Joshua 23 9

Joshua 23:9 kjv

For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

Joshua 23:9 nkjv

For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.

Joshua 23:9 niv

"The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.

Joshua 23:9 esv

For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day.

Joshua 23:9 nlt

"For the LORD has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you.

Joshua 23 verses

Joshua 23 9 Meaning

Joshua 23:9 encapsulates the core message of Joshua's farewell address: that the LORD, Israel's covenant God, was the sole power responsible for their military successes and the possession of the Promised Land. It emphatically states that Yahweh Himself drove out the formidable Canaanite nations, rendering them utterly incapable of standing against Israel to that very day. This serves as a potent reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness, His supremacy over all other powers and gods, and Israel's utter dependence on divine intervention for their victory and continued security.

Joshua 23 9 Context

Joshua 23 marks a significant juncture in the history of Israel – Joshua's poignant farewell address to the nation as he nears the end of his life. The chapter begins with Joshua assembling all Israel, including their leaders, to deliver a solemn exhortation. Having completed the main conquest and settled the tribes in their inheritances, Joshua looks back on God's mighty acts and forward to Israel's future. Verse 9 is situated within this review of God's past faithfulness (Josh 23:3-8). Joshua reminds them how Yahweh had single-handedly fought for them and kept His promises, enabling them to dispossess the numerous and powerful Canaanite inhabitants. This historical remembrance serves as the foundational argument for Joshua's subsequent calls to undivided loyalty to Yahweh (vv. 6-8, 11) and stern warnings against apostasy (vv. 12-16). The historical context is a time of transition from conquest to settled living, but also a latent danger of assimilating with the remaining peoples and their idolatrous practices.

Joshua 23 9 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the previous statements about God fighting for Israel and His promises being fulfilled (vv. 3, 5). It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship between God's action and Israel's success.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The divine name emphasizes the covenant-making God of Israel, highlighting His unique relationship with His people and His omnipotence as the source of their strength and victories.
• has driven out (הוֹרִישׁ - horish): This is the Hiphil perfect form of the verb יָרַשׁ (yarash), meaning "to dispossess," "to cause to inherit," or "to drive out." The Hiphil causation form directly attributes the act of dispossessing the nations to Yahweh as the active agent. Israel merely "received" the outcome.
• before you (מִפְּנֵיכֶם - mipneikhem): Literally "from your presence" or "from before your face." This signifies God clearing the path, making space for Israel to enter and possess the land. It denotes God acting directly on Israel's behalf.
• great (גְּדֹלִים - gedolim): Referring to the "nations," this word indicates their substantial size, power, and significance in the ancient Near East, whether in terms of population, land, or military might.
• and strong (וַעֲצוּמִים - v'atsumim): Paired with "great," this further describes the formidable nature of the Canaanite nations, emphasizing their numerical strength, robust defenses, or perceived invincibility from a human perspective. Their might serves to amplify God's greater power in dispossessing them.
• nations (גּוֹיִם - goyim): Refers to the Gentile, non-Israelite peoples inhabiting Canaan. The context implicitly points to their polytheistic and idolatrous practices, over which Yahweh asserts His unchallenged supremacy by expelling them.
• but as for you (וְאֶתְכֶם - v'etkhem): The 'vav' (and) often functions adversatively or as a mild contrast here, drawing a distinction between the fate of the nations and that of Israel. It shifts focus back to Israel's experience as a direct consequence of God's actions.
• no man has been able to stand (לֹא־עָמַד אִישׁ - lo-amad ish): This is a strong negative construction, conveying absolute and utter inability. "No man" implies no one at all, emphasizing that no individual or group, regardless of their strength or prowess, could successfully offer resistance to Israel. This absolute defeat of enemies underscores God's omnipotence working through His people.
• before you (בִּפְנֵיכֶם - bifneikhem): Similar to mipneikhem, but in this context, it speaks to direct confrontation. No enemy could stand face to face in battle against Israel without being defeated.
• to this day (עַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - ad-hayom hazeh): A common phrase in biblical narratives, signifying that the stated truth remains valid and evident up to the point of the author's writing or Joshua's speaking. It validates the historical fact of God's sustained power and Israel's unchallenged status as divinely protected.

Words-group analysis:

• "For the Lord has driven out before you...": This phrase unequivocally assigns the success of the conquest to God's initiative and power. It counters any human pride or claim of victory due to Israel's own military might or tactical brilliance. The act of "driving out" highlights divine sovereignty in fulfilling His covenant promises and executing judgment upon the land's wicked inhabitants.
• "...great and strong nations...": This serves as an immediate context to God's intervention, magnifying the greatness of His deed. The formidable nature of these nations makes Israel's effortless conquest (from their perspective) even more astounding, leaving no room for doubt that only a supreme power could accomplish it. This is an indirect polemic demonstrating Yahweh's superiority over the deities believed to protect these nations.
• "...but as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day.": This clause presents the undeniable consequence of God's prior action. The stark contrast underscores Israel's passive role as beneficiaries of divine power. It confirms their unbroken victory record as a direct result of Yahweh's presence and action, asserting the continuing truth of God's faithfulness and their unique, divinely-secured position among nations.

Joshua 23 9 Bonus section

The phrase "to this day" (עַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - ad-hayom hazeh) carries significant weight. It implies that at the time Joshua delivered this address, and likely at the time the book was committed to writing, Israel enjoyed a peace and dominance rooted in the initial divine victories. This phrase is a testament to the enduring reality and efficacy of God's actions. Furthermore, this verse highlights an intrinsic characteristic of the God of Israel: He is not merely a distant deity but an active participant in history, particularly on behalf of His covenant people. It indirectly serves as a profound theological statement against the regional polytheism, asserting Yahweh's supremacy by demonstrating His active and successful conquest over lands supposedly protected by other gods. The consistent fulfillment of these specific military promises points to God's meticulous nature and His unwavering commitment to His Word.

Joshua 23 9 Commentary

Joshua 23:9 encapsulates the divine rationale behind Israel's conquest of Canaan: it was entirely God's work, not Israel's strength or cunning. The 'great and strong nations' serve as a powerful contrast, emphasizing that humanly impossible feats were effortlessly achieved by divine intervention. This truth functions as the bedrock for Joshua's call to steadfast fidelity; since God faithfully kept His promises, Israel must reciprocate with absolute devotion. The verse implies that Israel's military success was not contingent on their own might, but on God's active presence. This reality established an important precedent: Israel would only thrive and remain unconquered as long as they remained true to the God who fought for them. The historical retrospect reminds Israel of God’s unmatched power and their complete dependence on Him, laying a theological foundation for future obedience or failure.