Bible Strands

Deuteronomy 20:17

For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, issuing military regulations for the imminent conquest of Canaanite territories.

The words — הַחֲרֵם (ha.cha.Rem) signifies total destruction, while תַחֲרִימֵם (ta.cha.ri.MEM) commands the people to carry out that destruction.

The thread — This command recurs in Deuteronomy 7:1 regarding nations driven out before Israel, Isaiah 34:5 describing judgment on Edom, and Jeremiah 48:10 condemning those who withhold the sword from bloodshed.

Why it lands — The text requires immediate compliance with the eradication of specific nations to prevent the adoption of their religious practices.

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

כִּֽי־ki-forהַחֲרֵ֣םha.cha.Remcertainly <to totally destroy>תַּחֲרִימֵ֗םta.cha.ri.Me/myou will totally destroy/ themהַחִתִּ֤יha./chi.Tithe/ Hittite[s]וְהָאֱמֹרִי֙ve./ha./'e.mo.Riand/ the/ Amorite[s]הַכְּנַעֲנִ֣יha./ke.na.'a.Nithe/ Canaanite[s]וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יve./ha/p.pe.ri.Ziand/ the/ Perizzite[s]הַחִוִּ֖יha./chi.Vithe/ Hivite[s]וְהַיְבוּסִ֑יve./ha/y.vu.Siand/ the/ Jebusite[s]כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka./'a.Sherjust/ asצִוְּךָ֖tzi.ve./Khahe commanded/ youיְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahwehאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your

King James Version

But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee:

Cross-references