“When you go to war against your enemies, be sure to stay away from anything that is impure.
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.
- BSB When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself 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.
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 as for you, only keep yourselves from what is devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so you would make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it.
- Rev 19:11–14I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.
- 2 Chr 19:4Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
- Josh 7:11–13Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken some of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.
- 2 Chr 20:3–13Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek to Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
- Judg 20:26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
- 2 Chr 31:20Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before Yahweh his God.
- Luke 3:14Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. 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.