The Meaning of Deuteronomy 20:16 Explained

Deuteronomy 20:16

KJV: But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

YLT: Only, of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee for an inheritance, thou dost not keep alive any breathing;

Darby: But of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth,

ASV: But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But of the cities  of these people,  which the LORD  thy God  doth give  thee [for] an inheritance,  thou shalt save alive  nothing that breatheth: 

What does Deuteronomy 20:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 20:16 mean?

But of the cities of peoples these which Yahweh your God gives you [as] an inheritance nothing you shall let remain alive all that breathes
רַ֗ק מֵעָרֵ֤י הָֽעַמִּים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָ֑ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּ֖ה כָּל־ נְשָׁמָֽה

מֵעָרֵ֤י  of  the  cities 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הָֽעַמִּים֙  of  peoples 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
נֹתֵ֥ן  gives 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
נַחֲלָ֑ה  [as]  an  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
לֹ֥א  nothing 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תְחַיֶּ֖ה  you  shall  let  remain  alive 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
נְשָׁמָֽה  that  breathes 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְשָׁמָה  
Sense: breath, spirit.