Deuteronomy 3:6 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 3:6 mean?

Deuteronomy 3:6 describes how the Israelites, under Moses’ leadership, completely destroyed the people of the cities they conquered, just as they had done to Sihon, king of Heshbon. The verse emphasizes that no one was spared—men, women, and children were all destroyed in every city.

In this passage, Moses is recounting to the Israelites how God gave them victory over Og, king of Bashan, during their journey to the Promised Land. The verse highlights the totality of the destruction, showing the seriousness with which the Israelites carried out what they believed was God’s command in these specific battles.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 3:6

• The word "destroyed" (הַחֲרֵם, ḥērem) is used twice in this verse and means to devote something to destruction, often with the sense of complete removal or annihilation. This word signals that the destruction was not just military defeat but a thorough wiping out, leaving nothing behind.
• "Men" (מְתִים, metim), "women" (נָשִׁים, nashim), and "children" (טַף, taf) are each named specifically, underlining that the destruction included every part of the population, not just the fighting men.
• "City" (עִיר, ir) refers to each settled place or town, showing that this action was repeated in every city taken.

Why Deuteronomy 3:6 matters

• This verse can clear up the extent of what happened in these battles: it was not just a defeat of armies, but the complete destruction of entire populations, which is a difficult and sobering part of the biblical narrative.
• The verse connects directly to earlier events with Sihon, showing a pattern in how the Israelites approached these conquests and linking the stories together for the listeners.
• Understanding the use of the word "ḥērem" helps explain why the Israelites acted so thoroughly—it was seen as a religious act of obedience, not just a military strategy.