Joshua 17:17 kjv
And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:
Joshua 17:17 nkjv
And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph?to Ephraim and Manasseh?saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot,
Joshua 17:17 niv
But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph?to Ephraim and Manasseh?"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment
Joshua 17:17 esv
Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only,
Joshua 17:17 nlt
Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, "Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion.
Joshua 17 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 13:16 | "I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth..." | God's promise of numerous descendants |
| Gen 15:5 | "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them..." | God's promise of countless offspring |
| Gen 48:19 | "His offspring shall become a multitude of nations." | Blessing of Manasseh/Ephraim to be numerous |
| Num 26:28-37 | Census figures for Ephraim and Manasseh. | Demonstrates their large population |
| Deut 1:10 | "The Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars..." | Acknowledges Israel's population growth |
| Deut 7:1-2 | Instructions to utterly destroy inhabitants of the land. | Command to dispossess stronger nations |
| Deut 9:1-3 | "Know therefore today that he who goes over before you..." | Assurance of God's presence against stronger foes |
| Josh 11:21-22 | Describes how Joshua cut off Anakim from the hill country. | Example of driving out strong enemies |
| Judg 1:27-28 | Manasseh did not drive out inhabitants of certain towns. | Illustrates failure to fully dispossess |
| Judg 1:29 | Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. | Example of failure to fully dispossess |
| 2 Sam 10:12 | "Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people..." | Courage and effort in battle are key |
| Psa 44:3 | "For not by their own sword did they win the land..." | Emphasizes God's role in victory |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." | Victory depends on the Lord, not strength |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." | Divine empowerment crucial for victory |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | Empowerment through divine strength |
| Heb 4:11 | "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest..." | Call to diligent effort |
| Heb 11:32-34 | Heroes of faith who "conquered kingdoms, enforced justice..." | Faith leads to overcoming obstacles |
| 1 John 4:4 | "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world." | Overcoming power resides within believers |
| Eph 6:10-12 | "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." | Spiritual battle requires divine strength |
| 1 Cor 16:13 | "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." | Call to strength and resolve |
Joshua 17 verses
Joshua 17 17 Meaning
Joshua 17:17 articulates Joshua's reassuring declaration to the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), acknowledging their significant numerical strength. It counters their prior complaint about insufficient land by affirming their formidable power and large population. Joshua challenges them to not merely accept existing boundaries but to actively expand into the mountainous, forested territories, even those occupied by powerful Canaanite groups, assuring them that their might will enable them to possess the land.
Joshua 17 17 Context
Joshua chapter 17 details the allocation of land to the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, the two sons of Joseph. While Manasseh receives a divided inheritance (some on the east bank of Jordan and some on the west), Ephraim receives territory primarily in the central hill country. This specific verse (Josh 17:17) directly follows a complaint by the tribes of Joseph (Josh 17:14-16) that the single allotted portion is insufficient for their numerous people, especially given the formidable Canaanite inhabitants of the fertile valleys who possess chariots of iron. Joshua's response in verse 17 addresses their numerical strength directly and turns their complaint into an exhortation, urging them to utilize their power to clear and possess more land in the challenging mountainous region, even in the presence of technologically superior enemies. Historically, this period reflects Israel's transition from nomadic conquest to settled occupation, where challenges included driving out remaining inhabitants and cultivating the land.
Joshua 17 17 Word analysis
- Then (וַיֹּאמֶר): Signifies Joshua's direct reply following the complaint of the sons of Joseph in the preceding verses.
- Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - Yehoshua): Meaning "The Lord is salvation." The leader of Israel, demonstrating divine wisdom in leadership and encouraging faith over fear. His name itself points to God's enablement for the task.
- spoke (וַיֹּאמֶר): Implying authority and wisdom. It's a pronouncement, not a casual remark.
- to the house of Joseph (לְבֵית יוֹסֵף - l'veit Yosef): Refers collectively to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. These were particularly large and prominent tribes due to the double inheritance given to Joseph's sons.
- saying (לֵאמֹר): Introduces direct speech, indicating the precise words spoken.
- You (אַתָּה - atah): Emphatic plural, addressing the combined strength of Ephraim and Manasseh directly.
- are a numerous people (עַם רָב - am rav): "People" (am) referring to a large national group, "numerous" (rav) emphasizing great quantity. This acknowledges their core complaint and affirms their size, but transforms it into a basis for responsibility rather than a reason for complaint. Their numbers reflect God's covenant blessing (Gen 13:16; 48:19).
- and have great power (וְכֹחַ גָּדוֹל - v'khoach gadol): "Power" (khoach) implies strength, might, ability, and even military capacity. "Great" (gadol) intensifies this. Joshua explicitly states that their numerical strength translates into a significant potential for effective action. This is the antidote to their complaint about their strong enemies.
- You shall not have (לֹא יִהְיֶה לָּכֶם - lo yihyeh lakhem): A firm, declarative statement, emphasizing that the limited lot they received should not be their only inheritance. It implies a command or expectation for them to take more.
- only one lot (גוֹרָל אֶחָד - goral echad): "Lot" (goral) refers to the portion of land allocated by lot. "One" (echad) highlights the singularity they complained about. Joshua challenges their mindset that their destiny is confined to what was merely apportioned at first.
Joshua 17 17 Bonus section
- The term "iron chariots" (mentioned in Josh 17:16) was a significant military technological advantage for the Canaanites. Joshua's response in Josh 17:17-18 implicitly teaches that divine strength coupled with human effort can overcome superior technology.
- Joshua's leadership here exemplifies good management and encouragement: he validates their claim (they are numerous) while simultaneously challenging their perceived limitations and shifting their perspective from constraint to potential.
- This passage serves as a theological statement about God's provision and the people's responsibility. God gives the land and the ability, but His people must act in faith to fully realize the inheritance. This mirrors the Christian walk where believers are given spiritual resources and divine power, yet must actively contend for the spiritual inheritance and engage in kingdom work (Eph 6:10).
- The emphasis on clearing the forest ('You shall clear it and its outlying parts will be yours,' in Josh 17:18) underscores that physical effort and preparation are necessary alongside military action in possessing the land. This duality reflects the holistic nature of obedience.
Joshua 17 17 Commentary
Joshua 17:17 is a pivotal verse because it moves from mere land distribution to a principle of faith, effort, and possessing divine inheritance. The tribes of Joseph, descendants of Jacob's most favored son, are blessed with exceptional numbers and power, fulfilling ancestral promises. However, they demonstrate a spirit of complaint and a focus on the difficulties (the iron chariots, the strong Canaanites) rather than their God-given strength. Joshua does not dismiss their numerical argument; instead, he leverages it. He acknowledges their strength, turning it into a divine mandate: "You are a numerous people and have great power. Therefore, you shall not merely have one lot." This statement implies that their capacity for expansion means they should possess more.
The implication is a call to diligent, courageous action. They are to enter the hill country, a forested, challenging terrain, clear it, and dispossess the inhabitants. This required hard labor (clearing forests) and sustained warfare (against the well-equipped Canaanites). The challenge for the Josephites was not a lack of resources or people but a lack of resolve and trust in God's empowering presence. Joshua is effectively telling them: "Your strength is not for complaining about your portion but for fulfilling the divine commission to expand it." This principle extends beyond the physical land, highlighting that God blesses His people with resources and capabilities not for comfortable inactivity, but for diligent and faithful work in His kingdom. Overcoming obstacles requires embracing the strength God has already given.