Deuteronomy 20:3

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;

📖 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

• 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.'

• 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;

• 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 man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is who fights for you, as he has promised you.
• Ps 3:6 : 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
• Ps 27:1-3 : 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to devour my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident.
• Isa 8:12-13 : 12 Do not say, A confederacy, to all those to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.
• Isa 28:16 : 16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he who believes shall not act hastily.
• Isa 35:3-4 : 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you.
• Isa 41:10-14 : 10 Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and those who strive with you shall perish. 12 You shall seek them, and shall not find them, even those who contended with you: those who war against you shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I the LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not; I will help you. 14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, says the LORD, and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
• Isa 57:7-8 : 7 On a lofty and high mountain you have set your bed; even there you went up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the doors and the posts you have set up your remembrance; for you have revealed yourself to another than me, and are gone up; you have enlarged your bed and made a covenant with them; you loved their bed where you saw it.
• Matt 10:16 : 16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: therefore, be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
• Matt 10:28 : 28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
• Matt 10:31 : 31 Therefore, do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
• Mark 16:6 : 6 And he said to them, Do not be afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified; he is risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him.
• Mark 16:18 : 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
• Acts 18:9-9 : 9 Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, 'Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.'
• Acts 27:24 : 24 Saying, Do not fear, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar: and indeed, God has granted you all those who sail with you.
• Eph 6:11-18 : 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your waist girded with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;
• 1 Thess 5:15 : 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone; but always pursue what is good, both for yourselves and for all.
• 1 Tim 6:12 : 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
• Heb 12:12-13 : 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
• Heb 13:6 : 6 So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.'
• Rev 2:10 : 10 Fear none of those things which you will suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.
• Matt 8:26 : 26 And he said to them, Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.