Deuteronomy 21:10
New International Version
When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives,

New Living Translation
“Suppose you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD your God hands them over to you, and you take some of them as captives.

English Standard Version
“When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God gives them into your hand and you take them captive,

Berean Standard Bible
When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive,

King James Bible
When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,

New King James Version
“When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand, and you take them captive,

New American Standard Bible
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you take them away captive,

NASB 1995
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take them away captive,

NASB 1977
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands, and you take them away captive,

Legacy Standard Bible
“If you go out to battle against your enemies, and Yahweh your God gives them over into your hands and you take them away captive,

Amplified Bible
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you lead them away captive,

Christian Standard Bible
“When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you take some of them prisoner, and

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you take some of them prisoner, and

American Standard Version
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and Jehovah thy God delivereth them into thy hands, and thou carriest them away captive,

Contemporary English Version
From time to time, you men will serve as soldiers and go off to war. The LORD your God will help you defeat your enemies, and you will take many prisoners.

English Revised Version
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God delivereth them into thine hands, and thou carriest them away captive,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When you go to war with your enemies and the LORD your God hands them over to you, you may take them captive.

Good News Translation
"When the LORD your God gives you victory in battle and you take prisoners,

International Standard Version
"If you go to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your control, you may take some prisoners captive.

Majority Standard Bible
When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive,

NET Bible
When you go out to do battle with your enemies and the LORD your God allows you to prevail and you take prisoners,

New Heart English Bible
When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands, and you carry them away captive,

Webster's Bible Translation
When thou goest forth to war against thy enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thy hands, and thou hast taken them captive,

World English Bible
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and Yahweh your God delivers them into your hands and you carry them away captive,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and your God YHWH has given them into your hand, and you have taken captive its captivity,

Young's Literal Translation
'When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and Jehovah thy God hath given them into thy hand, and thou hast taken captive its captivity,

Smith's Literal Translation
When thou shalt go forth to war against thine enemy, and Jehovah thy God gave him into thine hand, and thou didst take him captive,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou go out to fight against thy enemies, and the Lord thy God deliver them into thy hand, and thou lead them away captives,

Catholic Public Domain Version
If you have gone out to fight against your enemies, and the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand, and if, as you are leading away the captives,

New American Bible
When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your power, so that you take captives,

New Revised Standard Version
When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you take them captive,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands, and you take them captive,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when you go out for battle against your enemies, LORD JEHOVAH your God shall deliver them into your hands and you shall lead some of them in captivity,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God delivereth them into thy hands, and thou carriest them away captive,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if when thou goest out to war against thine enemies, the Lord thy God should deliver them into thine hands, and thou shouldest take their spoil,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Marrying a Captive Woman
10When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive, 11if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife,…

Cross References
Numbers 31:9-18
The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children, and they plundered all their herds, flocks, and goods. / Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites had lived, as well as all their encampments, / and carried away all the plunder and spoils, both people and animals. ...

2 Chronicles 28:8-15
Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria. / But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. / And now you intend to reduce to slavery the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? ...

Judges 21:10-14
So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children. / This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.” / So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. ...

1 Samuel 30:1-2
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.

2 Kings 5:2
At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife.

Genesis 34:29
They carried off all their possessions and women and children, and they plundered everything in their houses.

Exodus 21:7-11
And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. / If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her. / And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter. ...

Leviticus 25:44-46
Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them. / You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property. / You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

Nehemiah 5:5
We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Isaiah 14:2
The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

Matthew 5:38-42
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ / But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; / if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; ...

Luke 6:27-36
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. / If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. ...

Romans 12:17-21
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” ...

1 Corinthians 7:12-16
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. / And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. / For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. ...

Ephesians 6:5-9
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. / And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. / Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, ...


Treasury of Scripture

When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive,

thou goest

Deuteronomy 20:10-16
When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it…

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Deuteronomy 21
1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder
10. The usage of a captive taken to wife
15. The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection
18. A rebellious son is to be stoned to death
22. The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree














When you go to war
This phrase sets the context of the verse within the reality of ancient Israel's military engagements. The Hebrew word for "war" is "מִלְחָמָה" (milchamah), which implies not just physical battle but also a spiritual struggle. In the ancient Near East, warfare was often seen as a divine endeavor, with gods determining the outcomes. For Israel, going to war was not merely a political or territorial act but a fulfillment of divine mandate, often involving moral and spiritual dimensions.

against your enemies
The term "enemies" in Hebrew is "אֹיֵב" (oyev), which refers to those who oppose or are hostile to Israel. Historically, Israel's enemies were often neighboring nations that threatened their existence or led them into idolatry. This phrase reminds the reader of the constant tension between Israel and surrounding nations, emphasizing the need for reliance on God for protection and victory.

and the LORD your God
This phrase underscores the centrality of God in the life of Israel. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) highlights the covenant relationship between God and His people. It is a reminder that Israel's identity and success are rooted in their relationship with God, who is both their divine warrior and covenant keeper. The phrase also reflects the theocratic nature of Israel's society, where God is the ultimate authority.

delivers them into your hands
The Hebrew root for "delivers" is "נָתַן" (natan), meaning to give or hand over. This conveys the idea that victory is a gift from God, not merely the result of human effort or strategy. It reflects the biblical theme of divine sovereignty, where God is actively involved in the affairs of nations, orchestrating events according to His purposes. This assurance of divine intervention would have been a source of encouragement and confidence for the Israelites.

and you take them captive
The act of taking captives was a common practice in ancient warfare, often involving the subjugation and assimilation of conquered peoples. The Hebrew word "שָׁבָה" (shavah) means to capture or take prisoners. This phrase indicates the complete victory and control over the enemy, symbolizing the triumph of God's people over those who oppose His will. It also serves as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with victory, including the ethical treatment of captives, as later verses in Deuteronomy address.

Deuteronomy 21:10-14. MARRIAGE OF CAPTIVE WOMEN.

(10, 11) When thou . . . seest among the captives a beautiful woman.--This could not be among the seven nations, of whom it is said (Deuteronomy 20:1-6), "thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth." But it may well apply to the recent case of the Midianitish maidens (Numbers 31:15-18), who had been taken captive in great numbers, and would naturally be reduced to slavery. It is clear from this passage that they could not be treated as concubines.

(12) Shall shave her head, and pare her nails.--Rashi's view is that the object of this order is to spoil the beauty of the captive. The long hair is to be cut off, and the nails pared. On this last point the Targums differ; one taking the view that they are to be left to grow and the other the opposite interpretation. In 2Samuel 19:24, there are two examples of the use of the word in the sense of attending to the person. The correct interpretation in this place depends upon the purpose for which the thing was to be done. If the intention was any kind of purification, and long or taper nails were considered an ornament (as by some Eastern nations), it is more probable that the nails were to be cut short.

(13) The raiment of her captivity.--Rashi takes this to mean the beautiful raiment put on for the purpose of attracting her captors. (Compare Jezebel's attempt to captivate Jehu, 2Kings 9:30.) Whatever may be the precise intent of these several instructions, it is clear that the law is intended to encourage lawful marriage, and no other form of union. In this view it throws an important light upon the treatment of the Midianitish captives in Numbers 31 . . .

Verses 10-14. - If an Israelite saw among captives taken in war a woman, fair of aspect, and loved her, and took her to be his wife, he was to allow her a full month to mourn her lost kindred, and become accustomed to her new condition, before he consummated his union with her. This refers to captives from other nations than those of Canaan, with whom the Israelites were to form no alliance, and whom they were not to take captive, but either wholly destroy or render tributary (cf. Deuteronomy 7:3; Numbers 21:1, etc.; Joshua 11:19).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you go
תֵצֵ֥א (ṯê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to war
לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (lam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your enemies
אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ (’ō·yə·ḇe·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

and the LORD
יְהוָ֧ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

delivers them
וּנְתָנ֞וֹ (ū·nə·ṯā·nōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

into your hands
בְּיָדֶ֖ךָ (bə·yā·ḏe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

and you take
וְשָׁבִ֥יתָ (wə·šā·ḇî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity

them captive,
שִׁבְיֽוֹ׃ (šiḇ·yōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:10 When you go forth to battle against (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 21:9
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