Deuteronomy 20:12 — Word Study
WLCוְאִם־ לֹ֤א תַשְׁלִים֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וְעָשְׂתָ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְצַרְתָּ֖ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
BSABut ifʼim they refuselôʼ [to surrender peacefully, will not make peace] to make peaceshâlam▸ [to complete, be at peace] with youʻim and wageʻâsâh [engage in, make] warmilchâmâh [battle, conflict] against youʻim lay siegetsûwr [besiege, shut in on all sides, confine] to [that city]ʻal [town, place]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאִם־ | and if | Conjunction, particle |
| לֹ֤א | not | Particle |
| תַשְׁלִים֙ | it will make peace | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| עִמָּ֔ךְ | with you | Preposition, suffix |
| וְעָשְׂתָ֥ה | and it will make | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person feminine singular |
| עִמְּךָ֖ | with you | Preposition, suffix |
| מִלְחָמָ֑ה | war | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וְצַרְתָּ֖ | and you will lay siege | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect second person masculine singular |
| עָלֶֽיהָ׃ | on it | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city. |
| KJV | And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: |
| ASV | And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: |
| YLT | 'And if it doth not make peace with thee, and hath made with thee war, then thou hast laid siege against it, |
| WEB | If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it. |
| BBE | If however it will not make peace with you, but war, then let it be shut in on all sides: |
Where they part company is תַשְׁלִים֙ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a conditional main clause followed by two subordinate actions, indicating a clear cause-and-effect relationship.




5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׁלַם
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 20:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Instructions for Warfaregenerated
Deuteronomy 20:12 provides guidance on how to handle enemy cities during warfare. If an enemy refuses peace and chooses conflict, the Israelites are instructed to besiege the city. This reflects the seriousness of the choice for peace and the consequences of rejecting it, emphasizing the gravity of warfare in ancient Israelite society.
Cross References
The Key Word — תַשְׁלִים֙, tash.Limgenerated
The verb שָׁלַם (shalam) means to make peace or to complete. The form used here, תַשְׁלִים֙, is in the Hiphil stem, indicating a causative action — it suggests that the enemy has the opportunity to choose peace but has refused it.
This verb encompasses a broad range of meanings, including to restore, to make amends, and to achieve a state of peace. Its use here underscores the conditional nature of the Israelites' approach to conflict.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains a main clause introduced by the conjunction וְאִם־ (ve.'im-), meaning 'but if', which sets the conditional tone for the actions that follow. The main verb is תַשְׁלִים֙ (tash.Lim), with several phrases describing the actions that should occur if peace is refused.
The structure emphasizes the conditional relationship between the refusal of peace and the subsequent actions of waging war and laying siege, illustrating the cause-and-effect nature of the commands.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תַשְׁלִים֙ as ὑπακούσωσίν (hypakoúsōsín), which means 'to obey' or 'to listen'. This choice suggests a focus on the response to the call for peace, indicating that the refusal to listen leads to war.
This rendering reflects a broader interpretation, emphasizing not just the act of making peace but also the importance of heeding the offer of peace.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 20:12 instructs that if a city refuses to make peace and chooses to fight, the Israelites should lay siege to it. This reflects the serious consequences of rejecting peace, emphasizing the importance of choices in conflict situations.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Refusing peace means choosing conflict and warfare instead of seeking a peaceful resolution, which has serious consequences as outlined in this verse.
Laying siege is a military strategy used when an enemy refuses peace, indicating a total commitment to overcoming the opposition.
This verse highlights the importance of peace negotiations and the potential consequences of rejecting them, which is relevant in modern discussions about conflict resolution.
To lay siege implies surrounding a city to cut off supplies and force surrender, a tactic that underscores the seriousness of warfare.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond to conflict in my life? Do I seek peace or escalate the situation?
- What are some practical ways I can promote peace in my community?
- In what situations have I seen the consequences of refusing peace?
- How can understanding this verse help me navigate conflicts more wisely?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 20:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd if it will make no peace with thee,.... Will not accept of terms of peace offered: but will make war against thee; come out and fight, or prepare to defend themselves: then thou shall besiege it;
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 20 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 20 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersDeuteronomy 20:10-20. SIEGES.(10) When thou comest nigh . . . proclaim peace.—Not as the children of Dan did, who massacred the inhabitants of Laish without warning (Judges 18:27-28). Even in the wars of Joshua, the cities that “stood still in their strength” were generally spared (Joshua 11:13). (15) Thus—i.e., sparing the women and the little ones. (16-18) But of the cities of these people . . . thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth . . . that they teach you not to do after all their abominations.—Upon the inhabitants of these cities the Israelites executed the sentence of Jehovah. Their abominations are sufficiently indicated in Leviticus 18:24-28; Leviticus 20:23. These verses…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 20 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. But if it will make no peace with thee … thou shalt besiege, i.e. confine or blockade it.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 20 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible12. If it will make no peace — If the city does not submit without fighting, then it is to be besieged, and, when taken by storm, the armed men are to be put to death, the women and children spared.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 20 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city.
If it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it.
But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city.
If it does not accept terms of peace but makes war with you, then you are to lay siege to it.
Tyndale line
And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
But if it will make no peace with thee, but make war against thee, then shalt thou besiege it.
Strictly literal
And if it will not make peace with thee, but will make war with thee, then thou shalt besiege it;
'And if it doth not make peace with thee, and hath made with thee war, then thou hast laid siege against it,
And if it does not make peace with you, and has made war with you, then you have laid siege against it,
But if it will not make peace with thee, and wageth war against thee; then shalt thou besiege it;
But if it makes no offer of peace to you, but instead makes war against you, then you must besiege it,
From the Latin
But if they will not make peace, and shall begin war against thee, thou shalt besiege it.
Simplified
However, if they refuse to make peace with you and decide to fight you, then lay siege to the town.
If however it will not make peace with you, but war, then let it be shut in on all sides:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The other witnesses, including the Samaritan Pentateuch, agree with the Masoretic Text, word for word. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew closely, indicating a strong consistency across these ancient texts.
וְאִם־ לֹ֤א תַשְׁלִים֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וְעָשְׂתָ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְצַרְתָּ֖ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ואם לא תשׁלים עמך ועשׂתה עמך מלחמה וצרת עליה
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
ואם לא [תשלים] [עמ׳ך] [ועשתה] [עמ׳ך] מלחמה [וצרת] [עלי׳ה]
1 word on the leather — 2 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.
[ואם] לוא תשלים ע׳כה ועשתה [עמ׳כה] [מלחמה] [וצרת] [עלי׳ה]
2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 20:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.
אִם conj.
hypoth. part. if
Interrog. part.
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if
. Interrog. part.
H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
518 'im eem
a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;
interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh
that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,
doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +
more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,
+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,
none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,
whereas, whether, while, + yet.
אִם (im) — if.
: if/whether_or/though
1) if
1a) conditional clauses
1a1) of possible situations
1a2) of impossible situations
1b) oath contexts
1b1) no, not
1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or
1d) when, whenever
1e) since
1f) interrogative particle
1g) but rather
[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
אִם (im) — if: surely no.
: surely_no
1) if
1a) conditional clauses
1a1) of possible situations
1a2) of impossible situations
1b) oath contexts
1b1) no, not
1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or
1d) when, whenever
1e) since
1f) interrogative particle
1g) but rather
אִם (im) — if: surely yes.
: surely_yes
1) if
1a) conditional clauses
1a1) of possible situations
1a2) of impossible situations
1b) oath contexts
1b1) no, not
1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or
1d) when, whenever
1e) since
1f) interrogative particle
1g) but rather
אִם (im) — if: until.
: until/except
Conj | Conj — Conjunction · particleHC/Tc
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
שָׁלֵם (shalam) is a Hebrew root meaning to be complete or sound, covering a range of meanings from finishing or restoring to making peace. It can refer to being uninjured, completing a task, or making recompense. The verb also has a denominative form indicating a covenant of peace, suggesting relationships of harmony and safety.
[שָׁלֵם] 103 vb. be complete, sound
Qal
be complete, finished, ended
be sound, uninjured
Pi.
complete, finish, temple
make safe
make whole or good, restore
make good, i.e. pay, vows
requite, recompense, reward
Pu.
be performed, of vow
be repaid, requited
Hiph.
complete, perform
make an end of
base
[שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace
Qal be at peace
Pu. Pt. one in covt. of peace
Hiph.
make peace with
cause to be at peace
Hoph. live at peace with
base
H7999a שָׁלֵם be complete, sound .. be complete, finished, ended
. be sound, uninjured
. . complete, finish, temple
. make safe
. make whole or good, restore
. make good, i.e. pay, vows
. requite, recompense, reward
. . be performed, of vow
. be repaid, requited
. . complete, perform
. make an end of
H7999b [שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace .be at peace
. Pt. one in covt. of peace
. . make peace with
. cause to be at peace
. live at peace with
7999 shalam shaw-lam'
a primitive root; to be safe (in mind, body or estate);
figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by
implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in
various applications):--make amends, (make an) end, finish,
full, give again, make good, (re-)pay (again), (make) (to) (be
at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make)
prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution,
restore, reward, X surely.
שָׁלֵם (sa.lem) — to complete.
1) to be complete, be sound
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be complete, be finished, be ended
1a2) to be sound, be uninjured
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to complete, finish
1b2) to make safe
1b3) to make whole or good, restore, make compensation
1b4) to make good, pay
1b5) to requite, recompense, reward
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be performed
1c2) to be repaid, be requited
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to complete, perform
1d2) to make an end of
Aramaic equivalent: she.lam (שְׁלֵם "be complete" H8000)
שָׁלַם (sha.lam) — to ally.
1) to be in a covenant of peace, be at peace
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be at peace
1a2) peaceful one (participle)
1b) (Pual) one in covenant of peace (participle)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make peace with
1c2) to cause to be at peace
1d) (Hophal) to live in peace
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person feminine singularHVhi3fs
pes (shalom; eirene):
1. In the Old Testament:
Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. In Ps 122:7, we have "peace" and "prosperity," and in 35:27; 73:3, shalom is translated "prosperity." In 2Sa 11:7 the King James Version, David asked of Uriah "how Joab did" (margin "of the peace of Joab"), "and how the people did (the Revised Version (British and American) "fared," literally, "of the peace of the people"), and…
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2ms
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
Conj | V-Qal-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqq3fs
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2ms
מִלְחָמָה (milchamah) means 'battle' or 'war.' It is derived from the root word for fighting and encompasses both specific engagements and the broader concept of warfare. The entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מִלְחָמָה 319 n.f. battle, war
base
H4421 מִלְחָמָה battle, war
4421 milchamah mil-khaw-maw'
from 3898 (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the
engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare):--battle,
fight(-ing), war((-rior)).
see HEBREW for 03898
מִלְחָמָה (mil.cha.mah) — battle.
battle, war
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
War
The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead.
In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of…
The most important topic in connection with war is the formation of the army which is destined to carry it on. [ARMY] In (1 Kings 9:22) at a period (Solomon’s reign) when the organization of the army was complete, we have apparently a list of the various gradations of rank in the service, as follows: "Men of war" = privates ; "servants," the lowest rank of officers --lieutenants ; "princes" = captains ; "captains," perhaps = staff officers ; "rulers of the chariots and his horsemen" = cavalry officers . Formal proclamations of war were not interchanged between the belligerents. Before entering the enemy’s district spies were seat to ascertain the character of the country and the preparations of its inhabitants for resistance. (Numbers 13:17;
One of the evil fruits of the fall, and an appalling manifestation of the depravity of mankind, Ge 6:11-13 Isa 9:5 Jas 4:1-2, often rendered apparently inevitable by the assaults of enemies, or commanded by God for their punishment. See AMALEKITES and CANAAN.
By this scourge, subsequently to the conquest of Canaan, God chastised both his own rebellious people and the corrupt and oppressive idolaters around them. In many cases, moreover, the issue was distinctly made between the true God and idols; as with the Philistines, 1Sa 17:43-47; the Syrians, 1Ki 20:23-30; the Assyrians,
→ Divine approval of 2Sa 22:35
→ Civil Jud 12:1-6; 20; 2Sa 2:12-31; 3:1; 20; 1Ki 14:30; 16:21; Isa 19:2
→ Forbidden 2Ch 11:4
→ Averted Jos 22:11-34
→ Enemy harangued by the general of the opposing side 2Ki 18:19-36; 2Ch 13:4-12
→ Of extermination Nu 31:7-17; De 2:33,34; 3:6; 20:13-18;
צוּר (tsur) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings including to confine, bind, or besiege, as well as to show hostility or to fashion. It can imply both literal and figurative applications, such as being an adversary or enclosing something. The entries indicate that it covers various contexts, from distressing to fortifying.
צוּר vb. confine, bind, besiege
base
[צוּר] vb. shew hostility to, treat as foe
base
[צוּר] vb. fashion, delineate
base
H6696a צוּר confine, bind, besiege H6696b צוּר shew hostility to, treat as foe H6696c צוּר fashion, delineate
6696 tsuwr tsoor
a primitive root; to cramp, i.e. confine (in many
applications, literally and figuratively, formative or
hostile):--adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up),
cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up
in bags.
צוּר (tsur) — to confine.
1) to bind, besiege, confine, cramp
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to confine, secure
1a2) to shut in, beseige
1a3) to shut up, enclose
צוּר (tsur) — to provoke.
(Qal) to show hostility to, be an adversary, treat as foe
צוּר (tsur) — to form.
(Qal) to form, fashion, delineate
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singularHc/Vqq2ms
sej (matsor (De 28:52,53; 1Ki 15:27; 2Ki 25:2; Isa 29:3; Eze 4:2); "to be besieged," "to suffer siege," ba-matsor bo' (De 20:19; 2Ki 24:10; 25:2)):
1. In Early Hebrew History
2. In the Monarchy
3. Preliminaries to Siege
4. Siege Operations: Attack
(1) Investment of City
(2) Line of Circumvallation
(3) Mound, or Earthworks
(4) Battering-Rams
(5) Storming of Walls and Rushing of Breach
5. Siege Operations: Defense
6. Raising of Siege
7. Horrors of Siege and Capture
8. Siege in the New Testament
LITERATURE
→ An offer of peace must be made to the city before beginning a De 20:10-12
→ Conducted by erecting embankments parallel to the walls of the besieged city De 20:19,20; Isa 29:3; 37:33
→ Battering-rams used in
See BATTERING-RAMS
→ Distress of the inhabitants during a 2Ki 6:24-29; 25:3; Isa 9:20; 36:12; Jer 19:9
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3fs
