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:

DEUTERONOMY 20:19KJV
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Deuteronomy 20:19 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 20:19 mean?

Deuteronomy 20:19 tells the Israelites that when they lay siege to a city during war, they must not destroy the fruit trees around it, because those trees provide food and should not be cut down for use in the siege. The verse explains that the trees are not the enemy and are essential for sustaining human life.

In this verse, Moses is giving instructions from God to the Israelites about ethical conduct during warfare. The situation is a prolonged siege, where the temptation might be to use every available resource to conquer a city. Instead, the command is to spare the fruit trees (which are valuable for food), showing a concern for future provision and a respect for creation even in times of conflict.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 20:19

  • "Destroy" (שָׁחַת, shachat): This word means to ruin or corrupt. The instruction is not to ruin the trees, emphasizing that not everything should be sacrificed for military gain.
  • "Trees" (עֵץ, etz): The word refers to trees in general, but the context makes clear it means fruit-bearing trees, which are directly useful for food.
  • "Forcing" (נָדַח, nadach): This word carries the idea of driving or pushing, here describing the act of attacking the trees with an axe. The verse is specific about not using violence against the trees.
  • "Tree of the field is man's life" (עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה אָדָם, etz hasadeh adam): This phrase highlights the close connection between people and the trees that feed them, underlining the practical and symbolic value of preserving them.

Why Deuteronomy 20:19 matters

  • This verse clarifies that even in war, there are boundaries and ethical considerations; not everything is permitted just because it is expedient.
  • The instruction to spare the fruit trees shows a concern for the future and for the well-being of both the besiegers and the land itself, not just immediate victory.
  • Deuteronomy 20:19 stands out in the wider passage as a call to restraint and respect for life and resources, setting a tone of measured conduct even in difficult circumstances.

Where else these words appear

“axe” Hebrew H1631 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
  • 1 Kings 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
  • Isaiah 10:15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

“siege” Hebrew H4692 · used in 25 verses

  • Deuteronomy 20:20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
  • Ezekiel 4:7 Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

“besiege” Hebrew H6696 · used in 38 verses

  • Exodus 23:22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
  • 1 Kings 16:17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
  • Esther 8:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

“forcing” Hebrew H5080 · used in 51 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
  • Job 6:13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
  • Jeremiah 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.