Deuteronomy 13:15

you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites regarding a city confirmed to have committed a religious abomination. He issues a command to execute total judgment once thorough investigation is complete.

The words — הַכֵּ֣ה (ha.Keh) = certainly <to strike> and חָרֶב (Cha.rev) = [the] sword. These terms specify the mandatory use of lethal force against the city's residents.

The thread — This mandate echoes the devotion to destruction found in Exodus 22:20 and Leviticus 27:28, while repeating the complete defeat command in Deuteronomy 7:2. The pattern establishes a consistent standard for removing covenant-breaking elements.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that covenant fidelity demands the immediate and total removal of idolatry. It leaves no room for partial compliance or preservation of the condemned community.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הַכֵּ֣הha.Kehcertainly <to strike>תַכֶּ֗הta.Kehyou will strike אֶת־'et-<obj.>יֹֽשְׁבֵ֛יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants of הָעִ֥ירha./'Irthe/ city הַהִ֖יאha./hu'<the>/ that לְפִי־le./fi-to/ [the] mouth of חָ֑רֶבCha.rev[the] sword הַחֲרֵ֨םha.cha.Remtotally destroy אֹתָ֧הּ'o.Ta/h<obj.>/ it וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-all אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whoבָּ֛הּba/h[are] in/ itוְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּbe.hem.Ta/hlivestock/ its לְפִי־le./fi-to/ [the] mouth of חָֽרֶב׃Cha.rev[the] sword

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Exodus 22:20 If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
Leviticus 27:28 Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.
Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.
Exodus 23:24 You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.
Deuteronomy 2:34 At that time we captured all his cities and devoted to destruction the people of every city, including women and children. We left no survivors.
Deuteronomy 7:16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
Joshua 6:17 Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.
Joshua 6:24 Then the Israelites burned up the city and everything in it. However, they put the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house.
Judges 20:48 And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.
Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.