When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee 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.
- BSB When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing.
- ESV “When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every evil 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 6:18And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
- Rev 19:11–14And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
- 2 Chr 19:4And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
- Josh 7:11–13Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
- 2 Chr 20:3–13And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
- Judg 20:26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
- 2 Chr 31:20And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
- Luke 3:14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and 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.