Joshua 5 5

Joshua 5:5 kjv

Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

Joshua 5:5 nkjv

For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.

Joshua 5:5 niv

All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.

Joshua 5:5 esv

Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

Joshua 5:5 nlt

Those who left Egypt had all been circumcised, but none of those born after the Exodus, during the years in the wilderness, had been circumcised.

Joshua 5 verses

Joshua 5 5 Meaning

Joshua 5:5 distinguishes between two generations of Israelites. The first generation, who departed from Egypt, had received the covenant sign of circumcision. However, their subsequent rebellion and unbelief led to their demise in the wilderness. The verse then highlights the new generation, born during the forty-year wilderness wanderings, who had not been circumcised. This omission points to a pause in the covenant ritual during the period of divine judgment and prepares the scene for the significant renewal of the covenant sign upon entering the Promised Land.

Joshua 5 5 Context

Joshua chapter 5 details a series of crucial spiritual preparations at Gilgal following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. Verse 5 sets the stage for the command in verse 2 to circumcise the second generation of Israelites. This event occurs after forty years of wilderness wanderings, during which time a rebellious generation died off. The historical context is pivotal: a new generation, about to conquer the Promised Land, needed to renew their covenant with God before commencing military operations. This re-circumcision symbolized a re-dedication and purification, signifying their readiness to be God's holy army and possess the land promised to Abraham.

Joshua 5 5 Word analysis

• all the people: Hebrew: kol ha'am (כָּל הָעָם). Emphasizes inclusivity; refers to the entirety of each specific generation mentioned, highlighting a complete generational shift and a widespread state.

• who came out of Egypt: Identifies the original Exodus generation, emphasizing their initial deliverance and covenant engagement directly from slavery.

• had been circumcised: Hebrew: mahl (מָלוּ), a past perfect verb, indicating an action completed before a point in time. It confirms that the sign of the Abrahamic covenant was initially upheld for this generation. This highlights a paradox: having the sign yet failing in obedience, leading to judgment.

• but: Connects the two contrasting states of the two generations, marking a significant transition and difference.

• all the people: Hebrew: kol ha'am (כָּל הָעָם). Again, emphasizes the totality, referring to the entire subsequent generation.

• who were born: Refers to those individuals whose entire existence took place during the nomadic period.

• in the wilderness: Hebrew: bammidbār (בַּמִּדְבָּר). The specific geographical and existential context. The wilderness was a place of divine judgment, wandering, discipline, but also direct miraculous provision.

• along the way after they had come out of Egypt: Clarifies the timeline, emphasizing that their birth occurred during the long journey post-Exodus, specifically during the period of wandering outside settled lands.

• had not been circumcised: Hebrew: lo mahl (לֹא מָלוּ). The crucial negative statement. This points to a forty-year period where the physical sign of the covenant was not administered. Scholarly understanding varies but includes divine decree due to displeasure with the previous generation, suspension due to the unique circumstances of wilderness travel, or perhaps a pragmatic consequence of nomadism that God allowed. The neglect signifies a lapse in covenant observance that needed rectification upon entering the land.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "all the people who came out of Egypt had been circumcised": This phrase underscores the fact that the initial covenant obligation was met, but it tragically contrasts with their subsequent rebellion, signifying that external obedience without internal faithfulness leads to divine displeasure and judgment.
  • "but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised": This highlights the profound spiritual break during the wilderness period, separating the condemned generation from the one destined to inherit the promise. The uncircumcised state marked them as a generation needing a renewed covenant bond and ritual cleansing before engaging with God's holy purpose in Canaan.

Joshua 5 5 Bonus section

• The forty-year period without circumcision symbolizes a period of broken fellowship or partial covenant engagement, a consequence of the older generation's apostasy.
• The mass circumcision at Gilgal, though leaving the men vulnerable, demonstrated immense faith and dependence on God for protection, signifying that true security came from covenant obedience, not military strategy.
• This act also physically differentiated the Israelites from the Canaanites, emphasizing their distinct identity as God's chosen, holy nation entering His land.

Joshua 5 5 Commentary

Joshua 5:5 is crucial for understanding the Gilgal circumcision. It elucidates why such a massive ritual was necessary, highlighting a significant interruption in Israel's covenant observance. The uncircumcised state of the new generation, born in the wilderness, stood in stark contrast to their parents who bore the sign yet perished due to rebellion. This suspension of circumcision likely marked the period of divine judgment and nomadic life, emphasizing that during their rebellion, full covenant privileges were suspended. Before the holy war in the Promised Land, this new generation needed to symbolically "renew" their covenant by undergoing circumcision, marking their renewed commitment to God and their readiness as His consecrated people to fulfill His purposes. It underscored that the land was inherited not by human strength, but by obedience and consecration to God.