The Meaning of Deuteronomy 20:11 Explained

Deuteronomy 20:11

KJV: And 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.

YLT: and it hath been, if Peace it answer thee, and hath opened to thee, then it hath come to pass -- all the people who are found in it are to thee for tributaries, and have served thee.

Darby: And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then all the people that are found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

ASV: And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And 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. 

What does Deuteronomy 20:11 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 20

1  The priest's exhortation to encourage the people to battle
5  The officers' proclamation of who are to be dismissed from the war
10  How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace
16  What cities must be devoted
19  Trees must not be destroyed in the siege

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 20:11 mean?

And it shall be that if of peace they accept your offer and open to you then all the people [who are] found in it shall be placed to you under tribute and serve you
וְהָיָה֙ אִם־ שָׁל֣וֹם תַּֽעַנְךָ֔ וּפָתְחָ֖ה לָ֑ךְ וְהָיָ֞ה כָּל־ הָעָ֣ם הַנִּמְצָא־ בָ֗הּ יִהְי֥וּ לְךָ֛ לָמַ֖ס וַעֲבָדֽוּךָ

וְהָיָה֙  And  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אִם־  that  if 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
שָׁל֣וֹם  of  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
תַּֽעַנְךָ֔  they  accept  your  offer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
וּפָתְחָ֖ה  and  open 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
לָ֑ךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
הָעָ֣ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַנִּמְצָא־  [who  are]  found 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
בָ֗הּ  in  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
יִהְי֥וּ  shall  be  placed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְךָ֛  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
לָמַ֖ס  under  tribute 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַס  
Sense: gang or body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour band or gang, forced service, task-work, serfdom, tributary, tribute, levy, taskmasters, discomfited.
וַעֲבָדֽוּךָ  and  serve  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.