Deuteronomy 23 13

Deuteronomy 23:13 kjv

And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:

Deuteronomy 23:13 nkjv

and you shall have an implement among your equipment, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and turn and cover your refuse.

Deuteronomy 23:13 niv

As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement.

Deuteronomy 23:13 esv

And you shall have a trowel with your tools, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement.

Deuteronomy 23:13 nlt

Each of you must have a spade as part of your equipment. Whenever you relieve yourself, dig a hole with the spade and cover the excrement.

Deuteronomy 23 verses

Deuteronomy 23 13 Meaning

Deuteronomy 23:13 outlines a practical commandment for maintaining hygiene within the Israelite camp. It instructs that each man must possess a shovel among his personal equipment, which is to be used to dig a hole outside the camp when he needs to relieve himself, and then to cover his waste. This command, given to the people, likely encompassed both regular camp life and especially military encampments. It emphasizes the importance of proper waste disposal to ensure the cleanliness and purity of the living environment.

Deuteronomy 23 13 Context

Deuteronomy 23 details a series of laws concerning eligibility for participation in the assembly of the Lord, regulations for debt, and various communal purity statutes. Verses 9-14 specifically address the conduct and holiness required within a military camp, where the immediate presence of God is a critical factor.

The preceding verses (Deu 23:9-12) stipulate conditions of purity for soldiers, requiring ritual washing for nocturnal emissions and removal of anything indecent from the camp. This establishes a high standard for ceremonial and moral cleanness. Verse 13 extends this to physical sanitation, directly leading into verse 14 which explicitly states the overarching reason: "For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give over your enemies before you; therefore your camp shall be holy, so that He may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you."

Historically, such meticulous instructions for sanitation were exceptionally rare among ancient peoples. Many pagan societies lacked an understanding of public health, leading to widespread disease from inadequate waste disposal. This command for Israel demonstrates an advanced foresight regarding health, driven by a theological imperative rather than solely practical medical knowledge. It underscores God's absolute holiness and His demand that His dwelling place—His people's immediate environment—reflect His purity. This was a distinctive mark of Israel, setting them apart from other nations, implicitly challenging and providing a healthier alternative to common ancient practices.

Deuteronomy 23 13 Word analysis

• And you shall have (וְהָיָה לְךָ, vehayah l'kha): A strong imperative, denoting a personal and communal responsibility. It signifies something that must be perpetually possessed and used.

• a shovel (אָתֵד, 'athed): The Hebrew word specifically refers to a stake, peg, or spade, a multi-purpose tool commonly used for digging or as a tent peg. Its inclusion implies that such an item was essential for daily life in the Israelite camp. The Septuagint renders it as "a small stake" (πασσάλιον), reinforcing the idea of a simple, effective digging implement.

• among your weapons (מִכֵּלֶיךָ, mikkelekha): The Hebrew word keli (כלי) refers more broadly to "vessels," "articles," "equipment," or "implements," not exclusively military "weapons." In this context, it designates the individual's essential kit or personal belongings, especially for life on the march or in an encampment. It means this digging tool was as indispensable as any other item needed for encampment life, including potentially weapons of war or sustenance.

• and when you sit down outside (וְיָצָאתָ הַח וּץ, veyatzeta ha'hutz): The phrase indicates going out "to the designated area" outside the main camp perimeter, often an latrine-field, for bodily relief. "Sit down" is a euphemism for defecating. This separation was crucial for keeping the immediate living area pure.

• you shall dig with it (וְחָפַרְתָּה בָּהּ, v'chafarta vah): A direct command to actively use the tool to create a pit for waste. This proactive step prevents accumulation and exposure.

• and cover (וְכִסִּיתָ, v'khisita): The root kasah (כסה) means "to cover," "conceal." This final action is critical for sanitation, smell control, and visually removing the defilement, ensuring complete disposal and hiding.

• your refuse (אֶת־צֵאָתֶךָ, et tze'atekha): The word tze'ah (צֵאָה) literally means "that which goes out," and refers to excrement or human waste. This explicit term leaves no ambiguity about the nature of the waste to be covered.

• "a shovel among your weapons": This phrase highlights that proper sanitation tools were considered as vital to the communal well-being and holiness of the camp as instruments of warfare or survival gear. It was part of the required, standard issue equipment.

• "when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it, and cover your refuse": This entire command sequence demonstrates a detailed, systematic approach to hygiene. It is a precise, three-step instruction (go outside, dig, cover) that shows an astonishingly advanced understanding of public health and waste management for an ancient society.

Deuteronomy 23 13 Bonus section

• Beyond Health: While modern interpretation quickly identifies the public health benefits (preventing disease transmission from flies, water contamination), the primary emphasis in the Mosaic Law was not human health science but the sanctity required for God's dwelling among His people. The holiness of God dictated a higher standard for human interaction with all creation, including waste.
• Symbolic Cleanliness: The act of burying waste not only addressed physical cleanliness but also ritually "purified" the space by removing unsightly and impure matter from view. This symbolic act was crucial for maintaining a sense of the camp as a pure and holy habitation.
• Modern Relevance in Outdoor Living: This ancient command finds direct parallels in modern outdoor ethics, particularly "Leave No Trace" principles common in camping and hiking, which advocate for digging catholes and burying human waste far from water sources to prevent contamination and preserve natural environments. It speaks to an enduring principle of respecting shared spaces and the environment.

Deuteronomy 23 13 Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:13, though seemingly a simple instruction on sanitation, profoundly reveals God's character and His comprehensive concern for His people. More than a practical health measure (though it certainly served to prevent disease in a pre-scientific age), it was a theological imperative. The immediate context, verse 14, states the foundational reason: "For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp." The physical cleanliness of the camp was intrinsically linked to the spiritual purity required for the abiding presence of a holy God. Human waste, being a source of impurity (ritualistically and practically), needed to be thoroughly hidden to avoid defiling the sacred space where God manifested His presence.

This commandment established an orderly and disciplined community, emphasizing individual responsibility for collective well-being. It demanded diligence and forethought, transforming a mundane act into an expression of reverence. The instruction applied universally to all males, illustrating that no task, however lowly, was outside the scope of God's holy requirements. For us today, while literal shovels for refuse are no longer central to our sanitary practices, the principles endure: cultivating clean and orderly environments, acting responsibly for the benefit of our community, recognizing the importance of our physical bodies as vessels for God's Spirit, and remembering that true holiness encompasses both our internal walk with God and our external conduct in the world. It reminds us that our stewardship of the earth, including proper waste management, ultimately honors the Creator.