Joshua 1:10 kjv

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

Joshua 1:10 nkjv

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

Joshua 1:10 niv

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:

Joshua 1:10 esv

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people,

Joshua 1:10 nlt

Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel,

Joshua 1 verses

Joshua 1 10 Meaning

Joshua 1:10 records Joshua's immediate and authoritative command to the leaders of Israel, instructing them to prepare the entire congregation for crossing the Jordan River within three days. This directive emphasizes practical readiness, indicating the imminent fulfillment of God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. It underscores Joshua's swift execution of his divine mandate, translating God's word into actionable steps for the people to inherit their promised possession.

Joshua 1 10 Context

Joshua chapter 1 marks a pivotal transition in Israel's history: the death of Moses and the ascension of Joshua as the new divinely appointed leader. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the nation is poised on the brink of the promised land, with the Jordan River serving as the final geographical barrier. The verses preceding Joshua 1:10 (Josh 1:1-9) detail God's specific commission to Joshua, empowering him, reminding him of His presence, and emphasizing the necessity of meditating on and obeying the Law. Therefore, Joshua 1:10 represents Joshua's immediate, faithful response to God's charge. It is the practical application of the divine command to "go over this Jordan" (Josh 1:2), shifting from strategic vision to logistical execution, preparing the people for the momentous task of conquering and inheriting their covenantal possession.

Joshua 1 10 Word analysis

• Then (וַיְצַו, way-yaṣṣaw - from וָ, wāw conjunctive, indicating sequential action, and צוה, ṣāwāh "to command"): Implies immediate action following God's command to Joshua. Not merely an idea, but a decisive execution.
• Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yəhôšuʿa): The leader, successor to Moses, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." He acts as God's instrument.
• commanded (וַיְצַו, way-yaṣṣaw - Hifil imperfect consecutive of צוה, ṣāwāh): A strong, authoritative decree, indicating direct orders and delegation of authority. It's a forceful injunction that expects immediate compliance.
• the officers (שֹׁטְרֵי, shoṭrê): These were administrators, overseers, or scribes, distinct from military leaders. Their role was crucial in transmitting commands, organizing the people, and maintaining civil order, linking Joshua's command directly to the people.
• of the people (הָעָם, hāʿām): Refers to the entire nation of Israel, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the upcoming event and the command's reach.
• "Pass through (עִבְרוּ, ‘iḇrû - Hifil imperative of עָבַר, ‘āḇar "to cross over, pass through"): An imperative, direct order for movement within the camp, signaling the need for internal readiness before external action.
• the camp (הַמַּחֲנֶה, ham-maḥaneh): The encampment of the Israelites. It was a well-organized, large assembly of families and tribes.
• and command (וְצַוּוּ, wə-ṣawwū - Hifil imperative of צוה, ṣāwāh): Reinforces the authoritative nature of the instruction being passed down. The officers are not just informing, but commanding.
• the people (הָעָם, hāʿām): Again, emphasizes the scope of the command, directed to every individual capable of action.
• 'Prepare (הָכִינוּ, hākînū - Hifil imperative of כּוּן, kūn "to establish, make ready"): A practical instruction to make ready, suggesting a deliberate and active preparation. This verb signifies bringing something into a state of readiness and fitness for purpose.
• your provisions (צֵידָה, tsêḏāh): Literally "food for a journey" or "supplies." This is a tangible instruction, contrasting with the previous supernatural provision of manna. They must now rely on their own foresight and God's provision in a new way.
• for within three days (כִּי בְּעוֹד שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, kî bəʿōḏ šəlošet yāmîm): "For in still three days." A definite and imminent timeframe. In biblical narrative, "three days" often signals a significant event or divine intervention on the horizon, creating a sense of urgency and expectation.
• you are to pass over (עֹבְרִים, ‘ōḇrîm - Qal participle of עָבַר, ‘āḇar): Denotes a certain, impending action; a definite crossing.
• this Jordan (הַיַּרְדֵּן, hay-yarədên): The specific river acting as a physical and symbolic boundary. Crossing it marks the end of wilderness wandering and the entry into inheritance.
• to go in (לָבֹא, lāḇōʾ): Purposeful entry.
• to take possession (לָרֶשֶׁת, lārešet - Qal infinitive construct of יָרַשׁ, yāraš "to inherit, take possession"): This is the core objective. It highlights both Israel's active role in taking what God gives, and God's sovereign gift of the land. It’s an act of inheriting and occupying.
• the land (הָאָרֶץ, hā'āreṣ): The land of Canaan, specifically promised to Abraham's descendants.
• that the LORD (יְהוָה, Yəhôāh - Yahweh): Emphasizes that this entire undertaking is rooted in the character and power of the covenant-keeping God. He is the ultimate giver.
• your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, ʾĕlōhêḵem): Personalizes the divine promise, emphasizing God's relationship with Israel as a people.
• is giving (נֹתֵן, nōṯēn - Qal participle of נָתַן, nāṯan "to give"): Stresses God's continuous and active role as the Giver. The land is not earned, but bestowed.
• you to possess (לָרֶשֶׁת אוֹתָהּ, lārešet ʾōṯāh - to possess it): Repetition of the root "to possess" (yāraš) reinforces the divine intent for Israel's occupation and enduring ownership.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people...": This highlights Joshua's immediate and effective leadership, translating divine vision into administrative action and showing his capacity to govern the large Israelite population.
• "...Pass through the camp and command the people...": This phrase emphasizes the hierarchical chain of command, from God to Joshua, to the officers, and then to every individual in the camp. It underscores the order and organization of the Israelite community.
• "'Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan...'": This section couples practical, immediate preparation with a clear, time-bound divine appointment. It shows God works through human preparedness while orchestrating His supernatural timing. The mention of "provisions" subtly signals the imminent end of manna, as they will soon enter a land flowing with milk and honey, where they will eat of its produce.
• "...to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.": This encapsulates the entire purpose: divinely mandated entry (go in) for the purpose of active inheritance and occupancy (take possession) of a land that is a gracious, covenantal gift (the LORD your God is giving you). This is the culmination of generations of promise.

Joshua 1 10 Bonus section

The immediate action of Joshua after his commission highlights a key principle of leadership: translate vision into tangible steps. His reliance on the "officers" shows effective delegation and underscores the importance of a functional administrative structure within the community. The shift from supernatural manna to gathering "provisions" signifies Israel's transition from a wilderness existence solely dependent on miraculous daily sustenance to a nation on the brink of settled life where they would work and reap the land's bounty. This period of three days is also notable as it provides enough time for news to spread to the farthest parts of the vast Israelite camp, ensuring comprehensive awareness and readiness, allowing the nation to move forward as one unit in faith.

Joshua 1 10 Commentary

Joshua 1:10 is a foundational verse that exemplifies the seamless integration of divine command, faithful human leadership, and practical obedience. After God's direct instruction and reassurance to Joshua, the first act of the new leader is not prayer or deep contemplation, but immediate, practical implementation. By commanding the officers to instruct the people to gather provisions and prepare, Joshua demonstrates both his grasp of God's overarching plan and his astute understanding of the logistics required for such a momentous undertaking.

The instruction for "three days" establishes a specific, urgent timeframe, signaling an impending, significant divine act—a common motif in Scripture that builds expectation and underscores the certainty of God's work. The "three days" here is not just a logistical countdown but also a period for spiritual readiness and mental preparation for what God is about to do. This verse firmly reiterates that the land is a divine "giving," emphasizing God's sovereignty, while simultaneously requiring Israel's active role in "taking possession." This beautiful paradox showcases that divine grace does not negate human responsibility but rather enables it.

Example: In daily life, just as God commands physical preparation before a spiritual promised land, Christians are called to prepare practically in areas like financial stewardship, family care, or skill development, knowing that these practical steps enable greater spiritual effectiveness and serve God's purposes. For instance, studying God's Word (spiritual provision) is a constant "preparation" for discerning His will and responding to His call, enabling us to "take possession" of the abundant life He promises (Jn 10:10).