Deuteronomy 13:16 kjv
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
Deuteronomy 13:16 nkjv
And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again.
Deuteronomy 13:16 niv
You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt,
Deuteronomy 13:16 esv
You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square and burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again.
Deuteronomy 13:16 nlt
Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the open square and burn it. Burn the entire town as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt.
Deuteronomy 13 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 7:26 | "Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a devoted thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it..." | Warns against taking devoted things |
| Deut 13:12-15 | "If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities... that certain men... are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city... ye shall surely strike..." | Preceding verses describe the inquiry and judgment |
| Lev 27:28-29 | "No devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath... shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD." | Explains the nature of "herem" (devoted thing) |
| Josh 6:17-19 | "And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab... shall live... keep yourselves from the accursed thing..." | Jericho as "herem" (non-Israelite city) |
| Josh 7:1-26 | Achan’s sin concerning the devoted things, leading to his judgment. | Consequence of violating "herem" |
| Exod 22:20 | "He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed." | Death penalty for individual idolatry |
| Deut 17:2-7 | Outlines the judgment for an individual worshipping other gods: stone to death outside the city. | Similar severity for individual idolatry |
| Deut 20:16-18 | Laws concerning holy war against Canaanite cities, where all living things are to be devoted. | Command of complete destruction for idolaters |
| Num 21:2-3 | Israel vowed to devote cities of the Canaanites to destruction, and God enabled them. | Earlier example of "herem" |
| 1 Sam 15:3, 18-19 | Saul commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites, but disobeys by sparing plunder. | Disobedience regarding "herem" results in consequences |
| Deut 12:2-3 | Command to destroy all places where nations worship false gods: "utterly pluck them down." | Broader command to destroy idols/pagan sites |
| Deut 29:22-23 | Prophecy of the land becoming brimstone and salt, a burning waste like Sodom, due to turning from God's covenant. | The land becoming a permanent desolation |
| Isa 25:2 | "For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin..." | Prophetic language of cities becoming heaps/ruins |
| Jer 19:11 | Jeremiah breaks a potter’s vessel, signifying Jerusalem will be "broken and cannot be made whole again." | Metaphor for irreversible destruction of a city |
| Zech 14:11 | "And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." | Contrast for Jerusalem: no more "herem" applied to it in future |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." | NT call to avoid idolatry |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing..." | NT principle of separation from impurity and sin |
| Heb 12:29 | "For our God is a consuming fire." | God's divine holiness and destructive judgment against sin |
| Rev 18:21-22 | Description of the fall of Babylon: "and with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." | Ultimate, permanent destruction of spiritual Babylon |
| Jude 1:7 | "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them... are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." | Cities as an example of permanent fiery judgment |
| Col 3:5 | "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" | Idolatry defined beyond literal idols, for the New Covenant |
Deuteronomy 13 verses
Deuteronomy 13 16 Meaning
Deuteronomy 13:16 describes the commanded total destruction of an Israelite city that has turned to idolatry and apostasy, including all its inhabitants and possessions. This absolute act, known as herem, signifies the city's utter devotion to the LORD for destruction. Everything taken from the city is to be burned completely, and the city itself is to remain a permanent ruin, never to be rebuilt. This command underscores God's absolute demand for exclusive worship and the severe consequences of defiling His covenant by pursuing false gods within the covenant community. It is a judgment for national spiritual rebellion and a solemn warning against idolatry.
Deuteronomy 13 16 Context
Deuteronomy 13 presents a series of stern warnings against apostasy and the temptation to follow other gods. The chapter begins by addressing individuals—a prophet or a dreamer—who might entice Israel away from the LORD, followed by a close relative or friend (Deut 13:1-11). It then escalates to the severe case of an entire city whose inhabitants have been led astray into idolatry (Deut 13:12-18). Verse 16 specifically details the extreme measure prescribed for such an apostate Israelite city, known as the "devotion to destruction" (herem). This is distinct from applying herem to pagan nations; here, it is an internal purging of profound spiritual infidelity within the covenant community. The historical context is Israel on the brink of entering the promised land, establishing the laws necessary to maintain covenant purity in their new dwelling. The command served as a potent deterrent against the pervasive influence of Canaanite idolatry and demonstrated the LORD's uncompromising holiness and jealousy for exclusive worship.
Deuteronomy 13 16 Word analysis
- And thou shalt gather: Emphasizes a deliberate and commanded action, not impulsive revenge. This task is for the covenant community itself.
- all the spoil: שלל (shalal) - Refers to the plunder, booty, or wealth of the city. The command specifies all of it, emphasizing comprehensiveness and no personal gain.
- of it into the midst of the street thereof: This central collection point symbolizes a public, visible, and orderly execution of the judgment, leaving no doubt about the source or purpose of the destruction. It's a collective, decisive act.
- and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof: שׂרף (saraph) (to burn, consume). This signifies complete destruction and purification. Fire symbolizes divine judgment, cleansing, and consecration. Burning all the wealth prevents human greed and ensures no idol-tainted goods corrupt Israel.
- wholly for the LORD thy God: כָּלִיל לַיהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (kalil la-YHWH Eloheykha) - "wholly for" or "entirely to the LORD." This is the core purpose. It designates the destruction as herem, a "devoted thing," dedicated solely to God as an act of divine justice and purification. It is not for human benefit or conquest. It declares God's sovereignty over all things, even those marked for destruction.
- and it shall be an heap for ever: תֵּל עוֹלָם (tel 'olam) - "a mound of ruins forever." A tel is an archaeological mound created by successive layers of human habitation. "For ever" indicates permanence, a lasting testimony to God's judgment and a perpetual warning against apostasy.
- it shall not be built again: Further reinforces the permanence of the destruction. There is no redemption or reestablishment for such a completely corrupted entity within the covenant. This total and irreversible desolation highlights the seriousness of breaking covenant with God.
Deuteronomy 13 16 Bonus section
The application of herem to an Israelite city, rather than just Canaanite nations, signifies a crucial aspect of the covenant: Israel’s unique responsibility and accountability to the LORD. It underscores that God is not merely concerned with their military victory or material prosperity, but supremely with their spiritual purity and faithfulness to Him. This particular form of herem serves as the ultimate national warning and a profound demonstration of the covenant curses for apostasy, safeguarding the theological truth that the LORD alone is God. The unbuildable heap of ruins symbolizes not only the irreversibility of divine judgment but also the absolute zero-tolerance for theological syncretism within the people called by God's Name.
Deuteronomy 13 16 Commentary
Deuteronomy 13:16 reveals the absolute severity of God's covenant with Israel and His demand for unadulterated worship. The command for an apostate Israelite city to be put under herem – utterly devoted to destruction – highlights that God's judgment begins with His own people who willfully depart from Him. This is not simply about conquest; it is an internal cleansing to protect the spiritual integrity and holiness of the entire nation. The destruction by fire, the consumption of all plunder, and the decree of permanent desolation served as powerful deterrents against idolatry. It teaches that compromise with false gods brings not only individual but also communal ruin.
This drastic measure demonstrates that God's holiness is paramount and cannot tolerate mixture with unholy practices, particularly idolatry. The emphasis that everything, even the city's wealth, is "wholly for the LORD" means it is given over to His judgment, with no material gain for the destroyers. This differentiates divine justice from human warfare motivated by greed. The perpetual ruin of the city served as a physical, ongoing reminder to subsequent generations of the tragic outcome of forsaking the one true God. While New Testament believers are not commanded to physically destroy cities, the spiritual principle of complete separation from idols and dedication to God remains vital (1 Cor 10:14, 2 Cor 6:17). The church must still "burn" (spiritually eliminate) anything that leads its members to compromise their exclusive devotion to Christ.