Deuteronomy 20:3

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

He shall say to them: 'Hear, O Israel, you are about to go into battle against your enemies. Do not let your hearts be faint; do not be afraid, panic, or dread them.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַֽל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תּֽ͏ַעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

Transliteration

And ʾāmar to-them, šĕmaʿ yiśrāʾēl, you qĕrēḇîm the-yôm to-the-milḥāmāh against-ʾōyḇêḵem; not-yēraḵ lĕḇaḇḵem, not-tîrĕʾû and-not-taḥpĕzû and-not-taʿarṣû from-pĕnêhem.

Grammar Details

• *wə-ʾāmar*: conjunction + qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular - and he will say
• *ʾălēhem*: preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - to them
• *šĕmaʿ*: qal imperative masculine singular - hear/listen
• *yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *ʾattem*: 2nd person masculine plural pronoun - you
• *qĕrēḇîm*: adjective masculine plural - approaching/drawing near
• *hayyôm*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the day/today
• *lammilḥāmāh*: preposition + definite article + feminine singular noun - to the battle/war
• *ʿal*: preposition - against
• *ʾōyḇêḵem*: masculine plural noun + 2nd person masculine plural suffix - your enemies
• *ʾal*: negative particle (for prohibitions) - do not
• *yēraḵ*: qal imperfect jussive 3rd person masculine singular - let it be soft/tender/weak
• *lĕḇaḇḵem*: masculine singular noun + 2nd person masculine plural suffix - your heart
• *ʾal-tîrĕʾû*: negative particle + qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural - do not fear
• *wĕ-ʾal-taḥpĕzû*: conjunction + negative particle + niphal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural - and do not hasten/panic
• *wĕ-ʾal-taʿarṣû*: conjunction + negative particle + qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural - and do not dread/be terrified
• *mippĕnêhem*: preposition + masculine plural noun + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - from before them/from their faces

Word Meanings

• *ʾāmar*: say/speak/tell
• *šĕmaʿ*: hear/listen/obey
• *qĕrēḇîm*: approaching/drawing near/coming close
• *yôm*: day/time/today
• *milḥāmāh*: battle/war/fighting
• *ʾōyḇêḵem*: your enemies/adversaries/foes
• *yēraḵ*: be soft/weak/tender/fainthearted
• *lĕḇaḇḵem*: your heart/mind/inner being
• *tîrĕʾû*: fear/be afraid/dread
• *taḥpĕzû*: hasten/hurry/be in panic/be alarmed
• *taʿarṣû*: dread/be terrified/be frightened
• *pĕnêhem*: their faces/presence/before them

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day to battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, nor be terrified because of them;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and shall say{H559} unto them, Hear,{H8085} O Israel,{H3478} ye draw nigh{H7131} this day{H3117} unto battle{H4421} against your enemies:{H341} let not your heart{H3824} faint;{H7401} fear{H3372} not, nor tremble,{H2648} neither be ye affrighted{H6206} at them;{H6440}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And shall say{H559}{(H8804)} unto them, Hear{H8085}{(H8798)}, O Israel{H3478}, ye approach{H7131} this day{H3117} unto battle{H4421} against your enemies{H341}{(H8802)}: let not your hearts{H3824} faint{H7401}{(H8735)}, fear{H3372}{(H8799)} not, and do not tremble{H2648}{(H8799)}, neither be ye terrified{H6206}{(H8799)} because{H6440} of them;

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and saye vnto them: Heare Israel, ye are come vnto batayle agenste youre enemyes, let not youre hartes faynte, nether feare nor be amased nor a dreade of them.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and saye vnto the: Heare Israel: Ye go this daye in to the battayll agaynst youre enemies, let not yor hert faynte. Feare not, be not afrayed, ner a drede of them.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And shal say vnto them, Heare, O Israel: ye are come this day vnto battell against your enemies: let not your heartes faynt, neither feare, nor be amased, nor adread of them.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And shall say vnto them: Heare O Israel, you are come this day vnto battayle agaynst your enemies, let not your heartes faynt, neither feare, nor be amazed, nor a dread of them:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and shall tell them, Hear, Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies: don't let your heart faint; don't be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and said unto them, Hear, Israel, ye are drawing near to-day to battle against your enemies, let not your hearts be tender, fear not, nor make haste, nor be terrified at their presence,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and 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;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and 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;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Give ear, O Israel: today you are going forward to the fight; let your heart be strong; do not let uncontrolled fear overcome you because of those who are against you;

• World English Bible (2000)

  and shall tell them, "Hear, Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies: don't let your heart faint; don't be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “Listen, Israel! Today you are moving forward to do battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not fear and tremble or be terrified because of them,

Referenced Verses

• Josh 23:10 : 10 One of you will chase a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.
• Ps 3:6 : 6 I lay down and slept; I awoke again, because the LORD sustains me.
• Ps 27:1-3 : 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers come against me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamps against me, my heart will not be afraid; though war rises against me, in this I will be confident.
• Isa 8:12-13 : 12 "Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not be terrified. 13 The Lord of Hosts—he is the one you are to regard as holy. He is the one you are to fear; he is the one you are to dread.
• Isa 28:16 : 16 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. The one who believes will not panic.'
• Isa 35:3-4 : 3 Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong; do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with divine retribution. He will come and save you.'
• Isa 41:10-14 : 10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; indeed, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who are enraged against you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who oppose you will be as nothing and will perish. 12 You will search for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing, as non-existent. 13 For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.' 14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel. I myself will help you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
• Isa 57:7-8 : 7 You have placed your bed on a high and lofty mountain; there you went up to offer sacrifices. 8 Behind your doors and doorposts you have set up your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, climbing into it and opening it wide; you made a pact with them, you loved their beds and gazed on their manhood.
• Matt 10:16 : 16 Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.
• Matt 10:28 : 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
• Matt 10:31 : 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
• Mark 16:6 : 6 He said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. Look at the place where they laid him.'
• Mark 16:18 : 18 They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them. They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.
• Acts 18:9-9 : 9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, 'Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not be silent.' 10 'For I am with you, and no one will attack or harm you, because I have many people in this city.'
• Acts 27:24 : 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar. And God has graciously given you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'
• Eph 6:11-18 : 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers of this present darkness, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand, then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist and the breastplate of righteousness in place. 15 And as shoes for your feet, put on the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and petition. Stay alert with all perseverance as you pray for all the saints.
• 1 Thess 5:15 : 15 See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good, both for one another and for everyone.
• 1 Tim 6:12 : 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
• Heb 12:12-13 : 12 Therefore, strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
• Heb 13:6 : 6 So we can confidently say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'
• Rev 2:10 : 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
• Matt 8:26 : 26 He replied, 'Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?' Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.