Loading…

Deuteronomy 20:1–4

Rules for War

20 “When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, y do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, z is with you. When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. a He is to say to them: ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you b against your enemies to give you victory.’

Read more Explain verse



Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — The New International Version (NIV)

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — English Standard Version (ESV)

“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — New Living Translation (NLT)

“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — New Century Version (NCV)

When you go to war against your enemies and you see horses and chariots and an army that is bigger than yours, don’t be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you. The priest must come and speak to the army before you go into battle. He will say, “Listen, Israel! Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Don’t lose your courage or be afraid. Don’t panic or be frightened, because the Lord your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies and to save you.”

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — American Standard Version (ASV)

When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them; for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

When thou goest out to war against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more numerous than thou, thou shalt not fear them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when ye approach unto the battle, that the priest shall draw near and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, Israel, ye are approaching this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be afraid of them; for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

When you go to war against your enemies, you may see horses, chariots, and armies larger than yours. Don’t be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you. Before the battle starts, a priest must come and speak to the troops. He should tell them, “Listen, Israel, today you’re going into battle against your enemies. Don’t lose your courage! Don’t be afraid or alarmed or tremble because of them. The Lord your God is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies and give you victory.” 

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Before you engage in battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the troops, and shall say to them: “Hear, O Israel! Today you are drawing near to do battle against your enemies. Do not lose heart, or be afraid, or panic, or be in dread of them; for it is the Lord your God who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory.”

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

“If you go out to war against your enemies and you see a horse and a chariot, an army larger than you, you shall not be afraid because of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, the one who brought you from the land of Egypt. And then when you approach the battle, then the priest shall come near and speak to the troops. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, Israel, you are near today to the battle against your enemies; do not lose heart; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not panic, and you shall not be terrified because of them, for Yahweh your God is going with you to fight for you against your enemies to help you.’

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

When you go to war against your enemies, you might see that they have horses and chariots. They might even have an army that is stronger than yours. But don’t be afraid of them. The Lord your God will be with you. After all, he brought you up out of Egypt.

Just before you go into battle, the priest will come forward. He’ll speak to the army. He’ll say, “Men of Israel, listen to me. Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Don’t be scared. Don’t be afraid. Don’t panic. Don’t be terrified by them. The Lord your God is going with you. He’ll fight for you. He’ll help you win the battle over your enemies.”

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.

“When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people.

“He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them,

for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’


A service of Logos Bible Software