But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

DEUTERONOMY 20:14KJV
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Deuteronomy 20:14 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 20:14 mean?

Deuteronomy 20:14 describes how, after capturing a city in war, the Israelites were allowed to take the women, children, livestock, and everything else in the city as their own possessions, using the spoils provided by God. The verse states that these spoils were given by the LORD as a result of victory over their enemies.

In this verse, Moses is instructing the Israelites about the treatment of cities that are far away from their land, not the nearby Canaanite cities. The context is a set of laws for warfare, where the Israelites are told what they may do with the people and goods of a conquered city. The passage emphasizes that the victory and its benefits are understood as gifts from the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh), reinforcing the idea that God is the source of their success.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 20:14

  • "Women" (אִשָּׁה, ishah): This word refers to adult females in the city. The instruction singles out women and children as part of what could be taken, which clarifies who was spared and what was allowed.
  • "Spoil" (שָׁלָל, shalal): This word means plunder or goods taken in war. The repetition of this term in the verse underlines that all possessions, not just people or livestock, were included as part of the victory.
  • "Take" (לָקַח, laqach): This verb means to take or seize. The use of this word makes it clear that the Israelites were permitted to actively claim these things as their own.
  • "Given" (נָתַן, natan): This verb means to give or grant. The verse stresses that the spoils were not just seized by force, but were considered given by God, highlighting a theological point about divine provision.

Why Deuteronomy 20:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the instructions for taking spoils applied only to distant cities, not those within the land of Canaan, which had different rules.
  • The passage emphasizes that victory and its rewards were attributed to the LORD, reminding the Israelites that their success was not solely by their own strength.
  • Understanding the specific terms used helps distinguish between the treatment of conquered peoples in different contexts, which is important for interpreting the broader laws of war in Deuteronomy.

Where else these words appear

“take” Hebrew H962 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
  • 2 Chronicles 14:14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
  • Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

“ones” Hebrew H2945 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 34:29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
  • Numbers 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
  • Joshua 1:14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;

“spoil” Hebrew H7998 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 49:27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
  • 1 Samuel 30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
  • Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.