Deuteronomy 20:20

Old Testament · SCRIPTURE

Compare this verse across Bible translations. BLB includes New Testament text only (publisher draft).

BSB

Berean Standard Bible

But you may destroy the trees that you know do not produce fruit. Use them to build siege works against the city that is waging war against you, until it falls.

BSB text & permissions

KJV

King James Version

Only the trees which thou knowest that they [be] not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.

KJV text & permissions

WEB

World English Bible

Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down. You shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.

WEB text & permissions

ASV

American Standard Version

Only the trees of which thou knowest that they are not trees for food, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it fall.

ASV text & permissions

BLB

Berean Literal Bible

BLB is available for the New Testament only in this reader.

BLB text & permissions

READ IN CONTEXT · BSB

Deuteronomy 20

¹⁸ so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

¹⁹ When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them?

²⁰ But you may destroy the trees that you know do not produce fruit. Use them to build siege works against the city that is waging war against you, until it falls.

Read the full chapter →