All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.

DEUTERONOMY 3:5KJV
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Deuteronomy 3:5 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 3:5 mean?

Deuteronomy 3:5 describes how the cities that Israel encountered in the region of Bashan were strongly fortified, with high walls, gates, and bars, and that there were also many other unwalled towns. This verse emphasizes both the strength of the main cities and the large number of smaller, less-defended settlements in the area.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites, recounting their recent victories as they prepare to enter the promised land. The verse highlights the impressive defenses of the cities they conquered, which would have seemed intimidating, and also notes the abundance of less-protected towns, showing the scale of what was taken.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 3:5

  • The word for "cities" is עִיר (ʿir), which simply means a city or town, but here it is used both for the fortified cities and the unwalled towns, showing a range of settlement sizes.
  • "Fenced" comes from בָּצַר (batsar), meaning fortified or enclosed, stressing that these were not easy targets but strongholds.
  • "High" is גָּבֹהַּ (gavoah), meaning tall or lofty, which adds to the picture of imposing city walls.
  • "Unwalled" uses פְּרָזִי (perazi), often understood as open or rural villages, pointing to settlements without defensive walls, which were more vulnerable.

Why Deuteronomy 3:5 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that Israel only faced weak or undefended places; it stresses that their victories included overcoming strong, well-defended cities.
  • The mention of both fortified cities and many unwalled towns shows the scale and variety of what was conquered, highlighting the completeness of Israel’s victory in this region.
  • In the wider passage, this detail supports Moses’ reminder to the people that God enabled them to defeat even the most daunting obstacles, preparing them for future challenges as they enter Canaan.

Where else these words appear

“unwalled” Hebrew H6521 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Samuel 6:18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.
  • Esther 9:19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

“high” Hebrew H1364 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
  • Psalms 104:18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
  • Jeremiah 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

“bars” Hebrew H1280 · used in 37 verses

  • Exodus 26:26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
  • Numbers 4:31 And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,
  • Psalms 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

“fenced” Hebrew H1219 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
  • 2 Kings 19:25 Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
  • Isaiah 36:1 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.