Joshua 1:4 kjv
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
Joshua 1:4 nkjv
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
Joshua 1:4 niv
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates?all the Hittite country?to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
Joshua 1:4 esv
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.
Joshua 1:4 nlt
from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.'
Joshua 1 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | To your offspring I will give this land. | Initial Abrahamic land promise |
| Gen 15:18-21 | On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates... the Kenite, the Kenizzite, the Kadmonite, the Hittite..." | Specific boundaries and peoples mentioned earlier |
| Exo 23:31 | And I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates... | Similar extensive borders given by God |
| Num 34:1-12 | Lord said to Moses, "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan by its boundaries...'" | God defines precise boundaries for the land |
| Deut 1:7-8 | Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland, in the Negeb and by the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites... | Moses commands movement to possess the land |
| Deut 11:24 | Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. From the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the Western Sea shall be your territory. | Near identical land description in Deuteronomy |
| Psa 72:8 | May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! | Prophetic imagery of universal reign (Messianic) |
| 1 Kgs 4:21 | Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. | Partial historical fulfillment under Solomon |
| Psa 105:8-11 | He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac... and for Israel an everlasting covenant... to you I will give... | God's eternal remembrance of land promise |
| Isa 11:11-12 | He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel... from the four corners of the earth. | Future re-gathering into the promised land |
| Eze 47:13-20 | Thus says the Lord God: These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. | Idealized future boundaries in prophetic vision |
| Mic 7:14 | Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance... Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. | Promise of return and restored pasture in the land |
| Heb 3:7-19 | Refers to those who did not enter "His rest" (the land) because of disobedience. | Warnings about failing to enter God's rest/promise |
| Heb 4:1-11 | Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it... | Spiritual rest parallel to entering the land |
| Acts 7:5 | Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. | Stephen emphasizes the promise before possession |
| Psa 2:8 | Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. | Expanded Messianic dominion over earth |
| Isa 54:2-3 | Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back... For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations... | Prophecy of spiritual expansion/inheritance |
| Zech 14:10 | All the land shall be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft from its place and be inhabited... | Prophetic re-ordering of the land in future |
| Rom 4:13 | For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. | Spiritual heirs to a greater inheritance |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. | New Covenant believers are heirs to promises |
| Rev 21:1 | Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. | Ultimate fulfillment: new creation, ultimate rest |
Joshua 1 verses
Joshua 1 4 Meaning
Joshua 1:4 articulates the comprehensive and specific geographical boundaries of the land that God pledges to Israel as their inheritance. It details a vast territory stretching from the southern desert wilderness to the northern mountainous region of Lebanon, and from the great Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, encompassing lands associated with various peoples, notably the Hittites. This declaration serves as a reaffirmation of God's covenant promises, assuring Joshua of the extent of their destined possession.
Joshua 1 4 Context
Joshua 1 initiates the narrative of Israel's conquest and settlement of the promised land, directly following Moses' death (Josh 1:1). God commissions Joshua as Moses' successor, empowering him and assuring him of divine presence and victory. The first three verses focus on Joshua's call and the command to cross the Jordan. Verse 4 then provides the precise geographical scope of the land promised to Israel, affirming the covenant established with Abraham (Gen 15:18-21) and reiterated through Moses (Deut 11:24). This specific land promise motivates the formidable task ahead and serves as a tangible expression of God's faithfulness to His word and His people. Historically, this promise was given while Israel was encamped on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, looking towards the land they were about to enter. The detailed boundaries underscored the enormity of the divine gift and the vastness of the undertaking.
Word Analysis
- From the wilderness:
midbar(מִדְבָּר) - Refers to the arid, uncultivated regions to the south of Canaan, specifically the Sinai and Negev deserts. This marks the southern border. Its significance here is establishing a boundary starting from Israel's nomadic experience. - and this Lebanon:
ve-ha-Levanon ha-zeh(וְהַלְּבָנוֹן הַזֶּה) - "This Lebanon" points to the prominent mountain range to the north of Canaan, famous for its cedar forests. It serves as the northernmost boundary, possibly even visible from where Israel was encamped. - as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
ad ha-nahar ha-gadol nehar-Prat(עַד-הַנָּהָר הַגָּדוֹל נְהַר-פְּרָת) - The Euphrates,Perath(פְרָת), is one of the longest and most significant rivers of the ancient Near East, flowing through modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Designating it as the "great river" (as it was perceived) highlights the expansive eastern boundary, indicating a vast dominion that Israel was to possess. This extent was historically realized most fully only during the reigns of David and Solomon. - all the land of the Hittites:
kol erets ha-Chitti(כֹּל אֶרֶץ הַחִתִּים) - The Hittites were a major power in the Late Bronze Age (14th-12th century BC), with a vast empire north of Canaan, extending into Syria and Anatolia. This inclusion implies either that the promised land extended very far north into what was their primary territory, or that "the land of the Hittites" here serves as a synecdoche, representing all the lands to be conquered or people groups inhabiting those northern regions. It implicitly challenges the dominance of such a major contemporary empire. - to the Great Sea:
ve'ad ha-yam ha-gadol(וְעַד הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל) - This refers to the Mediterranean Sea, forming the natural western boundary of Canaan. Its mention confirms the western extent of the promised territory. - toward the going down of the sun:
mevo ha-shemesh(מְבוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ) - A poetic and common ancient Near Eastern idiom to denote the direction of the west. It emphasizes the natural and universally understood western boundary defined by the sunset.
Words-group analysis:
- "From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates": This phrase precisely defines the horizontal (south to north and east) and western extent of the promised land. The boundaries represent the maximum geographical ideal of the inheritance, much larger than what Israel continuously possessed.
- "all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.": This phrase focuses on the depth (east to west, implicitly) of the land within those northern/southern bounds and affirms the promise as a divinely granted "territory" (possession). The inclusion of the "Hittites" points to the formidable nature of the conquest and God's power over mighty nations.
Joshua 1 4 Commentary
Joshua 1:4 provides a breathtaking vision of the land promised to Israel, a vast domain stretching across major geographical markers of the ancient world. This isn't just a general promise; it's a specific divine blueprint, emphasizing God's meticulous care and faithfulness to the covenant with Abraham. The listing of distinct boundaries, including the Euphrates (far to the east) and "all the land of the Hittites" (far to the north/northeast), delineates an ideal and maximal extent of territory, demonstrating God's incredibly generous intention for His people. While this full extent was only briefly attained during the golden age of David and Solomon, it constantly served as a reminder of God's initial promise and the nation's failure to fully claim their inheritance, often due to disobedience. It highlights that the land was not merely a conquest but a divine gift, with God determining its limits. The sheer size implied here also demonstrates God's sovereignty over the nations inhabiting these lands, including mighty empires like the Hittites, against whom Israel might seem insignificant. This divine promise served to build Joshua's faith and equip the people for the immense task ahead, knowing that God's word was true.
Bonus SectionThe phrase "all the land of the Hittites" presents an interesting challenge. Historically, the main Hittite Empire was located in central Anatolia (modern Turkey), far north of Canaan. Some interpretations suggest "Hittites" here refers more generally to a significant people group or a portion of their land bordering Canaan. Another view proposes it might refer to Neo-Hittite states or specific groups that settled further south, within or near Canaan. However, given the context of other grand boundary markers like the Euphrates, it's more likely intended to signify an extremely extensive northern and northeastern reach, perhaps encompassing territories historically contested or known to them from a broader ANE geopolitical understanding. It signifies that even a major empire's land falls under God's grant to Israel, showing God's ultimate dominion over all peoples and lands.