Deuteronomy 20:6

Authorized King James Version

And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּמִֽי
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
#2
וְאִ֥ישׁ
And what man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#3
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#4
נָטַ֥ע
is he that hath planted
properly, to strike in, i.e., fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively)
#5
כֶּ֙רֶם֙
a vineyard
a garden or vineyard
#6
וְלֹ֣א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#7
יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃
and hath not yet eaten
properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin
#8
יֵלֵ֖ךְ
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#9
וְיָשֹׁ֣ב
and return
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#10
לְבֵית֑וֹ
unto his house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#11
פֶּן
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
#12
יָמוּת֙
lest he die
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
#13
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה
in the battle
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
#14
וְאִ֥ישׁ
And what man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#15
אַחֵ֖ר
and another
properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc
#16
יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃
and hath not yet eaten
properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin

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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