Deuteronomy 20:15
New International Version
This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

New Living Translation
“But these instructions apply only to distant towns, not to the towns of the nations in the land you will enter.

English Standard Version
Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here.

Berean Standard Bible
This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

King James Bible
Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

New King James Version
Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.

New American Standard Bible
This is what you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.

NASB 1995
“Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.

NASB 1977
“Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.

Amplified Bible
That is what you shall do to all the cities that are very far away from you, which are not among the cities of these nations nearby [which you are to dispossess].

Christian Standard Bible
This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and are not among the cities of these nations.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and are not among the cities of these nations.

American Standard Version
Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

English Revised Version
Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what you must do to all the cities that are far away which don't belong to the nations nearby.

Good News Translation
That is how you are to deal with those cities that are far away from the land you will settle in.

International Standard Version
Do this to all the cities that are distant from you—that is, to those cities that are not in neighboring nations."

Majority Standard Bible
This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

NET Bible
This is how you are to deal with all those cities located far from you, those that do not belong to these nearby nations.

New Heart English Bible
Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus shalt thou do to all the cities which are very distant from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

World English Bible
Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
So you do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Young's Literal Translation
So thou dost do to all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus shalt thou do to all the cities greatly far off from thee which are not of the cities of these nations.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So shalt thou do to all cities that are at a great distance from thee, and are not of these cities which thou shalt receive in possession.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So shall you do to all the cities which are at a great distance from you, those which are not among the cities that you shall receive as a possession.

New American Bible
That is how you shall deal with any city at a considerable distance from you, which does not belong to these nations here.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus you shall treat all the towns that are very far from you, which are not towns of the nations here.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus shall you do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
So do to all the towns that are very distant from you that were not from towns of these nations.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus shalt thou do to all the cities that are very far off from thee, not being of the cities of these nations which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit their land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws of Warfare
14But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you. 15This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby. 16However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.…

Cross References
Joshua 11:19-20
No city made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites living in Gibeon; all others were taken in battle. / For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.

1 Kings 9:20-21
As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

2 Chronicles 8:7-8
As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

Numbers 31:7-12
Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. / Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. / The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods. ...

Joshua 9:3-15
But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, / acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. / They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy. ...

Judges 1:27-33
At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. / When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely. / Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer. ...

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

2 Samuel 8:2
David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

2 Kings 17:24
Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.

Nehemiah 9:24-25
So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished. / They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.

Isaiah 10:6
I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

Jeremiah 25:9
behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation.

Ezekiel 25:14
I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Matthew 5:43-44
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ / But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 19:27
And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”


Treasury of Scripture

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

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Deuteronomy 20
1. The priest's exhortation to encourage the people to battle
5. The officers' proclamation of who are to be dismissed from the war
10. How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace
16. What cities must be devoted
19. Trees must not be destroyed in the siege














This is how you are to treat
This phrase sets the stage for a divine directive, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands. The Hebrew root for "treat" (עָשָׂה, asah) implies action and execution, suggesting that the Israelites are to actively follow God's instructions. This reflects a broader biblical theme of obedience and faithfulness to God's will, which is a cornerstone of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

all the cities
The term "cities" (עִיר, ir) in ancient Israelite context refers to fortified settlements, which were centers of administration and culture. Archaeological findings reveal that these cities were often strategically located and well-defended. The mention of "all the cities" underscores the comprehensive nature of the command, indicating that no city is exempt from this divine directive.

that are far away from you
The phrase "far away" (רָחוֹק, rachoq) denotes geographical distance, but it also implies a cultural and spiritual separation. These cities are not part of the immediate inheritance of the Israelites, suggesting a distinction between those who are near (and thus more integrated into the covenant community) and those who are distant. This separation highlights the unique identity and mission of Israel as God's chosen people.

and do not belong to the nations nearby
The "nations nearby" (הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה, ha-goyim ha-eleh) refers to the Canaanite nations that inhabited the Promised Land. Historically, these nations were known for their idolatrous practices, which posed a spiritual threat to Israel. The command to treat cities differently based on their proximity and association with these nations underscores the need for Israel to remain distinct and holy, avoiding the influence of pagan cultures.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is how
כֵּ֤ן (kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

you are to treat
תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ (ta·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

all
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the cities
הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (he·‘ā·rîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

that are far away
הָרְחֹקֹ֥ת (hā·rə·ḥō·qōṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious

from you
מִמְּךָ֖ (mim·mə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

and do not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

belong to the
הָאֵ֖לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

nations nearby.
הַגּֽוֹיִם־ (hag·gō·w·yim-)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 20:15 Thus you shall do to all (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 20:14
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