When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing.
Parallel translations
- WEB When you go out and camp against your enemies, then you shall keep yourselves from every evil thing.
- KJV When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.
- NKJV “When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing.
- NASB “When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall be on guard against every evil thing.
- NLT “When you go to war against your enemies, be sure to stay away from anything that is impure.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When encamped against enemies, Israel must keep from every evil thing. War did not suspend the call to holiness.
Overview
Even in the moral pressures of a military camp, Israel was to remain morally and ceremonially pure before God. The presence of the LORD among them (v. 14) demanded holiness in every circumstance. This teaches that God's people are never excused from righteousness by their situation, and it points to the comprehensive holiness God works in His redeemed people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Josh 6:18But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.
- Rev 19:11–14Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.
- 2 Chr 19:4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
- Josh 7:11–13Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.
- 2 Chr 20:3–13Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.
- Judg 20:26Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
- 2 Chr 31:20So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God.
- Luke 3:14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 23:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.