Deuteronomy 13:16 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 13:16 mean?

Deuteronomy 13:16 tells Israel what to do with a town’s possessions after the town has been judged for turning to other gods. The goods are not to become rewards for the people who destroy the town. They are to be burned with the town, and the site is to remain a ruin.

The words “for the LORD thy God” mark the destruction as an act directed toward God. After the killing described in verse 15, the command turns to the town’s goods and its future. Gathering the goods in the street pictures a public place where they can all be burned together.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 13:16

• “spoil” — שָׁלָל (shalal): This means goods taken in war or from a defeated place. The word helps explain why the command addresses whether the attackers may keep those goods.
• “street” — רְחֹב (reḥov): This can mean a broad open space or public square. The word suggests a gathering place large enough to hold the town’s goods.
• “heap” — תֵּל (tel): This means a mound or pile of ruins. Here the word pictures the town’s remains as a lasting landmark.

Why Deuteronomy 13:16 matters

• The passage calls for an investigation before the destruction. Deuteronomy 13:14 says the report must be examined carefully and found true.
• The command covers the whole stock of goods. “Every whit” means every bit, leaving no share for private gain.
• The lasting ruin is part of the command. “It shall not be built again” makes clear that the town is not to be restored after the fire.