Joshua 10 25

Joshua 10:25 kjv

And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

Joshua 10:25 nkjv

Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight."

Joshua 10:25 niv

Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight."

Joshua 10:25 esv

And Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight."

Joshua 10:25 nlt

"Don't ever be afraid or discouraged," Joshua told his men. "Be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies."

Joshua 10 verses

Joshua 10 25 Meaning

Joshua chapter 10 verse 25 is an exhortation given by Joshua to the leaders of Israel following their decisive victory over the five Amorite kings. It serves as a powerful message of reassurance and encouragement, dispelling fear and inspiring confidence. Joshua affirms that the triumph over these powerful enemies is a clear indication of how the LORD will deal with all future adversaries. It highlights divine sovereignty in warfare and promises God’s continued presence and intervention on behalf of His people.

Joshua 10 25 Context

Joshua chapter 10 details a pivotal moment in the Israelite conquest of Canaan. After Israel made a covenant with Gibeon, five Amorite kings—of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—formed a coalition to attack Gibeon. Gibeon appealed to Joshua for help. In response, Joshua launched a swift, decisive night march and engaged the Amorite forces in battle, during which the LORD hurled large hailstones from the sky and miraculously made the sun stand still to allow Israel to complete their victory. The five kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Verse 25 occurs immediately after Joshua has instructed his men to roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, imprisoning the kings, and commanding them to continue the pursuit of the fleeing Amorite army. Upon their return, Joshua commands the commanders to put their feet on the necks of the captured kings (v. 24), a symbolic act of absolute victory and subjugation. Joshua’s subsequent exhortation in verse 25 is aimed at cementing their confidence in the LORD’s continuous intervention and preparing them for the remaining challenges of the conquest. It’s a moment of reinforcing leadership and divine promise after a monumental display of God’s power.

Joshua 10 25 Word analysis

• And Joshua said: This indicates a direct address by Israel's leader. Joshua (יהושע – Yehoshua), meaning "The LORD is salvation" or "The LORD saves," embodies the very promise he is conveying.
• to them: Refers to the commanders of the men of war (v. 24), the military leaders witnessing the subjugation of the enemy kings. This message is primarily for those leading the troops, emphasizing leadership and morale.
• Do not be afraid (אַל תִּירְאוּ – al tir'u): A command in the negative, rooted in the Hebrew word יָרֵא (yare), which can mean to fear, reverence, or dread. Here, it is an exhortation against cowardly or debilitating fear, a common challenge in warfare. It is a recurring divine instruction throughout Scripture, aimed at encouraging faith over apprehension in the face of daunting challenges.
• or dismayed (וְאַל תֵּחָתּוּ – ve'al tehattu): A negative imperative from the root חָתַת (hathath), meaning to be broken, disheartened, or filled with terror. It implies a deep psychological state of discouragement or dread that can paralyze action. The pairing with "afraid" covers both the initial onset of fear and its more prolonged, weakening effect. This indicates Joshua’s understanding of human psychological vulnerability.
• be strong (חִזְקוּ – chizqu): An imperative from חָזַק (hazaq), meaning to be firm, strengthen, courageous, or grip tightly. It speaks to inner fortitude and resilience, and readiness for physical and moral exertion.
• and courageous (וְאִמְצוּ – ve'imtsu): An imperative from אָמֵץ ('ametz), meaning to be strong, valiant, resolute, or firm. This term complements "strong," suggesting active determination and bold action, particularly in the face of opposition. The phrase "be strong and courageous" is a foundational command given repeatedly by God to Moses, Joshua, and others appointed to lead in challenging circumstances, underscoring reliance on divine strength.
• for thus (כִּי־כֵן – ki-ken): The particle כִּי (ki) introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding command. "Thus" refers to the decisive victory over these kings and the specific symbolic act of putting feet on their necks—a display of complete subjugation. This acts as a powerful object lesson.
• the LORD (יהוה – YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel, His faithfulness to His promises, and His active role as the divine warrior (e.g., Exod 14:14). This highlights that the victory is not due to Israel’s might but to God's intervention. This directly contrasts the reliance on various local deities (like Baal or Chemosh) for victory, common in Canaanite culture; YHWH alone is sovereign.
• will do: This verb in the future tense is a divine promise. It signifies a continued, assured intervention of God on Israel's behalf, extending beyond the present battle.
• to all your enemies: This broad scope reinforces the idea that the subjugation of these five kings is not an isolated event but a precedent. It promises comprehensive victory over all hostile forces they encounter in the conquest.
• against whom you fight: This links the divine promise directly to their ongoing mission and future military encounters. It provides immediate application and reassurance for the challenges ahead, confirming that every battle fought under God's command will ultimately result in His predetermined victory.

Joshua 10 25 Bonus section

The concept of "holy war" (herem) is a crucial backdrop to this verse, although not directly mentioned. In these conflicts, Israel was to be fully dependent on God for victory, and His direct intervention underscored His role as the Divine Warrior. Joshua 10:25 is a powerful theological statement about the exclusive sovereignty of YHWH over human events, particularly warfare. It acts as a direct polemic against the polytheistic Canaanite belief system, where victory or defeat was attributed to various regional deities and their favor. By demonstrating His unmatched power and declaring He will defeat all of Israel's enemies, YHWH is established as the supreme deity. The physical act of stepping on the kings' necks, commanded by Joshua just prior to this verse, was a common ancient Near Eastern ritual symbolizing complete subjugation and dehumanization of the enemy, affirming YHWH's absolute triumph through His people. This passage is also significant because it encapsulates Joshua's leadership qualities as portrayed throughout the book: not only a military strategist but also a spiritual shepherd who consistently directs Israel's gaze towards the LORD as the true source of their power and ultimate success.

Joshua 10 25 Commentary

Joshua 10:25 stands as a quintessential declaration of divine promise and human encouragement within the biblical narrative of conquest. Coming directly after a symbolic act of ultimate humiliation against defeated kings, Joshua ensures that Israel's military leaders grasp the theological implications: God is not merely helping them; He is acting on their behalf. The command "Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous" is more than a pep talk; it's a re-issuing of the covenantal command for leaders facing the LORD's work. It recognizes the inherent fear in confronting powerful foes but immediately counteracts it with a reminder of the LORD's proven might and guaranteed future victory. This verse serves to internalize the lessons of the sun standing still and the hail storm: the LORD will deliver all enemies into Israel’s hand, provided they move forward in faith and obedience, shedding all crippling fear. It establishes a divine pattern: the visible defeat of a present enemy is a foretaste of all future victories wrought by the Almighty. For practical usage, this passage underscores that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather acting despite fear, rooted in confidence in God's promises and power. It also emphasizes the importance of strong, God-centered leadership in dispelling collective anxieties and motivating collective action towards divine objectives.