Deuteronomy 20:3

Authorized King James Version

And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְאָמַ֤ר
And shall say
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
אֲלֵהֶם֙
near, with or among; often in general, to
#3
שְׁמַ֣ע
unto them Hear
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#4
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
O Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#5
אַתֶּ֨ם
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#6
קְרֵבִ֥ים
ye approach
near
#7
הַיּ֛וֹם
this day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#8
לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה
unto battle
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
#9
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#10
אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם
against your enemies
hating; an adversary
#11
אַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#12
יֵרַ֣ךְ
faint
to soften (intransitively or transitively), used figuratively
#13
לְבַבְכֶ֗ם
let not your hearts
the heart (as the most interior organ)
#14
אַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#15
תִּֽירְא֧וּ
fear
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
#16
וְאַֽל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#17
תַּחְפְּז֛וּ
not and do not tremble
properly, to start up suddenly, i.e., (by implication) to hasten away, to fear
#18
וְאַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#19
תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ
neither be ye terrified
to awe or (intransitive) to dread; hence, to harass
#20
מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
because
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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