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Deuteronomy 20:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 20:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
Deuteronomy 20:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
2And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
3and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them;
4for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
5And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
6And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof.
7And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
← Deuteronomy 20:3Deuteronomy 20:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, etc.] To battle, and therefore they had no reason to fear and be dismayed, to be fainthearted, terrified, and tremble: fear not, I am with thee, etc.] (<234110>Isaiah 41:10), this, according to the Misnah f239, respects the ark, and so Jarchi, which was a symbol of the divine Presence, and went with them to battle; (see <060604>Joshua 6:4 <090403>1 Samuel 4:3-5) to fight for you against your enemies, to save you; to annoy and destroy the one, and to protect and save the other; thus far the anointed priest addressed the people in an oration to this purpose: the account Maimonides gives of it is, that “when they have set their ranks, and are…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you--According to Jewish writers, the ark was always taken into the field of combat. But there is no evidence of this in the sacred history; and it must have been a sufficient ground of encouragement to be assured that God was on their side.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:4 He will fight for you: This promise affirms that God initiates wars, carries them out, and brings them to successful conclusion against his enemies. The purpose of war initiated by God was to eradicate hopelessly unrepentant enemies and prevent them from contaminating his people (see 1:30).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“to fight: Deu 1:30, Deu 3:22, Deu 11:25, Deu 32:30; Exo 14:14; Jos 10:42, Jos 23:10; Ch2 13:12; Ch2 32:7, Ch2 32:8; Psa 144:1, Psa 144:2; Rom 8:37 Deuteronomy 20:5”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification