Joshua 1:15 kjv

Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.

Joshua 1:15 nkjv

until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD's servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

Joshua 1:15 niv

until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

Joshua 1:15 esv

until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise."

Joshua 1:15 nlt

until the LORD gives them rest, as he has given you rest, and until they, too, possess the land the LORD your God is giving them. Only then may you return and settle here on the east side of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, assigned to you."

Joshua 1 verses

Joshua 1 15 Meaning

Joshua 1:15 outlines the agreement and command given to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They are required to assist the other Israelite tribes in conquering the land west of the Jordan River until those tribes have also received their allotted "rest" and taken possession of their inheritance. Only after this collective goal is achieved may the Transjordanian tribes return to their own lands, which Moses, the servant of the Lord, had already given them east of the Jordan. The verse emphasizes corporate responsibility, God's promise of land and rest, and the continuity of leadership from Moses to Joshua.

Joshua 1 15 Context

Joshua 1:15 is part of Joshua’s initial charge to the nation of Israel following Moses’ death. The previous verses (Josh 1:1-9) recount God’s commission to Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, promising success and emphasizing adherence to the Law. In verses 12-18, Joshua addresses specifically the Transjordanian tribes—the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—who had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan River. This verse serves as a crucial reminder of their covenant obligation, previously established with Moses (Num 32; Deut 3), to join their brethren in the conquest of Canaan proper, thus ensuring unity and shared effort in fulfilling God's promise to Israel. Historically, it signifies the culmination of the forty-year wilderness wanderings and the imminent entry into the land promised to Abraham’s descendants.

Joshua 1 15 Word analysis

• "until" (עַד - ‘ad): Marks a specific duration or condition for the Transjordanian tribes' service. Their return home is contingent upon the other tribes achieving their own "rest."
• "the Lord" (יְהוָה - Yahweh): Refers to the covenant God of Israel. His active involvement in giving rest and land highlights His sovereignty and faithfulness to His promises.
• "gives...rest" (נוּחַ - nuach): This verb appears twice, first as God's action ("gives…rest") and then as the state ("rest"). It implies a secure, peaceful, and settled state, free from warfare and opposition, achieved by divine provision within their allotted territory. It's more than physical rest; it's a state of security and well-being.
• "your relatives" (אֲחֵיכֶם - ‘aḥēyḵem): Lit. "your brothers." This emphasizes the kinship and communal solidarity within the nation of Israel. The covenant obligation is a shared endeavor.
• "as he has given you": Highlights God's impartial goodness and provision. He had already settled the Transjordanian tribes, establishing a precedent for His continued faithfulness to the remaining tribes. It grounds their obligation in the received blessing.
• "and they too have taken possession" (וְיָרְשׁוּ גַם־הֵמָּה - wəyāršû gam-hēmmâ): "Taken possession" (yaraš) means to inherit, to dispossess current occupants, and to take permanent hold. This signifies a full and final appropriation of the land God is giving.
• "of the land that the Lord your God is giving them": Emphasizes divine sovereignty over the land and its distribution. The land is not conquered by human might alone but is a divine gift. The use of "your God" is intimate and covenantal.
• "Then you may go back" (וְשַׁבְתֶּם - wəšabtem): Specifies the permissible time for their return, confirming that their service is temporary but absolutely required before enjoying their own homes.
• "to your own possession" (לַאֲחֻזַּתְכֶם - la’ăḥuzzaṯkem): Refers to their allocated inheritance and permanent holding of land.
• "and occupy the land" (וִירִשְׁתֶּם - wîrištem): A reaffirmation of taking and holding their already assigned territory, once their brothers across the Jordan have achieved the same.
• "that Moses the Lord's servant gave you": Reinforces the continuity of divine authority through Moses and now Joshua. Moses, acting under God’s commission, allocated their inheritance. "Servant of the Lord" underscores Moses’ direct relationship with Yahweh and his faithfulness in ministry.
• "east of the Jordan": Defines the specific geographic area already conquered and allotted to these tribes (also known as Transjordan or ‘ēber hayYardēn).

Joshua 1 15 Bonus section

The concept of "rest" (nuach) here carries profound theological weight. In its deepest sense, it foreshadows the ultimate spiritual rest offered through Christ, as echoed in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4, which draws parallels between Israel's entry into Canaan and believers entering God's Sabbath rest. The temporary, conditional "rest" given by Joshua in Canaan points to a fuller, eternal "rest" that physical inheritance alone could not provide. Furthermore, the mandatory participation of the Transjordanian tribes emphasizes a key aspect of biblical ethics: that divine blessing entails responsibility to the wider community. There is no isolated, purely individualistic "possession" or "rest" within the covenant; communal solidarity and mutual aid are intrinsic to experiencing God’s promises fully. This act models the corporate unity necessary for God's purposes to unfold, an ideal later expounded in New Testament teachings on the body of Christ.

Joshua 1 15 Commentary

Joshua 1:15 encapsulates key themes of covenant faithfulness, communal responsibility, and divine providence. It serves as a strong reminder that God’s promises, specifically regarding the "rest" and "possession" of the land, are not individualistic but corporate. The Transjordanian tribes’ obedience demonstrates that their prior blessings did not absolve them of their duty to the greater community. Their commitment reflects a foundational principle of the covenant: Israel acts as one body in fulfilling God’s will, with shared burdens leading to shared blessings. The "rest" in this verse is both a physical state of peace from enemies in the land and a theological concept pointing to God's promised fulfillment. Moses, as God’s servant, signifies divine continuity in leadership and command. This historical event underscores the spiritual truth that God’s people are called to stand with and serve one another until all receive their full inheritance in Christ. For believers, this can be understood as aiding others in their spiritual battles and journey towards eternal rest in God's presence, rather than retreating to personal comforts prematurely.