Deuteronomy 20:8

And let the overseers go on to say to the people, If there is any man whose heart is feeble with fear, let him go back to his house before he makes the hearts of his countrymen feeble.

Bible in Basic English

In The King James Version

And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart.

In Context

7Or if any man is newly married and has had no sex relations with his wife, let him go back to his house, so that in the event of his death in the fight, another man may not take her.

9Then, after saying these words to the people, let the overseers put captains over the army.

Read all of Deuteronomy 20

Cross References

Exodus 15:15The chiefs of Edom were troubled in heart; the strong men of Moab were in the grip of fear: all the people of Canaan became like water.

Numbers 32:9For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they took from the children of Israel the desire to go into the land which the Lord had given them.

Deuteronomy 23:9When you go out to war and put your tents in position, keep from every evil thing.

Luke 9:62But Jesus said, No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is good enough for the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be tricked by false words: evil company does damage to good behaviour.

Revelation 21:8But those who are full of fear and without faith, the unclean and takers of life, those who do the sins of the flesh, and those who make use of evil powers or who give worship to images, and all those who are false, will have their part in the sea of ever-burning fire which is the second death.

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 20:2-10

Directions Concerning War; Persons Excused from War. ( b. c. 1451.) 1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, 3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your… Read the whole commentary →

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