Joshua 21:43 kjv
And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
Joshua 21:43 nkjv
So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.
Joshua 21:43 niv
So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.
Joshua 21:43 esv
Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.
Joshua 21:43 nlt
So the LORD gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.
Joshua 21 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | "To your descendants I will give this land." | Initial promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 13:15 | "For all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever." | Affirmation of the vast land inheritance. |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your descendants I have given this land..." | Covenant ratified, defining the land's boundaries. |
| Gen 17:8 | "The land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession..." | Permanent nature of the land promise. |
| Gen 26:3 | "I will be with you and bless you... for to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham." | Promise renewed to Isaac, emphasis on the oath. |
| Gen 28:13 | "The land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants." | Promise renewed to Jacob. |
| Ex 6:4 | "I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan..." | God remembering His covenant with the patriarchs. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers..." | Command to enter and possess, linking back to oath. |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant..." | Emphasis on God's faithfulness and covenant-keeping. |
| Deut 9:5 | "Not for your righteousness... but for the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and in order to confirm the word which the LORD swore..." | Divine action linked to fulfilling His oath. |
| Deut 12:9-10 | "You have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you. But when you cross the Jordan... He gives you rest from all your enemies..." | Land as a place of rest and inheritance. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" | God's unchangeable character and reliability. |
| 1 Kgs 8:56 | "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed..." | Solomon's confirmation of God's past faithfulness. |
| Ps 89:34 | "My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips." | God's absolute commitment to His covenant. |
| Ps 105:8-11 | "He has remembered His covenant forever... the oath which He swore to Isaac, then He confirmed it... To Israel as an everlasting covenant... 'To you I will give the land of Canaan...' " | God's eternal memory and faithfulness to His oath. |
| Neh 9:8 | "You found his heart faithful before You, and You made a covenant with him... And You have fulfilled Your promise..." | Acknowledging God's fulfillment in history. |
| Josh 23:14 | "And behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled..." | Joshua's farewell address, reiterating God's perfect fulfillment. |
| Is 40:8 | "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." | Emphasizing the eternal nature of God's Word. |
| Heb 4:1 | "Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest..." | New Testament interpretation of entering God's rest/inheritance. |
| Heb 6:13-14 | "For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, 'I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.' " | God's unchallengeable oath as guarantor of His promise. |
| 2 Pet 3:9 | "The Lord is not slow about His promise... but is patient toward you..." | God's timing and certainty of promises. |
| Rev 21:1-3 | "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth... and I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men...' " | Ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in a new dwelling place. |
Joshua 21 verses
Joshua 21 43 Meaning
Joshua 21:43 encapsulates the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His sworn covenant promises to the patriarchs concerning the land of Canaan. It declares that the LORD, by His divine initiative, gave Israel the promised land, enabling them to take possession and settle securely within it, thereby confirming His steadfast character and the certainty of His Word. This verse serves as a climactic summary, asserting that all of God's prior assurances regarding the land had indeed come to pass in that generation.
Joshua 21 43 Context
Joshua 21:43 concludes the significant section of the book of Joshua detailing the distribution of the land among the Israelite tribes (Chapters 13-21) and specifically follows the allocation of Levitical cities across all tribal territories. This verse serves as a crucial theological and historical summary statement, signifying the successful completion of God's covenant plan for His people up to this point in the narrative. It emphasizes that despite the numerous challenges of the conquest and the tribal disputes, God remained faithful to His oath made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The chapter and its preceding narrative describe the culmination of the promises given to the patriarchs regarding land, indicating that Israel had received their inheritance and established their presence, preparing them for the next phase of their national existence.
Joshua 21 43 Word analysis
- So: (Heb. וַיִּתֵּן - "And he gave") This opening conjunction serves as a concluding summary, indicating that what follows is the direct consequence and fulfillment of the preceding narrative detailing the land's conquest and distribution. It highlights a divine culmination.
- the LORD: (Heb. יְהוָה - Yahweh) This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, and unchanging character as the one who keeps His promises. It underscores that the fulfillment of the land promise is not a result of human might or chance, but of divine decree and active intervention. Yahweh is the faithful and powerful God who acts on behalf of His people.
- gave: (Heb. נָתַן - natan) Signifies a benevolent, active bestowal or granting. This highlights God's sovereignty and initiative in bestowing the land as a gift, rather than Israel conquering it by their own power. It was God's direct act.
- Israel: The collective identity of God's covenant people, the descendants of Jacob. The promise and its fulfillment were for the nation as a whole.
- all the land: This phrase denotes the territorial boundaries originally promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18-21), not necessarily every single plot of land perfectly cleansed of all inhabitants. It refers to the territory itself as "given," with Israel positioned to possess it comprehensively. While the total extermination of Canaanites and complete occupation of every remote corner was still a process and often hindered by Israel's later disobedience, the foundational grant and opportunity to possess was realized at this time.
- which He had sworn: (Heb. נִשְׁבַּע - nishba, from שָׁבַע - shava, to swear an oath) This powerfully underscores the immutability and absolute certainty of God's promise. An oath from God, being sworn by His own unchangeable character (since there is no greater to swear by), guarantees its fulfillment. It refers to the oaths made to the patriarchs (Gen 26:3; Ex 32:13).
- to give: (Heb. לָתֵת - latet) Repetition of the "give" theme, reinforcing God's intentionality and beneficent will.
- to their fathers: (Heb. לַאֲבוֹתָם - la'avotam) Refers to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This directly connects the contemporary generation's experience back to the ancient, foundational covenant promises.
- and they possessed it: (Heb. וַיִּרָשׁוּהָ - vayyirashuha, from יָרַשׁ - yarash) Implies active inheritance and taking control of the land. It wasn't merely granted but effectively occupied, marking the practical realization of the promise. This signifies their transition from nomadic wanderers to settled inhabitants of their own land.
- and lived in it: (Heb. וַיֵּשְׁבוּ - vayyeshevu, from יָשַׁב - yashab) Conveys stability, settlement, and dwelling securely. This signifies the peace and rest God provided, the antithesis of their previous unsettled wandering or their slavery in Egypt. It suggests the establishment of homes, communities, and a rooted national existence.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So the LORD gave Israel all the land": This phrase highlights divine sovereignty and initiative. The granting of the land was entirely a work of the faithful covenant God, Yahweh, who directly acted on behalf of His people. It positions God as the primary actor, the Giver of the gift.
- "which He had sworn to give to their fathers": This emphasizes the historical continuity and unchangeable nature of God's covenant promises. The present fulfillment is directly rooted in ancient, solemn divine oaths, reinforcing God's faithfulness across generations. It points to a long-term plan finally coming to fruition.
- "and they possessed it and lived in it": This signifies the experiential reality of the promise's fulfillment. The Israelites not only received the right to the land but actively took hold of it and settled down, enjoying the fruit of God's promise. It portrays a state of secure dwelling and peace, providing tangible evidence of God's reliability.
Joshua 21 43 Bonus section
The "all the land" phrase, while confirming the territorial grant and initial possession, doesn't imply immediate or total eradication of every single Canaanite from every nook and cranny. Rather, it signifies the legal transfer of ownership and Israel's secure establishment within the main strategic and productive areas of the promised territory, laying the groundwork for eventual full occupation. This verse emphasizes the fulfillment of the oath regarding the land itself rather than the completion of a military mop-up operation. The "rest" implied by "lived in it" also carries a significant theological weight, looking back to the promise of "rest" after wandering and war, and foreshadowing a greater spiritual rest in Christ (as seen in Hebrews 4). This statement is thus a pivotal reminder of God's unwavering character and the ultimate certainty of His divine plans for His people.
Joshua 21 43 Commentary
Joshua 21:43 stands as a monumental declaration of God's faithfulness and the integrity of His Word. It marks a significant theological and historical turning point in Israel's narrative, affirming that Yahweh, the covenant God, had brought His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to fruition for their descendants. This verse underscores several profound truths: God's promises are immutable and will be fulfilled; His initiative is paramount in accomplishing His plans (He "gave" the land); and His people are recipients of divine grace, enjoying the rest and security that flow from His faithfulness. It serves as a testimony to God's power and trustworthiness, providing comfort and confidence for future generations, even amidst new challenges. The "all the land" indicates the total legal grant and Israel's effective establishment within its boundaries, though ongoing possession required continuous obedience and effort. The land was theirs, established by divine deed.