The Meaning of Deuteronomy 13:15 Explained

Deuteronomy 13:15

KJV: Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

YLT: Thou dost surely smite the inhabitants of that city by the mouth of the sword; devoting it, and all that is in it, even its cattle, by the mouth of the sword;

Darby: thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, devoting it to destruction, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

ASV: thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt surely  smite  the inhabitants  of that city  with the edge  of the sword,  destroying it utterly,  and all that [is] therein, and the cattle  thereof, with the edge  of the sword. 

What does Deuteronomy 13:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 13:1-18 - Cut Out The Plague Spot
How to exterminate sources of disease is a main question with the modern world; but the stamping-out of possible sources of temptation must not less energetically be pursued by each religious soul. The prophet, the beloved associate, the community, that endeavored to turn Israel aside from God, might have no mercy shown. There was no room for those liberal views, in vogue today, that smile on the greatest divergencies of belief, if only their advocates are sincere.
For ourselves the lesson is clear enough. We must dissociate ourselves from companionships, however affectionate, which exert a deleterious effect on our characters, and draw us away from God. There is only one alternative-that we should overcome evil with good and lift them to our own ideals. If that be impossible, our course is clear. Our eye must not pity, nor our hand spare. And Jesus left no other alternative. See Mark 9:42-43. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 13

1  Enticers to idolatry
6  however near to oneself
9  are to be stoned to death
12  Idolatrous cities are not to be spared

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 13:15 mean?

Surely you shall strike - the inhabitants of city that that with the edge of the sword utterly destroying it and all that is in it its livestock of the sword
הַכֵּ֣ה תַכֶּ֗ה אֶת־ יֹֽשְׁבֵ֛י הָעִ֥יר [ההוא] (הַהִ֖יא) לְפִי־ חָ֑רֶב הַחֲרֵ֨ם אֹתָ֧הּ וְאֶת־ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֛הּ בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּ חָֽרֶב

הַכֵּ֣ה  Surely 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
תַכֶּ֗ה  you  shall  strike 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יֹֽשְׁבֵ֛י  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
הָעִ֥יר  of  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
[ההוא]  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
(הַהִ֖יא)  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
לְפִי־  with  the  edge 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
חָ֑רֶב  of  the  sword 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
הַחֲרֵ֨ם  utterly  destroying 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָרַם 
Sense: to ban, devote, destroy utterly, completely destroy, dedicate for destruction, exterminate.
אֲשֶׁר־  that  is 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בָּ֛הּ  in  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּ  its  livestock 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
חָֽרֶב  of  the  sword 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.