Deuteronomy 20:19
King James Version
8 Jun 2026
“When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man’s life) to employ them in the siege:”
כָּרַת
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)
עֵץ
is the tree of
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עֵץ
Tree. Ets. A tree planted by rivers of water. The righteous person is like a tree with deep roots in God's word, bearing fruit in season and never withering.
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כִּי
if
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כִּי
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
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עַל
on/ it
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עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
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עִיר
a city
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עִיר
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
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צוּר
you will lay siege
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צוּר
to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)
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יוֹם
days
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יוֹם
Day. Yom. A period of time. This is the day the LORD has made. Every day is His gift.
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מִן
from/ it
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מִן
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
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שָׁחַת
you will destroy
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שָׁחַת
to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
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רַב
many
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רַב
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
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גַּרְזֶן
an axe
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גַּרְזֶן
an axe
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