But your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall stay in your cities which I have given you,
Parallel translations
- WEB But your wives, and your little ones, and your livestock, (I know that you have much livestock), shall live in your cities which I have given you,
- KJV But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you;
- BSB But your wives, your children, and your livestock—I know that you have much livestock—may remain in the cities I have given you,
- NASB However, your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in your cities which I have given you,
- NLT Your wives, children, and numerous livestock, however, may stay behind in the towns I have given you.
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
Their wives, children, and livestock could remain in the eastern cities. It provides for the families while the men went to war.
Overview
While the warriors crossed over, their households would stay safely in the allotted cities. This arrangement balanced duty to the wider nation with care for one's own family. It shows a practical wisdom that honors both communal obligation and household well-being.
Cross-references & the web
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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 3:19 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
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