Joshua 5:15 kjv
And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:15 nkjv
Then the Commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:15 niv
The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:15 esv
And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:15 nlt
The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did as he was told.
Joshua 5 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 3:5 | And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes... holy ground. | Direct parallel; Moses' encounter with God. |
| Ex 3:2 | And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire... | Appearance of "angel of the Lord". |
| Judges 6:11-23 | And there came an angel of the LORD... not die... angel of the LORD. | Gideon's encounter with the "Angel of the LORD" where he performs a miracle and accepts worship. |
| Judges 13:3-23 | And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman... For we have seen God. | Manoah and his wife's encounter with the "Angel of the LORD" who ascends in the flame of an altar. |
| Dan 10:5-6 | Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man... | Daniel's vision of a glorious divine figure. |
| Rev 19:11-16 | And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse... King of Kings. | Christ leading heavenly armies as commander. |
| Ps 24:8-10 | Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle... | God as the divine warrior, Lord of Hosts. |
| Ps 44:5-6 | Through thee will we push down our enemies... not in my bow. | God gives victory, not human strength. |
| Ps 99:5 | Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. | Emphasizes God's holiness and worship. |
| Ps 99:9 | Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill... LORD our God holy. | Call to worship in His holy presence. |
| Isa 6:3 | And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts... | Holiness of the Lord of Hosts. |
| Zech 2:13 | Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up...holy habitation. | Reverence required in God's holy presence. |
| Deut 31:8 | And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee... | God's promise to go before and lead. |
| Jos 1:5 | There shall not any man be able to stand before thee... | God's promise of victory and presence to Joshua. |
| Jos 1:9 | Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid... Lord thy God is with thee. | Encouragement and divine presence assurance. |
| Heb 12:14 | Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. | Importance of holiness for encountering God. |
| Heb 12:28 | ...serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. | How to serve God, with awe and fear. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner... | Call to holiness reflecting God's nature. |
| Phil 2:9-10 | Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him... knee should bow. | All creatures bowing before the exalted Lord. |
| Gen 28:16-17 | And Jacob awaked... Surely the LORD is in this place... house of God. | God's presence sanctifies a location. |
| Ex 19:12 | Thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed... holy mount. | Boundaries of a holy space at Sinai. |
Joshua 5 verses
Joshua 5 15 Meaning
Joshua 5:15 conveys a profound message of divine authority and holiness at a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan. It depicts an encounter between Joshua and the "Captain of the LORD'S host," where Joshua is commanded to remove his sandals because he stands on holy ground. This command emphasizes the sanctity of God's presence, the need for reverence and humility before Him, and affirms that Israel's impending victories are solely under divine command, not human military prowess.
Joshua 5 15 Context
Joshua chapter 5 is a transitional chapter after Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan River into the promised land. Before any military engagement, the Israelites renew their covenant with God through mass circumcision at Gilgal, an act signifying their commitment and trust in God's promises after the wilderness generation perished. They then observe the Passover, commemorating their deliverance from Egypt. Immediately following these spiritual preparations, Joshua encounters a divine figure. This encounter in verse 15 serves as a direct preface to the conquest of Jericho, setting the theological tone that Israel's military success will be divinely orchestrated, emphasizing God's leadership rather than Joshua's military strategy.
Joshua 5 15 Word analysis
- And the captain of the LORD'S host: The Hebrew is "Sar-Tzeva Adonai" (שַׂר-צְבָא יְהוָה).
- Sar (שַׂר): Meaning 'prince,' 'commander,' 'chief,' or 'captain.' It denotes authority and leadership.
- Tzeva (צְבָא): Means 'army,' 'host,' or 'company.' Here, it refers to heavenly armies, divine warriors, or perhaps even Israel's armies under divine command.
- Adonai (יְהוָה): The divine name, YHWH, often rendered 'LORD' (in all caps) in English Bibles, emphasizing the unique, covenant-keeping God of Israel.
- Significance: The identity of this "captain" is profoundly debated. While some view him as a powerful angelic being, many prominent Christian theologians and Bible scholars interpret this figure as a Christophany – a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. The reason for this interpretation includes the divine authority displayed (commanding Joshua, acceptance of worship) and the parallel to Moses' burning bush encounter, which many also consider a Christophany (Ex 3). Unlike angels, who refuse worship (Rev 19:10, 22:9), this figure does not decline Joshua's prostration, implying deity. This appearance affirms that God Himself is leading the campaign.
- said unto Joshua: Indicates a direct communication and commissioning of leadership.
- Put off thy shoe from off thy foot:
- "Na'al" (נַעַל): The Hebrew word for 'sandal' or 'shoe'.
- Significance: This is a culturally significant gesture of reverence, humility, and recognition of a sacred place in the ancient Near East. It signifies moving from the profane (ordinary daily life, dust, and worldly pursuits carried on the shoes) to the holy (sacred space, direct interaction with God). It's an act of defilement prevention, acknowledging one is on consecrated ground. This directly echoes the command given to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3:5), establishing a clear theological link between Joshua and Moses, both called by God for national leadership in sacred space.
- for the place whereon thou standest is holy:
- "Qodesh" (קֹדֶשׁ): The Hebrew word for 'holiness' or 'sanctity.'
- Significance: Holiness is not inherent to the physical ground itself but is imparted by the divine presence of God. God's imminence sanctifies the space, requiring awe and respect. This teaches that true holiness originates from God and that proximity to Him demands appropriate reverence. It prepares Joshua for the reality that his upcoming battles are sacred, not merely geopolitical.
- And Joshua did so:
- Significance: This highlights Joshua's immediate obedience, a crucial quality for leadership in God's kingdom. His humble and unquestioning response shows his faith and recognition of the authority speaking to him. This sets an example for Israel, signaling that success comes through obedience to divine commands.
Joshua 5 15 Bonus section
The title "LORD's host" or "LORD of hosts" is a frequent epithet for God in the Old Testament (e.g., Isa 6:3; Mal 1:11), denoting Him as the sovereign ruler over all creation, including angelic armies and human armies, reflecting His omnipotence and power to intervene in human affairs, especially in warfare. The absence of specific instructions at this point, but only the command to show reverence, is notable. It shows that first and foremost, a right relationship and recognition of God's holy presence are required before tactical commands. The military leader of Israel, Joshua, is himself put in a position of humble submission to a higher, divine military commander. This encounter serves as a symbolic handover of supreme command of the conquest to the Lord, shifting focus from Joshua as a human general to God as the divine warrior.
Joshua 5 15 Commentary
Joshua 5:15 encapsulates the core principle of Israel's conquest: it was God's battle, not man's. The appearance of the "Captain of the LORD's host," widely understood as a pre-incarnate Christ, underscores that ultimate command rested with the divine. The command to remove shoes signifies the sacredness of the encounter, mirroring Moses' commissioning. This wasn't merely a strategic meeting; it was a revelation of divine authority that instilled reverence and established the nature of the ensuing battles as holy war directed by God Himself. Joshua's immediate obedience models the necessary posture for those who would fulfill God's purposes. The verse emphasizes that all earthly endeavors, especially those ordained by God, must be approached with a deep sense of His transcendent holiness and our humble dependence on His presence and power. It also confirms that God would fight for His people, preparing them not through military drills alone but through spiritual consecration and clear divine instruction.