Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 13:12–18

¹²If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said ¹³that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), ¹⁴then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, ¹⁵you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction^c all its people and livestock.

¹⁶And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt.

¹⁷Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers, ¹⁸because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

Footnotes

c 13:15 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in verse 17.

Read all of Deuteronomy 13

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Deuteronomy 13:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
regarding one	בְּאַחַ֣ת	bə·’a·ḥaṯ	Preposition-b; Number - feminine singular construct	H259 one
of the cities	עָרֶ֗יךָ	‘ā·re·ḵā	Noun - feminine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H5892 excitement
the LORD	יְהוָ֨ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
is giving	נֹתֵ֥ן	nō·ṯên	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לְךָ֛	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
to inhabit	לָשֶׁ֥בֶת	lā·še·ḇeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
you hear	תִשְׁמַ֞ע	ṯiš·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H8085 hear
it said	לֵאמֹֽר׃	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say

Deuteronomy 13:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
that wicked	בְלִיַּ֙עַל֙	ḇə·lî·ya·‘al	Noun - masculine singular	H1100 worthlessness
men	אֲנָשִׁ֤ים	’ă·nā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H376 man
have arisen	יָצְא֞וּ	yā·ṣə·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3318 go or come out
from among you	מִקִּרְבֶּ֔ךָ	miq·qir·be·ḵā	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7130 inward part, midst
and have led the people	יֹשְׁבֵ֥י	yō·šə·ḇê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
of their city	עִירָ֖ם	‘î·rām	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H5892 excitement
astray	וַיַּדִּ֛יחוּ	way·yad·dî·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5080 impel, thrust, banish
saying	לֵאמֹ֑ר	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
Let us go	נֵלְכָ֗ה	nê·lə·ḵāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural	H1980 go, come, walk
and serve	וְנַעַבְדָ֛ה	wə·na·‘aḇ·ḏāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural	H5647 work, serve
other	אֲחֵרִ֖ים	’ă·ḥê·rîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H312 another
gods	אֱלֹהִ֥ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
which	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you have not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
known	יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃	yə·ḏa‘·tem	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural	H3045 know

Deuteronomy 13:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
then you must inquire	וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֧	wə·ḏā·raš·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H1875 resort to, seek
investigate	וְחָקַרְתָּ֧	wə·ḥå̄·qar·tå̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H2713 search
and interrogate	וְשָׁאַלְתָּ֖	wə·šā·’al·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H7592 ask, inquire
thoroughly	הֵיטֵ֑ב	hê·ṭêḇ	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
And if	וְהִנֵּ֤ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
it is established with certainty	אֱמֶת֙	’ĕ·meṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
that this	הַזֹּ֖את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
abomination	הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה	hat·tō·w·‘ê·ḇāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8441 abomination
has been committed	נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה	ne·‘eś·ṯāh	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H6213 do, make
among you	בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃	bə·qir·be·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7130 inward part, midst

Deuteronomy 13:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
you must surely put	הַכֵּ֣ה	hak·kêh	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H5221 smite
the inhabitants	יֹֽשְׁבֵ֛י	yō·šə·ḇê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
of that	הַהוּא	ha·hū	Article; Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
city	הָעִ֥יר	hā·‘îr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
to the sword	חָ֑רֶב	ḥā·reḇ	Noun - feminine singular	H2719 sword
Devote to destruction	הַחֲרֵ֨ם	ha·ḥă·rêm	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H2763 ban, devote, exterminate
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
and livestock	בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּ	bə·hem·tāh	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H929 beast, animal, cattle

Deuteronomy 13:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
you are to gather	תִּקְבֹּץ֮	tiq·bōṣ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H6908 gather, collect
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
its plunder	שְׁלָלָ֗הּ	šə·lā·lāh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H7998 prey, spoil, plunder, booty
in	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the middle	תּ֣וֹךְ	tō·wḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H8432 midst
of the public square	רְחֹבָהּ֒	rə·ḥō·ḇāh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H7339 broad open place, plaza
and completely burn	וְשָׂרַפְתָּ֨	wə·śā·rap̄·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H8313 burn
the city	הָעִ֤יר	hā·‘îr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
and all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
its plunder	שְׁלָלָהּ֙	šə·lā·lāh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H7998 prey, spoil, plunder, booty
as a whole burnt offering	כָּלִ֔יל	kā·lîl	Noun - masculine singular	H3632 entire, whole, holocaust
to the LORD	לַיהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
must remain	וְהָיְתָה֙	wə·hā·yə·ṯāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a mound of ruins	תֵּ֣ל	têl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H8510 mound
forever	עוֹלָ֔ם	‘ō·w·lām	Noun - masculine singular	H5769 long duration, antiquity, futurity
never	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to be rebuilt	תִבָּנֶ֖ה	ṯib·bā·neh	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1129 build

Deuteronomy 13:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Nothing	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
devoted to destruction	הַחֵ֑רֶם	ha·ḥê·rem	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2764 devoted thing
shall cling	יִדְבַּ֧ק	yiḏ·baq	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1692 cling, cleave, keep close
to your hands	בְּיָדְךָ֛	bə·yā·ḏə·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3027 hand
so that	לְמַעַן֩	lə·ma·‘an	Conjunction	H4616 purpose, intent
the LORD	יְהוָ֜ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
will turn	יָשׁ֨וּב	yā·šūḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
from	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
His fierce anger	מֵחֲר֣וֹן	mê·ḥă·rō·wn	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H2740 (burning of) anger
grant	וְנָֽתַן־	wə·nā·ṯan-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לְךָ֤	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
mercy	רַחֲמִים֙	ra·ḥă·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H7356 womb
show you compassion	וְרִֽחַמְךָ֣	wə·ri·ḥam·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singular	H7355 love
and multiply you	וְהִרְבֶּ֔ךָ	wə·hir·be·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
He swore	נִשְׁבַּ֖ע	niš·ba‘	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7650 swear
to your fathers	לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃	la·’ă·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father

Deuteronomy 13:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
because	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you obey	תִשְׁמַ֗ע	ṯiš·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H8085 hear
the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
keeping	לִשְׁמֹר֙	liš·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
His commandments	מִצְוֺתָ֔יו	miṣ·wō·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H4687 commandment
I	אָנֹכִ֥י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
am giving you today	מְצַוְּךָ֖	mə·ṣaw·wə·ḵā	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
doing	לַעֲשׂוֹת֙	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
what is right	הַיָּשָׁ֔ר	hay·yā·šār	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H3477 straight, right
in the eyes	בְּעֵינֵ֖י	bə·‘ê·nê	Preposition-b; Noun - cdc	H5869 eye
of the LORD	יְהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ס	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God