Deuteronomy 20 Comparison: American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation
Deuteronomy 20
1When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
2And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
3and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them;
4for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
5And 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.
6And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof.
7And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart melt as his heart.
9And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people.
10When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.
11And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee.
12And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
13and when Jehovah thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:
14but the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take for a prey unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee.
15Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.
16But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;
17but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee;
18that they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so would ye sin against Jehovah your God.
19When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of thee?
20Only 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.
Deuteronomy 20
1`When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariota people more numerous than thouthou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt;
2and it hath been, in your drawing near unto the battle, that the priest hath come nigh, and spoken unto the people,
3and said unto them, Hear, Israel, ye are drawing near to-day to battle against your enemies, let not your hearts be tender, fear not, nor make haste, nor be terrified at their presence,
4for Jehovah your God is He who is going with you, to fight for you with your enemiesto save you.
5`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.
6`And who is the man that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not made it common? let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man make it common.
7`And who is the man that hath betrothed a woman, and hath not taken her? let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man take her.
8`And the authorities have added to speak unto the people, and said, Who is the man that is afraid and tender of heart? let him go and turn back to his house, and the heart of his brethren doth not melt like his heart;
9and it hath come to pass as the authorities finish to speak unto the people, that they have appointed princes of the hosts at the head of the people.
10`When thou drawest near unto a city to fight against it, then thou hast called unto it for Peace,
11and it hath been, if Peace it answer thee, and hath opened to thee, then it hath come to passall the people who are found in it are to thee for tributaries, and have served thee.
12`And if it doth not make peace with thee, and hath made with thee war, then thou hast laid siege against it,
13and Jehovah thy God hath given it into thy hand, and thou hast smitten every male of it by the mouth of the sword.
14Only, the women, and the infants, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, all its spoil, thou dost seize for thyself, and thou hast eaten the spoil of thine enemies which Jehovah thy God hath given to thee.
15So thou dost do to all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.
16`Only, of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee for an inheritance, thou dost not keep alive any breathing;
17for thou dost certainly devote the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee,
18so that they teach you not to do according to all their abominations which they have done to their gods, and ye have sinned against Jehovah your God.
19`When thou layest siege unto a city many days, to fight against it, to capture it, thou dost not destroy its trees to force an axe against them, for of them thou dost eat, and them thou dost not cut downfor man's is the tree of the fieldto go in at thy presence in the siege.
20Only, the tree, which thou knowest that it is not a fruit-tree, it thou dost destroy, and hast cut down, and hast built a bulwark against the city which is making with thee war till thou hast subdued it.
Understanding American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation in Deuteronomy 20
American Standard Version (ASV)
A highly literal translation known for accuracy and adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek. Consistent word choices make it excellent for careful study and cross-referencing. A strong pick for readers who want a precise, classic-modern English Bible.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
An extremely literal, word-for-word translation that preserves original verb tenses and phrasing. Best for close study and comparing structures from the source languages. The English can feel rigid, but it’s very useful for detailed analysis.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Deuteronomy 20 in the American Standard Version and Young's Literal Translation. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Deuteronomy 20:16
"But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;"
"`Only, of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee for an inheritance, thou dost not keep alive any breathing;"
