The Meaning of Deuteronomy 20:8 Explained

Deuteronomy 20:8

KJV: And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

YLT: And the authorities have added to speak unto the people, and said, Who is the man that is afraid and tender of heart? -- let him go and turn back to his house, and the heart of his brethren doth not melt like his heart;

Darby: And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and shall say, What man is there that is timid and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart melt as well as his heart.

ASV: And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart melt as his heart.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the officers  shall speak  further  unto the people,  and they shall say,  What man  [is there that is] fearful  and fainthearted?  let him go  and return  unto his house,  lest his brethren's  heart  faint  as well as his heart. 

What does Deuteronomy 20:8 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 20:8 mean?

And further the officers shall speak to the people and say who [is] the man [who is] fearful and fainthearted let him go and return to his house and lest faint - the heart of his brothers like his heart
וְיָסְפ֣וּ הַשֹּׁטְרִים֮ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־ הָעָם֒ וְאָמְר֗וּ מִי־ הָאִ֤ישׁ הַיָּרֵא֙ וְרַ֣ךְ ؟ הַלֵּבָ֔ב יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֛ס אֶת־ לְבַ֥ב אֶחָ֖יו כִּלְבָבֽוֹ

וְיָסְפ֣וּ  And  further 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
הַשֹּׁטְרִים֮  the  officers 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁטַר  
Sense: (Qal) official, officer.
לְדַבֵּ֣ר  shall  speak 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הָעָם֒  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְאָמְר֗וּ  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מִי־  who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
הָאִ֤ישׁ  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הַיָּרֵא֙  [who  is]  fearful 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
؟ הַלֵּבָ֔ב  fainthearted 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
יֵלֵ֖ךְ  let  him  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְיָשֹׁ֣ב  and  return 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
לְבֵית֑וֹ  to  his  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
וְלֹ֥א  and  lest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִמַּ֛ס  faint 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָסַס  
Sense: to dissolve, melt.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
לְבַ֥ב  the  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
אֶחָ֖יו  of  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
כִּלְבָבֽוֹ  like  his  heart 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.