Deuteronomy 13 15

Deuteronomy 13:15 kjv

Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

Deuteronomy 13:15 nkjv

you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock?with the edge of the sword.

Deuteronomy 13:15 niv

you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock.

Deuteronomy 13:15 esv

you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword.

Deuteronomy 13:15 nlt

you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock.

Deuteronomy 13 verses

Deuteronomy 13 15 Meaning

Deuteronomy 13:15 commands the complete and unsparing destruction of any Israelite city found to have turned to idolatry and apostasy. This severe mandate, part of the broader instructions regarding false prophets and enticers to idolatry, dictates that the city's inhabitants, all its livestock, and everything within it must be struck down with the sword and devoted to utter destruction. The purpose is to purify the community of a cancerous spiritual corruption that could jeopardize the entire nation's covenant relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 13 15 Context

Deuteronomy 13 presents a series of laws addressing the grave threat of idolatry within Israel, ensuring the nation's spiritual purity upon entering the Promised Land. The chapter begins with warnings against false prophets and dreamers (v. 1-5) and then extends to individuals or even close relatives who might secretly entice others to serve foreign gods (v. 6-11). Verse 15 is the culmination of this section, describing the most extreme scenario: an entire Israelite city that has become an "apostate city" ('ir hanidachat) by collectively embracing and worshipping other gods. This law, unique in its severity, served as an ultimate deterrent and a theological statement about the absolute necessity of exclusive devotion to YHWH and the devastating consequences of national spiritual rebellion. The command applies only to a confirmed Israelite city, after diligent inquiry (v. 14), emphasizing that it is an internal purification measure, not a general act of conquest.

Deuteronomy 13 15 Word Analysis

• וְהַכֵּה֩ תַכֶּ֨ה (vəhakkeih takkeih): "you shall surely strike," "you must utterly strike." This is an infinitive absolute (hakkēh) followed by an imperfect verb (takkēh) from the root נכה (nakah), meaning "to strike" or "to smite." This grammatical construction conveys emphasis, certainty, and intensity. It communicates an unequivocal, non-negotiable command, highlighting the absolute nature of the action required.
• אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (et yoshvei): "the inhabitants of." This clearly identifies the target as the residents, those living within the city.
• הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֗יא (ha'ir hahi): "that city." Specifies an entire urban center, not just a portion or specific households. The definite article emphasizes it's the identified apostate city.
• לְפִי־חֶ֙רֶב֙ (lephi-cherev): Literally "to the mouth of the sword," or idiomatically, "with the edge of the sword" / "by the sword." This is a common biblical Hebrew expression denoting the use of a sword to inflict fatal wounds. It emphasizes a complete and lethal execution.
• הַחֲרֵ֨ם אֹתָ֜הּ (hahareim otah): "devoting it to destruction," "utterly destroy it." This is from the root חרם (chāram), meaning "to put under a ban," "to consecrate," or "to utterly destroy." When applied to cities or people, cherem signifies a complete dedication to God through destruction. It's not about seizing plunder but ritually eradicating the offensive entity, rendering it permanently untouchable for human benefit, thereby emphasizing its pollution and God's absolute holiness and judgment against profound rebellion.
• וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֗הּ (və'et kol asher bah): "and all who are in it" or "and all that is in it." The word "kol" (all) emphasizes totality, indicating that every person within the city walls, without exception, is to be included in the judgment.
• וְאֶת־בְּהֶמְתָּהּ֙ (və'et behemtah): "and its livestock." The inclusion of livestock further underscores the absolute and comprehensive nature of the judgment, signifying that nothing from the polluted entity is to remain or be assimilated into the holy nation. This highlights the severity of the spiritual corruption that affects even innocent life within its sphere.
• לְפִֽי־חֶ֔רֶב (lephi-cherev): "with the edge of the sword." This repetition reinforces the primary means of destruction and the totality of the command.

Words-Group Analysis

• "you shall surely strike... with the edge of the sword... with the edge of the sword": The intensified verb and the repetition of "with the edge of the sword" create a chilling sense of absolute certainty and devastating force. It leaves no room for hesitation or incomplete execution. This is a command for thorough and non-negotiable judgment.
• "inhabitants of that city... devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its livestock": This phrase group specifies the target (all life within the city) and the theological context of the action: it's not simply a violent act, but an act of "devoting to destruction" (herem), a ritualized extermination mandated by God to purify the covenant community from internal apostasy. The inclusion of livestock shows the totality of separation and defilement associated with this deep-seated rebellion.

Deuteronomy 13 15 Bonus Section

The legislation regarding the ir hanidachat (apostate city) in Deuteronomy 13 served several theological and practical purposes beyond direct application:

• Preventing Contamination: It created an impenetrable barrier against internal spiritual contamination, protecting the rest of the nation from the 'leaven' of apostasy that could spread and undermine the entire covenant.
• Deterrence: The very existence of such a severe law served as an extreme deterrent, intended to discourage any communal deviation into idolatry by vividly portraying the ultimate consequences. It's likely its severity meant it was rarely, if ever, executed, but its message was clear.
• Divine Sovereignty and Holiness: This law profoundly demonstrated YHWH's absolute sovereignty over Israel and His demand for their undivided loyalty. It underscored His perfect holiness and inability to tolerate spiritual defilement within His chosen people.
• Justice and Righteousness: It was an act of divine justice against collective rebellion, emphasizing that God's covenant blessings came with the obligation of strict adherence and the righteous purging of sin.
• Distinctness of Israel: This law also emphasized Israel's unique status among nations. Unlike pagan cults, where many gods could coexist, YHWH demanded exclusive worship, signifying His singularity and distinct nature.

Deuteronomy 13 15 Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:15 presents a uniquely severe command, a specific and extreme measure to protect the spiritual integrity of ancient Israel. It underscores the ultimate stakes of idolatry for the nation covenanted with YHWH. This was not about conquest for territory, but internal purification. The heinousness of actively promoting other gods from within the chosen community, thereby defiling the very essence of their identity, warranted the most extreme punitive measure possible – the complete eradication of the apostate city. The total annihilation through cherem signified an absolute rejection by God of such rebellion, leaving nothing for human appropriation, demonstrating God's abhorrence of idolatry and His demand for exclusive loyalty. Scholars often view the apostate city as a rare, perhaps even hypothetical, legal case designed to be a profound deterrent, emphasizing the grave spiritual consequences of defection. It highlighted that internal corruption was more dangerous than external enemies. From a New Covenant perspective, while not literally applied, it metaphorically illuminates the absolute necessity of purging sin and spiritual idolatry from the believer's life and the church (Col 3:5, 1 Cor 5:13), reflecting God's unchanging nature concerning holiness and justice.