The Meaning of Deuteronomy 20:2 Explained

Deuteronomy 20:2

KJV: And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

YLT: and it hath been, in your drawing near unto the battle, that the priest hath come nigh, and spoken unto the people,

Darby: And it shall be, when ye approach unto the battle, that the priest shall draw near and speak unto the people,

ASV: And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it shall be, when ye are come nigh  unto the battle,  that the priest  shall approach  and speak  unto the people, 

What does Deuteronomy 20:2 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 20:2 mean?

So it shall be when you are on the verge of battle that shall approach the priest and speak to the people
וְהָיָ֕ה כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖ם אֶל־ הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִגַּ֥שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־ הָעָֽם

וְהָיָ֕ה  So  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖ם  when  you  are  on  the  verge 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה  battle 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
וְנִגַּ֥שׁ  that  shall  approach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
הַכֹּהֵ֖ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
וְדִבֶּ֥ר  and  speak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הָעָֽם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.