Deuteronomy 20:19

When thou shalt besiege a city for many days to fight against it, to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding against them an axe, when of them, thou mightest eat, them, there-fore shalt thou not cut down,—for, Is the tree of the field, a man, that it should enter, because of thee into the siege?

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

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:

In Context

18lest they teach you to do, according to all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods,—and so ye sin against Yahweh your God.

20Nevertheless, the tree of which thou knowest that it is, not a tree yielding food, the same, mayest thou destroy, and cut down,—and so build up a siege-work against the city which is making war with thee, until thou hast subdued it.

Read all of Deuteronomy 20

Cross References

2 Kings 3:19And ye shall smite every strong city, and every choice city, and, every goodly tree, shall ye fell, and, all fountains water, shall ye close up,—and, every goodly heritage, shall ye mar with stones.

Matthew 3:10Already also, the axe, unto the root of the trees, is being laid,—every tree, therefore, not bringing forth good fruit, is to be hewn down, and, into fire, to be cast.

Matthew 21:19and, seeing one fig-tree by the way, he came up to it, and nothing, found he thereon, save leaves only,—and he saith unto it—No more, from thee, let fruit spring forth, unto times age-abiding,—and the fig-tree, instantly withered away.

John 15:2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, He taketh it away; and, every one that beareth, fruit, He pruneth it, that, more fruit, it may bear.

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 20:11-20

Proclamations of War; Directions Concerning War. ( b. c. 1451.) 10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. 11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. 12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: 13 And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Deuteronomy 20:19