Deuteronomy 20:1

When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites on the plains of Moab, laying out military law before their entry into Canaan. This verse opens the chapter's instructions for engaging fortified, technologically superior enemies.

The words — סוּס (sūs, "horse") and רֶכֶב (rēḵēḇ, "chariot") name the two elements that made an army look invincible in the ancient Near East; their pairing is the concrete trigger for the fear the verse then overrides.

The thread — The same "do not be afraid" before a numerically superior force appears in 2 Chronicles 32:7 (Hezekiah before Assyria) and Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalms 20:7 directly contrasts trust in chariots and horses with trust in the LORD's name.

Why it lands — The command is not "you will win" but "do not be afraid," and the stated ground is a past act (the Exodus), not a promise of future victory; it asks the reader to locate confidence in who God has already proven himself to be rather than in the size of the opposing force.

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

King James Version

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 32:7 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Joshua 1:5 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.
Isaiah 8:9 Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”