Joshua 4 14

Joshua 4:14 kjv

On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Joshua 4:14 nkjv

On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Joshua 4:14 niv

That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses.

Joshua 4:14 esv

On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

Joshua 4:14 nlt

That day the LORD made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 4 14 Meaning

Joshua 4:14 signifies a pivotal moment where the Lord unmistakably established Joshua's authority in the eyes of all Israel. This divine act solidified his position as Moses' successor, demonstrating that God was truly with Joshua just as He had been with Moses. The verse reveals that the reverence and obedience Israel had extended to Moses were now transferred to Joshua, a crucial development for the nation's forthcoming conquest of Canaan under his leadership. It highlights God's direct intervention in validating His chosen leaders, ensuring His people would follow them obediently.

Joshua 4 14 Context

Joshua 4:14 is set immediately after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites, where the waters stood up in a heap, allowing the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to stand firm on dry ground. This event served as a monumental sign, confirming God's presence and power to a new generation entering the promised land. The verse follows the instruction to erect memorial stones from the Jordan riverbed, which were to serve as a perpetual reminder of God's mighty works. The divine purpose behind the Jordan crossing was twofold: to enable the Israelites to enter Canaan and to validate Joshua as God's chosen leader, thus transferring the authority of Moses directly to him in the eyes of all Israel. This public affirmation was critical for ensuring the nation's unity and obedience during the challenging period of conquering the land.

Joshua 4 14 Word analysis

• On that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bay-yom ha-hu):

  • Word: "day" (יוֹם, yom).
  • Significance: Emphasizes the immediacy and specificity of God's action. It was precisely at this public, miraculous event of the Jordan crossing that Joshua's authority was consecrated. This divine timing ensures the event's impact was fully registered by all witnesses.

• the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH):

  • Word: "Lord" (יְהוָה, YHWH).
  • Significance: Refers to the covenant God of Israel, indicating divine initiative and power. It highlights that Joshua's exaltation was not a human accomplishment or recognition, but a direct act of the Almighty. This underscores His ongoing relationship with Israel.

• magnified (גִּדַּל, giddal):

  • Word: "magnified" (גָּדַל, gadal - Piel, indicating intensive or causative action).
  • Significance: Meaning to "make great," "exalt," "cause to be great," or "promote." This signifies God making Joshua's stature and authority prominently visible and weighty to the entire nation. It’s a divine act of elevation, establishing Joshua’s perceived authority among the people. This "magnification" was spiritual, visible, and functional, akin to how a king's authority is established.

• Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshu’a):

  • Word: Proper name.
  • Significance: "The Lord is salvation" or "The Lord saves." The chosen leader succeeding Moses. His name itself points to God's redemptive work, which he would now lead. His personal qualities were known, but this public divine affirmation gave him irrefutable status.

• in the sight of all Israel (לְעֵינֵי כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, le‘enei kol-yisrael):

  • Words-group: Public manifestation, witnessed by the entire community.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the widespread and undeniable nature of Joshua's divine appointment. There was no room for doubt or questioning among the people. Such public validation was essential for Israel's obedience and unity as they embarked on the conquest.

• and they feared him (וַיִּירְאוּ אֹתוֹ, wayyiru oto):

  • Word: "feared" (יָרֵא, yare).
  • Significance: This is not a servile or terror-induced fear, but a profound reverence, respect, awe, and submission to authority. It implies recognizing God's hand on Joshua, leading to a willingness to obey his commands as divinely ordained. This reverential fear is essential for discipline and obedience in the community.

• as they had feared Moses (כַּאֲשֶׁר יָרְאוּ אֶת־מֹשֶׁה, ka’asher yare’u et-mosheh):

  • Words-group: Direct comparison and transfer of reverence.
  • Significance: This phrase directly links Joshua's newly affirmed authority to that of Moses, the greatest prophet and leader of Israel. It conveys continuity of divine leadership and establishes Joshua as the legitimate successor, inheriting the respect and obedience previously given to Moses. It signifies the complete transfer of spiritual and temporal authority.

• all the days of his life (כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּיו, kol-yemey hayyav):

  • Words-group: Enduring authority, lifelong recognition.
  • Significance: This phrase confirms that Joshua's authority was not a temporary recognition, but an enduring divine mandate that would last throughout his lifetime. It guaranteed his continued effectiveness as leader of Israel until his death.

Joshua 4 14 Bonus section

• Theological Significance of "Magnified": The Piel stem of gadal ("magnified") in relation to God acting on a human emphasizes not merely a passive observation of Joshua becoming great, but an active, decisive work by God to elevate and reveal Joshua's divinely appointed status. This aligns with a polemic against pagan ideas of human kings inheriting divine status or ascending through self-merit. Here, God actively grants and sustains the authority.
• Echoes in New Testament Leadership: The pattern of God authenticating leaders through signs and public confirmation can be seen with the apostles in the early church. Their miraculous works often led to "fear" (awe/reverence) from the people, validating their ministry as God-given (e.g., Acts 2:43, Acts 5:13).
• God's Sovereignty in Leadership Succession: This verse perfectly illustrates God's direct involvement in establishing and confirming leadership, not leaving it to human vote or tradition alone. It assures the Israelites that even with Moses gone, God remained in control and would provide for them.
• Cultural Context: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's or leader's legitimacy often derived from perceived divine favor or divine appointment. This public miracle and subsequent exaltation by Yahweh served as Israel's equivalent of a formal coronation or anointing, publicly solidifying Joshua's undisputed rule.

Joshua 4 14 Commentary

Joshua 4:14 captures the climactic moment of divine legitimation for Joshua, serving as the fulfillment of God's promise to him in Joshua 3:7. The miraculous Jordan crossing was not just a means to enter the land, but a divine sign validating Joshua's leadership to all Israel, reminiscent of the Red Sea crossing that had validated Moses' authority (Exo 14:31). God's "magnification" of Joshua (root gadal) means He elevated, honored, and confirmed Joshua's position publicly and undeniably. This wasn't Joshua seeking personal glory, but God actively empowering His chosen vessel for a critical task.

The immediate effect was that "they feared him, as they had feared Moses." This "fear" (yare) denotes profound reverence, respectful awe, and submissive obedience, crucial for military and spiritual unity. Just as Moses' leadership was secured through God's miraculous acts (e.g., ten plagues, Red Sea), Joshua's legitimacy was now irrefutably established. This divine authentication ensures that Israel would follow Joshua, understanding that their obedience to him was, in essence, obedience to God's continued plan. The phrase "all the days of his life" signifies the enduring nature of this divinely bestowed authority, underpinning Joshua's ability to lead Israel through the subsequent decades of conquest and settlement. This principle of God exalting those whom He chooses for His purposes is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, from judges to kings and prophets, ultimately culminating in Christ's ultimate authority.