Deuteronomy 23:10
New International Version
If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there.

New Living Translation
“Any man who becomes ceremonially defiled because of a nocturnal emission must leave the camp and stay away all day.

English Standard Version
“If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come inside the camp,

Berean Standard Bible
If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp and stay outside.

King James Bible
If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

New King James Version
If there is any man among you who becomes unclean by some occurrence in the night, then he shall go outside the camp; he shall not come inside the camp.

New American Standard Bible
“If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp.

NASB 1995
“If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp.

NASB 1977
“If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp.

Legacy Standard Bible
“If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp.

Amplified Bible
“If there is any man among you who is [ceremonially] unclean because of nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he shall not come back to the camp.

Christian Standard Bible
If there is a man among you who is unclean because of a bodily emission during the night, he must go outside the camp; he may not come anywhere inside the camp.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If there is a man among you who is unclean because of a bodily emission during the night, he must go outside the camp; he may not come anywhere inside the camp.

American Standard Version
If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of that which chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

Contemporary English Version
For example, if something happens at night that makes a man unclean and unfit for worship, he must go outside the camp and stay there

English Revised Version
If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of that which chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If one of your men becomes unclean from a nocturnal emission, he must go outside the camp and stay there.

Good News Translation
If a man becomes unclean because he has had a wet dream during the night, he is to go outside the camp and stay there.

International Standard Version
If someone among you becomes unclean due to nocturnal emissions, he must leave the camp and stay outside.

Majority Standard Bible
If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp and stay outside.

NET Bible
If there is someone among you who is impure because of some nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp; he may not reenter it immediately.

New Heart English Bible
If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of that which happens him by night, then shall he go outside of the camp. He shall not come within the camp:

Webster's Bible Translation
If there shall be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth to him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

World English Bible
If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of that which happens to him by night, then shall he go outside of the camp. He shall not come within the camp;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When there is a man who is not clean in you, from an accident at night, then he has gone out to the outside of the camp; he does not come into the midst of the camp;

Young's Literal Translation
'When there is in thee a man who is not clean, from an accident at night -- then he hath gone out unto the outside of the camp -- he doth not come in unto the midst of the camp --

Smith's Literal Translation
If there shall be in thee a man that shall not be clean from chance of the night, and he shall go forth without the camp; he shall not come in to the midst of the camp:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If there be among you any man, that is defiled in a dream by night, he shall go forth out of the camp.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If there is a man among you who has been defiled by a dream in the night, he shall depart from the camp.

New American Bible
If one of you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he shall go outside the camp; he shall not come back into the camp.

New Revised Standard Version
If one of you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp; he must not come within the camp.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of an emission at night, then he shall go outside the camp, he shall not come within the camp;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if a man shall be among you that is impure from an emission of the night, he shall go forth himself outside of the camp and he shall not enter within the camp:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of that which chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If there should be in thee a man who is not clean by reason of his issue by night, then he shall go forth out of the camp, and he shall not enter into the camp.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Uncleanness in the Camp
9When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing. 10If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp and stay outside. 11When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to the camp.…

Cross References
Leviticus 15:16-18
When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean until evening. / Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening. / If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both must bathe with water, and they will remain unclean until evening.

Numbers 5:2-3
“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body. / You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”

1 Samuel 21:4-5
“There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.” / David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the bodies of the young men are holy even on common missions. How much more so today!”

Leviticus 22:4-7
If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, / or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— / the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water. ...

2 Samuel 11:11
Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”

Leviticus 15:2-3
“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean. / This uncleanness is from his discharge, whether his body allows the discharge to flow or blocks it. So his discharge will bring about uncleanness.

Numbers 19:11-13
Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. / He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. / Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. / Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Ephesians 5:3
But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Romans 13:13-14
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. / Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.


Treasury of Scripture

If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chances him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

Leviticus 15:16
And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

Numbers 5:2,3
Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: …

1 Corinthians 5:11-13
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat…

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Abroad Accident Camp Chances Clean Emission Happens Inside Midst Night Outside Reason Reenter Tent-Circle Unclean Uncleanness Within
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Abroad Accident Camp Chances Clean Emission Happens Inside Midst Night Outside Reason Reenter Tent-Circle Unclean Uncleanness Within
Deuteronomy 23
1. Who may or may not enter into the congregation
9. Uncleanness is to be avoided in the host
15. Of the fugitive servant
17. Of filthiness
18. Of abominable sacrifices
19. Of usury
20. Of vows
24. Of trespass














If any man among you
This phrase sets the context within the community of Israel, emphasizing the collective responsibility and purity required among God's chosen people. The Hebrew word for "man" here is "ish," which denotes an individual but also implies a member of the covenant community. This highlights the personal responsibility each man has in maintaining the holiness of the camp, reflecting the broader biblical principle that individual actions impact the community.

becomes unclean
The concept of "unclean" in Hebrew is "tamei," which refers to a state of ritual impurity. This is not about moral sin but rather a ceremonial status that temporarily disqualifies a person from participating in communal worship and activities. The idea of cleanliness is deeply rooted in the holiness code of Leviticus, where physical purity symbolizes spiritual purity. It underscores the importance of approaching God with reverence and the need for purification before entering His presence.

because of a nocturnal emission
The Hebrew term for "nocturnal emission" is "qeri," which specifically refers to an involuntary release of semen during sleep. In ancient Israel, bodily emissions were considered sources of impurity, not because they were sinful, but because they were part of the natural human condition that required cleansing. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's holiness and the need for humans to be purified before engaging in worship or community life.

he must go outside the camp
The instruction to go "outside the camp" signifies a temporary separation from the community. The camp represents the dwelling place of God's people, and by extension, God's presence among them. This separation is not punitive but purificatory, allowing the individual to undergo the necessary rites to restore ritual purity. It serves as a physical reminder of the need for spiritual readiness and the sanctity of the community.

and stay there
The requirement to "stay there" until evening, as further detailed in the surrounding verses, indicates a period of waiting and reflection. This time allows for the natural process of purification and reintegration into the community. It symbolizes the grace period God provides for restoration and renewal, emphasizing His desire for His people to be holy and set apart for His purposes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

any man
אִ֔ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

among you
בְךָ֙ (ḇə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

becomes
יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

unclean
טָה֖וֹר (ṭā·hō·wr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2889: Clean, pure

because of a nocturnal
לָ֑יְלָה (lā·yə·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

emission,
מִקְּרֵה־ (miq·qə·rêh-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7137: An, occurrence, some accidental, disqualification

he must leave
וְיָצָא֙ (wə·yā·ṣā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

the camp
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (lam·ma·ḥă·neh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

[and] stay
יָבֹ֖א (yā·ḇō)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

outside.
מִח֣וּץ (mi·ḥūṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 23:10 If there be among you any man (Deut. De Du)
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