Deuteronomy 20:8
Good News Translation
"The officers will also say to the men, 'Is there any man here who has lost his nerve and is afraid? If so, he is to go home. Otherwise, he will destroy the morale of the others.'

New Revised Standard Version
The officials shall continue to address the troops, saying, “Is anyone afraid or disheartened? He should go back to his house, or he might cause the heart of his comrades to melt like his own.”

Contemporary English Version
Finally, if any of you are afraid, you may go home. We don't want you to discourage the other soldiers.

New American Bible
The officials shall continue to speak to the army: “Is there anyone who is afraid and weakhearted? Let him return home, or else he might make the hearts of his fellows melt as his does.”

Douay-Rheims Bible
After these things are declared they shall add the rest, and shall speak to the people: What man is there that is fearful, and faint hearted? let him go, and return to his house, lest he make the hearts of his brethren to fear, as he himself is possessed with fear.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

After these things are declared they shall add the rest, and shall speak to the people: What man is there that is fearful, and faint hearted? let him go, and return to his house, lest he make the hearts of his brethren to fear, as he himself is possessed with fear.

fearful

Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? the messengers have terrified our hearts, saying: The multitude is very great, and taller than we: the cities are great, and walled up to the sky, we have seen the sons of the Enacims there.

Deuteronomy 23:9 When thou goest out to war against thy enemies, thou shalt keep thyself from every evil thing.

Judges 7:3 Speak to the people, and proclaim in the hearing of all: Whosoever is fearful and timorous, let him return. So two and twenty thousand men went away from Mount Galaad and returned home, and only ten thousand remained.

Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Acts 15:37,38 And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark. . . .

Revelation 3:16 But because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

lest his brethren's

Numbers 13:31-33 But the others, that had been with him, said: No, we are not able to go up to this people, because they are stronger than we. . . .

Numbers 14:1-3 Therefore the whole multitude crying wept that night. . . .

Numbers 32:9 And when they were come as far as the valley of the cluster, having viewed all the country, they overturned the hearts of the children of Israel, that they should not enter into the coasts, which the Lord gave them.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not seduced: Evil communications corrupt good manners.

faint [heb] melt

Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? the messengers have terrified our hearts, saying: The multitude is very great, and taller than we: the cities are great, and walled up to the sky, we have seen the sons of the Enacims there.

Exodus 15:15 Then were the princes of Edom troubled, trembling seized on the stout men of Moab: all the inhabitants of Chanaan became stiff.

Context
Laws of Warfare
7What man is there, that hath espoused a wife, and not taken her? let him go, and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man take her. 8After these things are declared they shall add the rest, and shall speak to the people: What man is there that is fearful, and faint hearted? let him go, and return to his house, lest he make the hearts of his brethren to fear, as he himself is possessed with fear.9And when the captains of the army shall hold their peace, and have made an end of speaking, every man shall prepare their bands to fight.…
Cross References
Deuteronomy 20:9
And when the captains of the army shall hold their peace, and have made an end of speaking, every man shall prepare their bands to fight.

Judges 7:3
Speak to the people, and proclaim in the hearing of all: Whosoever is fearful and timorous, let him return. So two and twenty thousand men went away from Mount Galaad and returned home, and only ten thousand remained.

Proverbs 24:10
If thou lose hope, being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.

Deuteronomy 20:7
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