Joshua 12:4 kjv
And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Joshua 12:4 nkjv
The other king was Og king of Bashan and his territory, who was of the remnant of the giants, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Joshua 12:4 niv
And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei.
Joshua 12:4 esv
and Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei
Joshua 12:4 nlt
King Og of Bashan, the last of the Rephaites, lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei.
Joshua 12 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 21:33-35 | "Then they turned... king Og of Bashan... no survivor was left." | Direct account of Og's defeat. |
| Deut 3:1-7 | "Then we turned... Og the king of Bashan... We utterly destroyed them." | More detailed narrative of Og's defeat and the great destruction. |
| Deut 3:8-11 | "So we took... from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites... Only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim..." | Description of the conquered land, reinforces Og's status. |
| Josh 9:10 | "...what he had done to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth." | Echoes the same significant conquest, known by other nations. |
| Josh 13:12 | "all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei..." | Context of land distribution, repeating the exact location details. |
| Josh 13:30-31 | "...Manasseh possessed Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan..." | Allocation of Og's former territory to half-tribe Manasseh. |
| Ps 135:10-12 | "He struck down many nations... and Og, king of Bashan... and gave their land as a heritage..." | Commemorating God's mighty acts of conquest. |
| Ps 136:19-21 | "Sihon, king of the Amorites... and Og, king of Bashan... for his steadfast love endures forever." | Hymn of praise for God's enduring love in deliverance and conquest. |
| Neh 9:22 | "And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and apportioned them for them into every corner; so they took possession of the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan." | Review of God's covenant faithfulness and provision in history. |
| Gen 14:5 | "and in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim..." | Early mention of the Rephaim associated with Ashtaroth, highlighting their ancient presence. |
| Deut 2:10-11 | "The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim; they were accounted as Rephaim like the Anakim..." | Establishes the broad category of 'Rephaim' encompassing other giant groups. |
| Deut 2:20-21 | "That also was accounted a land of Rephaim... a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim..." | Further confirms the widespread nature and formidable stature of the Rephaim. |
| Amos 2:9 | "Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars..." | God's power over mighty and tall enemies, implicitly linked to groups like the Rephaim/Og. |
| 1 Sam 17:4-7 | "...a champion came out... Goliath... whose height was six cubits and a span." | Illustrates God's victory through His chosen servants over giants, echoing the earlier pattern. |
| 2 Sam 21:16-22 | "...there were giants; they were born to the Rapha in Gath... all four were born to the Rapha in Gath..." | Later encounters with giants, descendants of the "Rapha" (related to Rephaim), reinforcing God's ongoing power. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | "by faith conquered kingdoms... who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises..." | General principle of faith conquering kingdoms, directly applies to the conquest of Og and others. |
| Acts 7:45 | "...brought in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations..." | New Testament recognition of the dispossessing of nations under Joshua. |
| Rom 8:37 | "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." | Thematic resonance of God's people being victorious through divine power. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness..." | While literal, the conquest of land also held spiritual significance, reflecting conflict against forces of darkness embodied in pagan nations. |
| Rev 19:11-16 | "Then I saw heaven opened... He will strike down the nations..." | Prophetic imagery of the ultimate King who will conquer all earthly kingdoms, fulfilling the pattern set by divine conquests in Joshua. |
Joshua 12 verses
Joshua 12 4 Meaning
Joshua 12:4 recounts the territory and identity of Og, one of the two kings east of the Jordan defeated by Moses and the Israelites before entering Canaan. This verse specifies Og's dominion over Bashan and his association with the Rephaim, ancient giant peoples, pinpointing his main cities, Ashtaroth and Edrei. It serves as an essential inventory entry, summarizing a pivotal victory that cleared the way for Israel's occupation of the promised land.
Joshua 12 4 Context
Joshua chapter 12 serves as a concluding summary and inventory of the successful Israelite conquests under Moses and Joshua. Verses 1-6 recap the defeat of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og by Moses on the east side of the Jordan. Verses 7-24 then detail the impressive list of thirty-one kings vanquished by Joshua in Canaan, west of the Jordan. This chapter marks a theological turning point, emphasizing God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to give the land to His people. Verse 4 specifically reminds the audience of the pre-Jordan conquest of Og, linking him to the formidable Rephaim and naming his chief cities, thus reinforcing the magnitude of God's power over even the most powerful and unusual adversaries.
Joshua 12 4 Word analysis
- וּגְבוּל (ūgəḇūl): "and the boundary/territory of." The initial conjunction 'וּ' (u) means "and," linking this detail to the preceding description of Sihon's territory. 'גְּבוּל' (gəḇūl) denotes a defined frontier or region, indicating a precisely delimited domain taken by conquest. Its usage highlights the Israelites' comprehensive acquisition of lands as promised by God.
- עוֹג (ʿōḡ): "Og." The personal name of a giant Amorite king. His unique identity signifies a formidable individual. The distinct mention underscores his particular significance as one of the most famous and imposing enemies defeated by Israel.
- מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן (meleḵ haBāšān): "king of Bashan." 'מֶלֶךְ' (meleḵ) is "king," denoting sovereignty and power. 'הַבָּשָׁן' (haBāšān), "the Bashan," refers to a fertile and prominent region east of the Jordan. Bashan was known for its robust livestock and strength, making the conquest of its king particularly impressive and testifying to God's might over the land's strength.
- מִיֶּתֶר הָרְפָאִים (mīyet̲er hāRəfāʾîm): "from/of the remnant of the Rephaim." 'מִיֶּתֶר' (mīyet̲er) signifies "from the rest" or "a remnant of." This points to Og's lineage from a particular ancient race of giants. 'הָרְפָאִים' (hāRəfāʾîm), "the Rephaim," refers to a pre-Israelite group of very tall or giant peoples, often mentioned as the original inhabitants of certain regions in Canaan and Transjordan (Deut 2:10-11, Gen 14:5). Og's status as a "remnant" suggests he was one of the last and most notable of this powerful race, making his defeat even more significant as a sign of God's overwhelming power. This statement likely carries a polemic against the strength and perceived invincibility of such giant peoples, showing them to be vulnerable before God.
- הַיּוֹשֵׁב (hayyōšēḇ): "who was dwelling/living." This participle implies his continuous residence and established control over the designated cities. It confirms these were not transient claims but his recognized centers of power.
- בְּעַשְׁתָּרוֹת (bəʿaštārōṯ): "in Ashtaroth." 'בְּ' (bə) means "in." Ashtaroth was a major city in Bashan, prominently featured in the Hebrew Bible. It was named after Ashtoreth, a significant Canaanite goddess (often called Astarte in broader ancient Near Eastern contexts), whose cult was strong in the region. The city's fall represented not only a military victory but also a spiritual triumph over pagan idolatry and the perceived power of false gods associated with this stronghold. This explicitly serves as a polemic, demonstrating the Lord's absolute superiority over rival deities.
- וּבְאֶדְרֶעִי (ūḇəʾeḏreʿî): "and in Edrei." 'וּ' (u) is "and," connecting it to the previous city. Edrei was another major city in Bashan and the actual site where the decisive battle against Og occurred (Num 21:33, Deut 3:1). Its mention reinforces the completeness of the conquest, as it was the specific place of his downfall, highlighting the victory’s tactical significance and fulfillment of prophecy.
Joshua 12 4 Bonus section
The mention of "remnant of the Rephaim" and Og's great stature (his iron bedstead mentioned in Deut 3:11 was "nine cubits long and four cubits wide," or roughly 13.5 feet by 6 feet, indicating his immense size) likely evoked fear and awe in the original audience. God’s victory over such a figure would have profoundly demonstrated His matchless power, serving as a comfort and encouragement for Israel facing equally intimidating challenges in Canaan. The term "Rephaim" itself has multiple layers of meaning in ancient Hebrew thought, sometimes referring to physical giants, and other times possibly to the shadowy inhabitants of the underworld, connecting to a realm beyond ordinary human life. The triumph over Og thus might have implied a divine victory over not just terrestrial threats but also unseen spiritual forces of darkness linked to pagan worship and belief in such beings. The defeat of Og, in essence, showcased Yahweh's unparalleled supremacy, shattering any illusion of power held by Canaanite deities and their titanic champions.
Joshua 12 4 Commentary
Joshua 12:4 provides a concise yet potent summary of the defeat of King Og of Bashan. This verse emphasizes key aspects of this conquest: Og's extensive territory, his identity as one of the last remaining Rephaim (giants), and his stronghold cities, Ashtaroth and Edrei. The mention of the Rephaim highlights the extraordinary nature of Og and the incredible power of God required to overcome such a formidable adversary. The named cities, especially Ashtaroth with its pagan connotations, signify that the conquest was not just over land and people but also over idolatrous spiritual strongholds. This brief verse reaffirms God's faithfulness in clearing the path for Israel's inheritance by demonstrating His ability to defeat even the most daunting of foes, thus fulfilling His covenant promises. It is a powerful reminder that God enables His people to triumph over overwhelming odds, illustrating His sovereignty over all earthly powers and spiritual wickedness embedded in the land.