Joshua 21:44 kjv
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Joshua 21:44 nkjv
The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Joshua 21:44 niv
The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands.
Joshua 21:44 esv
And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands.
Joshua 21:44 nlt
And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD helped them conquer all their enemies.
Joshua 21 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | "To your offspring I will give this land." | Promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 15:18-21 | "...I give this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt..." | God's covenant with Abraham, specifying land borders. |
| Gen 26:3 | "...I will give all these lands to you and to your offspring, and I will establish the oath..." | Promise to Isaac, reiterating the oath. |
| Gen 35:12 | "The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you..." | Promise confirmed to Jacob. |
| Exod 3:8 | "So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up...to a land flowing with milk and honey..." | God's intention to bring Israel to the promised land. |
| Deut 1:7-8 | "Turn and take your journey...behold, I have set the land before you..." | Command to possess the promised land. |
| Deut 12:10 | "...He will give you rest from all your enemies around..." | God promises rest upon settling the land. |
| Josh 1:13 | "...The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest..." | Rest associated with occupying the land. |
| Josh 22:4 | "And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as He promised them..." | Similar declaration of God giving rest. |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant..." | Highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind." | God's absolute faithfulness to His word. |
| 1 Kgs 8:56 | "Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised." | Solomon's recognition of fulfilled promise and rest. |
| Deut 7:24 | "And he will give their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name perish..." | Promise of complete victory over enemies. |
| Josh 10:42 | "Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel." | Emphasizes God's active role in victory. |
| Exod 23:27 | "I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come..." | God sending confusion among enemies for Israel. |
| Lev 26:7-8 | "You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword." | Promises of victory for obedience. |
| Deut 28:7 | "The Lord will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you..." | Promise of God defeating their enemies. |
| Neh 9:8 | "...You found his heart faithful before You, and made with him a covenant...You have performed Your words, for You are righteous." | Acknowledges God's fulfillment of Abrahamic covenant. |
| Ps 44:3 | "For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but by Your right hand and Your arm, and by the light of Your face, for You favored them." | God, not human might, secures the land and victory. |
| Heb 4:1 | "Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands..." | Alludes to the rest of Canaan as a type of spiritual rest. |
| Heb 4:9-11 | "So then, there remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God...Let us therefore strive to enter that rest..." | Interprets Canaan's rest as foreshadowing spiritual and eternal rest. |
| Isa 11:10 | "In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples...and his resting place shall be glorious." | Prophecy of Messiah bringing glorious rest. |
| 2 Sam 7:10-11 | "I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again..." | Foreshadows future and ultimate rest in God's eternal kingdom under Christ. |
Joshua 21 verses
Joshua 21 44 Meaning
Joshua 21:44 declares the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His ancient promises to the patriarchs regarding the land of Canaan. It asserts that the Lord sovereignly granted the Israelites complete peace and security (rest) from all surrounding adversaries. No enemy was able to withstand them, as God Himself delivered all their foes into their control. This verse summarizes a key theological point of the book of Joshua: God's unfailing commitment to His covenant word.
Joshua 21 44 Context
Joshua chapter 21 concludes the detailed account of the land's distribution among the tribes of Israel, focusing specifically on the allocation of forty-eight cities to the Levites from among the tribal inheritances. The preceding chapters chronicle the campaigns of conquest, particularly in chapters 6-12, followed by the apportionment of the land to the individual tribes. Joshua 21:43-45 serves as a grand theological summary and a conclusive statement for the entire conquest and land distribution phase, reiterating God's fidelity to His ancient promises. Historically, this verse marks a period where Israel had, through divine power and human obedience, largely subdued the primary threats in the land, moving from a nomadic, warring existence to settling in their designated territories.
Joshua 21 44 Word analysis
- And the Lord (YHWH - יְהוָה): Refers to the personal, covenant-making and covenant-keeping God of Israel. The emphasis here is on His sovereignty and active involvement, not on Israel's own might or ingenuity.
- gave them (nāṯan - נָתַן): Means to give, grant, bestow, deliver. Highlights God as the sole giver and initiator of the blessing, underscoring divine grace.
- rest (nūaḥ - נוּחַ): This is a key term, meaning quietness, security, a settled condition, cessation from wandering and warfare, peace, and permanent dwelling. It implies an internal state of tranquility and external freedom from threats. This "rest" is not merely physical inactivity but a state of peace and security granted by God. It connects to the theme of God's "Sabbath rest" and the ultimate spiritual rest.
- all around (misāḇı̂ḇ - מִסָּבִיב): Signifies completeness and comprehensiveness. There were no active, widespread threats remaining from any direction at that time, emphasizing a secure environment.
- according to all that He swore (šāba‘ - שָׁבַע): Highlights the solemn oath and inviolable promise made by God. God’s promises are binding and guaranteed by His own character and authority.
- to their fathers (ʾaḇōṯ - אָבוֹת): Refers to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This phrase links the present fulfillment directly to the foundational covenant promises given centuries earlier. It underlines the long-term, unfolding nature of God's redemptive plan.
- And not one man of all their enemies stood before them (qā’m lipēnēy - קָם לִפְנֵי): Means no one was able to resist or successfully oppose them in battle. It is a hyperbolic expression emphasizing the decisiveness of God's victories on Israel's behalf, rendering their enemies helpless.
- the Lord delivered (nāṯan - נָתַן): Repetition of the verb "gave" or "delivered." This reiterates divine agency. God's act of giving rest is directly tied to His act of delivering enemies.
- all their enemies (ʾōyeḇ - אוֹיֵב): All adversaries. Reaffirms the complete and total nature of the victory.
- into their hand (bəyāḏām - בְּיָדָם): An idiom signifying that the enemies were put into Israel's power, under their control, completely conquered.
Joshua 21 44 Bonus section
The comprehensive nature of "rest all around" means that geographically, militarily, and socially, God provided conditions for Israel to dwell securely. While the text may appear to conflict with later accounts in Judges describing persistent Canaanite elements, this verse is best understood as a statement of theological fulfillment from God's perspective. God had done His part, providing the opportunity for complete conquest and secure dwelling. Any subsequent failure to achieve total dominance lay with Israel's incomplete obedience or lack of faith in expelling all inhabitants. This verse highlights divine enablement rather than perfect human execution. It showcases the unshakeable character of God's promises and forms a foundation for future redemptive history, pointing towards the ultimate "rest" for God's people found in Jesus Christ, where victory over spiritual enemies and complete peace are fully realized.
Joshua 21 44 Commentary
Joshua 21:44 is a climactic declaration in the book of Joshua, affirming the profound faithfulness of God to His ancient covenants. It underscores that the peace, security, and victory experienced by Israel in Canaan were entirely God's doing, not a result of Israelite strength or strategy. The "rest" provided by the Lord was multifaceted, encompassing physical cessation of war, safe settlement in the land, and a pervasive sense of divine protection "all around." This "rest" was the tangible fulfillment of solemn promises God had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob centuries earlier. While the book of Judges later recounts ongoing conflicts, Joshua 21:44 expresses a theological truth: God had provided Israel with all they needed for complete rest and security. The remaining struggles were often due to Israel's disobedience or lack of faith in fully possessing what God had already granted. The verse stands as a powerful testimony to God's unfailing word, demonstrating that He always completes what He promises. This also sets a foundation for understanding God's ultimate "rest" offered in the Messiah, where true spiritual peace and victory over sin and death are found.