16However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.


In Context

13 When the Lord your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it.

14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the Lord your God gives you from your enemies.

15 This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

16 However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.

17 Completely destroy them-the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites-as the Lord your God has commanded you.

18 Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 20:16 in Other Translations

The King James Version of the Holy Bible

20:16But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

The Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible

20:16But of those cities that shall be given thee, thou shalt suffer none at all to live:

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible

20:16But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;

The Darby Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

20:16But of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth,

The English Revised Version of the Holy Bible

20:16But of the cities of these peoples, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

The Webster Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

20:16But of the cities of these people which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

The World English Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

20:16But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;

The Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

20:16Only, of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee for an inheritance, thou dost not keep alive any breathing;

The American King James Version of the Holy Bible

20:16But of the cities of these people, which the LORD your God does give you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes: