Deuteronomy 20 · Verse 5

Deuteronomy 20:5

And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
Deuteronomy 20:5, King James Version

Deuteronomy 20:5 in other translations

BSBFurthermore, the officers are to address the army, saying, “Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.
WEBThe officers shall speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
ASVAnd the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
YLT‘And the authorities have spoken unto the people, saying, Who is the man that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? --let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man dedicate it.
DARBYAnd the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
BBEAnd let the overseers say to the people, If there is any man who has made for himself a new house and has not gone into it, let him go back to his house, so that in the event of his death in the fight, another may not take his house for himself.
WebsterAnd the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he should die in the battle, and another man should dedicate it.

What does Deuteronomy 20:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 20:5-8
5-8. And the officers shall speak unto the people--literally, Shoterim, who are called "scribes" or "overseers" (Ex 5:6). They might be keepers of the muster-roll, or perhaps rather military heralds, whose duty it was to announce the orders of the generals (2Ch 26:11). This proclamation (De 20:5-8) must have been made previous to the priest's address, as great disorder and inconvenience must have been occasioned if the serried ranks were broken by the departure of those to whom the privilege was granted. Four grounds of exemption are expressly mentioned: (1) The dedication of a new house, which, as in all Oriental countries still, was an important event, and celebrated by festive and religious ceremonies (Ne 12:27); exemption for a year. (2) The planting of a vineyard. The fruit of the first three years being declared unfit for use, and the first-fruits producible on the fourth, the exemption in this case lasted at least four years. (3) The betrothal of a wife, which was always a considerable time before marriage. It was deemed a great hardship to leave a house unfinished, a new property half cultivated, and a recently contracted marriage; and the exemptions allowed in these cases were founded on the principle that a man's heart being deeply engrossed by something at a distance, he would not be very enthusiastic in the public service. (4) The ground of exemption was cowardice. From the composition of the Israelitish army, which was an irregular militia, all above twenty years being liable to serve, many totally unfit for war must have been called to the field; and it was therefore a prudential arrangement to rid the army of such unwarlike elements--persons who could render no efficient service, and the contagion of whose craven spirit might lead to panic and defeat.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 That hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? - From the title of Psa 30:1-12, - A Psalm or Song at the Dedication of the House of David - it is evident that it was a custom in Israel to dedicate a new house to God with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving; and this was done in order to secure the Divine presence and blessing, for no pious or sensible man could imagine he could dwell safely in a house that was not under the immediate protection of God. Hence it has been a custom in the most barbarous nations to consecrate a part of a new house to the deity they worshipped. The houses of the inhabitants of Bonny, in Africa, are generally divided into three apartments: one is a kind of state room or parlour; another serves for a common room, or kitchen; and the third is dedicated to the Juju, the serpent god, which they worship; for even those savages believe that in every house their god should have his temple! At the times of dedication among the Jews, besides prayer and praise, a feast was made, to which the relatives and neighbors were invited. Something of this custom is observed in some parts of our own country in what is called warming the house; but in these cases the feasting only is kept up - the prayer and praise forgotten! so that the dedication appears to be rather more to Bacchus than to Jehovah, the author of every good and perfect gift.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:1-9

In the wars wherein Israel engaged according to the will of God, they might expect the Divine assistance. The Lord was to be their only confidence. In these respects they were types of the Christian's warfare. Those unwilling to fight, must be sent away. The unwillingness might arise from a man's outward condition. God would not be served by men forced against their will. Thy people shall be willing, Psa 110:3. In…

Read the full comment on Deuteronomy 20:1-9 →

Deuteronomy 20:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְדִבְּר֣וּve.di.be.Ruand they will sayH1696
הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֮ha.sho.te.Rimthe officialsH7860
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הָעָ֣םha.'Amthe peopleH5971
לֵאמֹר֒le.Mor<to> sayingH559
מִֽי\־mi-who?H4310
הָאִ֞ישׁha.'Ish[is] the manH376
אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherwhoH834
בָּנָ֤הba.Nahhe has builtH1129
בַֽיִת\־va.yit-a houseH1004
חָדָשׁ֙cha.DashnewH2319
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
חֲנָכ֔וֹcha.na.Khohe has dedicated itH2596
יֵלֵ֖ךְye.Lekhlet him goH1980
וְיָשֹׁ֣בve.ya.Shoand let him returnH7725
לְבֵית֑וֹle.vei.Toto house hisH1004
פֶּן\־pen-lestH6435
יָמוּת֙ya.Muthe should dieH4191
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.Mahin the battleH4421
וְאִ֥ישׁve.'Ishand a manH376
אַחֵ֖ר'a.CheranotherH312
יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ\׃yach.ne.Khe.nuhe will dedicate itH2596

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 20:5

  • Nehemiah 12:27

    And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

  • 1 Samuel 17:18

    And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

  • Deuteronomy 16:18

    Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

  • Numbers 31:48

    And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:

  • Deuteronomy 1:15

    So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

  • Numbers 31:14

    And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the officers.
1:15; 16:18; Nu 31:14,48; 1Sa 17:18
dedicated.
Ne 12:27; Ps 30:1; *title

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 20:4

    For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

  • Deuteronomy 20:5

    And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

  • Deuteronomy 20:6

    And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.

Read all of Deuteronomy 20

Deuteronomy 20:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los oficiales hablarán al pueblo, diciendo: ¿Quién ha edificado casa nueva, y no la ha estrenado? Vaya, y vuélvase á su casa, porque quizá no muera en la batalla, y otro alguno la estrene.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les magistrats parleront au peuple, disant: Qui est l’homme qui a bâti une maison neuve et qui ne l’a pas consacrée? qu’il s’en aille et retourne en sa maison, de peur qu’il ne meure dans la bataille et qu’un autre ne la consacre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Vorsteher sollen zu dem Volke reden und sprechen: Wer ist der Mann, der ein neues Haus gebaut und es noch nicht eingeweiht hat? er gehe und kehre nach seinem Hause zurück, damit er nicht in der Schlacht sterbe, und ein anderer Mann es einweihe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Duces quoque per singulas turmas audiente exercitu proclamabunt: Quis est homo qui ædificavit domum novam, et non dedicavit eam? vadat, et revertatur in domum suam, ne forte moriatur in bello, et alius dedicet eam.