Deuteronomy 20:19

KJV1611 – Modern English

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

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    When you lay siege to a city for a long time to capture it, do not destroy its trees by cutting them down with an axe, for you may eat from them. Do not cut them down, for is the tree of the field a human that it should face the siege with you?

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not stroy 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:

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    When thou shalt besiege{H6696} a city{H5892} a long{H7227} time,{H3117} in making war{H3898} against it to take{H8610} it, thou shalt not destroy{H7843} the trees{H6086} thereof by wielding{H5080} an axe{H1631} against them; for thou mayest eat{H398} of them, and thou shalt not cut them down;{H3772} for is the tree{H6086} of the field{H7704} man,{H120} that it should{H935} be besieged{H6440} of thee?

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    When thou shalt besiege{H6696}{(H8799)} a city{H5892} a long{H7227} time{H3117}, in making war{H3898}{(H8736)} against it to take{H8610}{(H8800)} it, thou shalt not destroy{H7843}{(H8686)} the trees{H6086} thereof by forcing{H5080}{(H8800)} an axe{H1631} against them: for thou mayest eat{H398}{(H8799)} of them, and thou shalt not cut them down{H3772}{(H8799)}(for the tree{H6086} of the field{H7704} is man's{H120} life) to employ{H935}{(H8800)} them in the siege{H6440}{H4692}:

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    When thou hast beseged a citie longe tyme in makinge warre agenst it to take it. destroye not the trees thereof, that thou woldest thrust an axe vnto them. For thou mayst eate of the, and therfore destroye them not. For the trees of the feldes are no men, that they myght come agenst the to besege the.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Whan thou must lye a longe season before a cite, against the which thou makest warre to take it, thou shalt not destroye ye trees therof that thou woldest hew them downe wt the axe, for thou mayest eate therof: and therfore shalt thou not hew them downe. For it is but wodd vpon the felde, and no man, and can not come & be bullworkes agaynst the.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    When thou hast besieged a citie long time, & made warre against it to take it, destroy not the trees therof, by smiting an axe into them: for thou mayest eate of them: therfore thou shalt not cut them downe to further thee in the siege, (for the tree of the field is mans life )

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    When thou hast besieged a citie long tyme, and made warre agaynst it to take it, destroy not the trees therof, that thou wouldest thrust an axe vnto them: but eate of them, and cut them not downe to further thee in thy siege: for the tree of the fielde is mans life.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    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:

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy the trees of it by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat of them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of you?

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    `When thou layest siege unto a city many days, to fight against it, to capture it, thou dost not destroy its trees to force an axe against them, for of them thou dost eat, and them thou dost not cut down -- for man's `is' the tree of the field -- to go in at thy presence in the siege.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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 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?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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 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?

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    If in war a town is shut in by your armies for a long time, do not let its trees be cut down and made waste; for their fruit will be your food; are the trees of the countryside men for you to take up arms against them?

  • World English Bible (2000)

    When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat of them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of you?

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    If you besiege a city for a long time while attempting to capture it, you must not chop down its trees, for you may eat fruit from them and should not cut them down. A tree in the field is not human that you should besiege it!

Referenced Verses

  • Deut 26:6 : 6 And the Egyptians mistreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
  • Matt 3:10 : 10 And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
  • Matt 7:15-20 : 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
  • Matt 21:19 : 19 And when he saw a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you ever again. And immediately the fig tree withered away.
  • Luke 13:7-9 : 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why does it use up the ground? 8 And he answered and said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it: 9 And if it bears fruit, well: and if not, then after that you shall cut it down.
  • John 15:2-8 : 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may produce more fruit. 3 Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, no more can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you shall be my disciples.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • 20 Only the trees which you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down; and you shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it is subdued.

  • 19 And you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up all the springs of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones."

  • 23 And when you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised: three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you: it shall not be eaten.

  • Deut 20:5-6
    2 verses
    73%

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

    6 And what man is he who has planted a vineyard and has not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.

  • 72%

    10 When you come near a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.

    11 And it shall be, if it makes you answer of peace, and opens to you, then it shall be, that all the people that are found within shall be tributaries to you, and they shall serve you.

    12 And if it will not make peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it:

    13 And when the LORD your God has delivered it into your hands, you shall strike every male of it with the edge of the sword:

    14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil of it, you shall take for yourself; and you shall eat the spoil of your enemies, which the LORD your God has given you.

    15 Thus shall you do to all the cities which are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.

    16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes:

    17 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:

    18 That they teach you not to do according to all their abominations, which they have done for their gods; so you would sin against the LORD your God.

  • 20 When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

  • 10 They shall not take wood out of the field, nor cut down any from the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall take spoil from those who spoiled them, and rob those who robbed them, says the Lord GOD.

  • 5 As when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies, he shall flee to one of those cities and live:

  • 2 You shall completely destroy all the places where the nations you are dispossessing served their gods, on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree:

  • 70%

    20 That which is altogether just you shall follow, that you may live, and inherit the land which the LORD your God gives you.

    21 You shall not plant for yourself any grove of trees near to the altar of the LORD your God, which you shall make for yourself.

  • 15 You shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

  • 17 And they shall eat up your harvest, and your bread, which your sons and your daughters should eat: they shall eat up your flocks and your herds: they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees: they shall impoverish your fortified cities, wherein you trusted, with the sword.

  • 69%

    39 You shall plant vineyards, and dress them, but shall neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.

    40 You shall have olive trees throughout all your coasts, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olive shall cast its fruit.

  • 51 And he shall eat the fruit of your cattle, and the fruit of your land, until you are destroyed: which also shall not leave you either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of your kine, or flocks of your sheep, until he has destroyed you.

  • 14 So that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, nor set their top among the thick boughs, nor any tree stand up to its height, all that drink water; for they are all delivered to death, to the lower parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with those who go down to the pit.

  • 14 He cuts down cedars, and takes the cypress and the oak, which he strengthens for himself among the trees of the forest: he plants an ash, and the rain nourishes it.

  • 7 And I will prepare destroyers against you, everyone with his weapons: and they shall cut down your choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.

  • 55 So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he has nothing left him in the siege, and in the distress, with which your enemies shall distress you in all your gates.

  • 10 When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive,

  • 22 The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.

  • 9 And he shall set up engines of war against your walls, and with his axes he shall break down your towers.

  • 21 whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heaven had their habitation,

  • 42 All your trees and fruit of your land shall the locust consume.

  • 18 The mountain shall be yours; though it is a forest, you shall cut it down, and its furthest parts shall be yours. You shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.

  • 1 When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land the LORD your God gives you, and you succeed them and dwell in their cities and houses;

  • 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield its increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

  • 25 When you come into the standing grain of your neighbor, you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not wield a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain.

  • 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

  • 5 And they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one will not be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the rest of what is left to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree that grows for you out of the field:

  • 9 And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.

  • 9 Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.

  • 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, nor cease from yielding fruit.

  • 25 And they destroyed the cities, and in every good piece of land each man threw a stone and filled it, and they stopped all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. Only in Kir Haraseth did they leave its stones intact; however, the slingers surrounded it and attacked it.

  • 12 Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the heaven dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

  • 8 For the battle was scattered over the face of all the country: and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

  • 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, You come and reign over us.

  • 9 Say thus says the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, that it withers? It shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by its roots.

  • 5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

  • 14 You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.