Joshua 13 1

Joshua 13:1 kjv

Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Joshua 13:1 nkjv

Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: "You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.

Joshua 13:1 niv

When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, "You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

Joshua 13:1 esv

Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, "You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess.

Joshua 13:1 nlt

When Joshua was an old man, the LORD said to him, "You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.

Joshua 13 verses

Joshua 13 1 Meaning

Joshua chapter 13 verse 1 marks a significant turning point in the Book of Joshua. It reveals that Joshua, the appointed leader of Israel, had reached an advanced age. Despite the ongoing, significant task of fully possessing the promised land, the Lord directly informs Joshua that much territory still remains unconquered. This divine declaration prompts a shift from aggressive military conquest to the allocation and distribution of the land among the tribes, signifying God's continued faithfulness to His covenant promises even amidst human limitations and incomplete obedience.

Joshua 13 1 Context

Joshua 13:1 transitions the narrative of the Book of Joshua from the preceding accounts of Israel's victorious military campaigns and territorial conquests (chapters 1-12) to the intricate process of land distribution among the Israelite tribes (chapters 13-21). Historically, it is set near the end of the initial conquest period, likely some years after the major battles had been won, but before all the indigenous populations were completely dispossessed. Culturally, inheriting land was central to the identity and prosperity of an ancient Israelite family, rooted in the divine covenant and Abrahamic promise. This verse highlights a practical limitation – Joshua's age – and a divine decree that God's plan for Israel's inheritance must continue, even if through a different phase and by different means (surveying and allotting by tribes) rather than sustained warfare by one leader. It implicitly confronts the potential human perception that the task was finished or that God's promise had failed due to incomplete conquest; instead, it reinforces that God's purpose remains, and the responsibility shifts.

Joshua 13 1 Word analysis

• "Now Joshua": This opening phrase signals a narrative transition. Joshua (Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshu'a), meaning "The Lord is salvation," is identified as the central figure whose personal status frames the upcoming divine command. His name itself points to God's ultimate role in their victories.
• "was old": Hebrew: זָקֵן (zaqen). This word specifically means "old" or "elderly." It signifies a natural stage of life, highlighting the physical limitations and inevitable mortality of even divinely appointed leaders. This recognition of age is common for pivotal figures nearing the end of their service (e.g., Abraham in Gen 24:1; David in 1 Kgs 1:1).
• "and advanced in years": Hebrew: בָּא בַּיָּמִים (ba ba-yamim), literally "come into the days." This is an idiom indicating extreme old age, a very venerable or advanced stage of life. Its inclusion emphasizes the depth of Joshua's age, making his continued full-scale military leadership impossible.
• "and the Lord said to him": This phrase highlights divine initiative and direct revelation. Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, personally addresses Joshua, demonstrating God's sovereignty over the mission and His direct involvement in Israel's affairs. This underscores that the next steps are by divine mandate, not human strategy.
• "You are old and advanced in years": This is God directly confirming Joshua's condition. It's not a rebuke but an acknowledgment of a practical reality. This divine affirmation sets the stage for the strategic shift in the mission, emphasizing that human capacities are finite, but God's purpose endures.
• "and there remains yet": Hebrew: וַתִּשָּׁאֶר (vattishsha'er) from the root שָׁאַר (sha'ar), meaning "to remain, be left over." This signifies that a portion of the task or territory is still undone or unconquered. It acts as a divine inventory of the unfulfilled part of the original commission.
• "very much": Hebrew: מְאֹד רַבָּה (me'od rabbah). This intensifies the preceding phrase. Rabbah means "much, great," and me'od is an adverb for "very." Together, they emphasize the significant quantity of land yet to be possessed. It refutes any notion that the conquest was largely complete.
• "land": Hebrew: הָאָרֶץ (ha'aretz), specifically "the land," referring to the Promised Land. This term grounds the divine message in the tangible reality of the geographical territory promised to Israel by God.
• "to possess": Hebrew: לְרִשְׁתָּהּ (l'rishtah) from the root יָרַשׁ (yarash), meaning "to inherit, take possession of." This key term denotes the divine expectation for Israel to fully occupy and control the promised territory. It encapsulates the core mission and God's intent for the land to become Israel's rightful inheritance.

Joshua 13 1 Bonus section

This verse is pivotal because it underscores the concept that divine promises often require ongoing human engagement across generations. It suggests that even mighty leaders have their limits, but God's work transcends individual lifespans. For believers, it highlights that spiritual "conquest" or "inheritance" in Christ (our spiritual land of promise) is not always immediate or entirely fulfilled upon conversion but may involve a lifetime of "possessing" the promises of God, working out one's salvation, and engaging in spiritual battles. It foreshadows the continued challenges Israel faced in fully dispossessing the inhabitants and underscores God's patience and persistent faithfulness despite human imperfection and incomplete obedience.

Joshua 13 1 Commentary

Joshua 13:1 marks a crucial juncture in Israel's history under Joshua's leadership. Despite numerous victories and the breaking of major strongholds, the comprehensive task of "possessing" the entire promised land was incomplete. God, in His omniscience, directly addresses Joshua's advanced age, acknowledging his physical limitations while simultaneously highlighting the substantial amount of work still ahead. This is not a failure of God's promise but an unfinished aspect of human obedience. The verse signals a divine shift in strategy from unified military conquest under a single commander to a detailed allocation of territories by tribe, emphasizing God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant pledge to give Israel the land, even as leadership transitions and methods change. It serves as a reminder that God's plans are sovereign and continue regardless of human limitations, necessitating continued faith and action by subsequent generations.