.'
• Josh 11:9 : 9 Joshua did to them as the LORD had instructed: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots in the fire.
• Judg 4:3-9 : 3 The Israelites cried out to the LORD for help, for Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the Israelites cruelly for twenty years. 4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. 6 She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you: 'Go, lead ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun to Mount Tabor'"? 7 "I will draw Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his horde to the Kishon River and deliver him into your hand." 8 Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9 She said, "I will certainly go with you. However, the honor will not be yours on the journey you are about to take, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." So Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.
• Isa 37:24-25 : 24 Through your servants you have mocked the Lord. You have said, "With my many chariots I have ascended the heights of the mountains, the utmost parts of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars and its choicest cypress trees. I have reached its remotest heights, the densest of its forests. 25 I dug wells and drank water; with the soles of my feet, I dried up all the rivers of Egypt.