Joshua 5 8

Joshua 5:8 kjv

And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.

Joshua 5:8 nkjv

So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.

Joshua 5:8 niv

And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

Joshua 5:8 esv

When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

Joshua 5:8 nlt

After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed.

Joshua 5 verses

Joshua 5 8 Meaning

Joshua 5:8 describes the crucial waiting period after the mass circumcision of all Israelite males who had been born in the wilderness. This physical purification was an act of covenant renewal and obedience to God, performed immediately upon entering the Promised Land. The verse emphasizes their intentional pause and remaining stationary in the camp at Gilgal until they fully recovered from the surgical procedure, signifying a period of necessary healing and preparation before beginning their conquest of Canaan.

Joshua 5 8 Context

Joshua chapter 5 is a pivotal chapter marking Israel's spiritual and practical transition upon entering Canaan. After crossing the Jordan on dry ground (chapter 3), camping at Gilgal, and setting up memorial stones (chapter 4), the fear of the Canaanite kings becomes evident (v. 1). However, before any military engagements, God commands Joshua to circumcise all the males who had not been circumcised in the wilderness (v. 2-7). This generation born during the exodus and wandering had not undergone the covenant sign. Joshua 5:8 immediately follows this act of mass circumcision. Following this, the reproach of Egypt is rolled away (v. 9), Passover is observed (v. 10-11), and the manna ceases (v. 12), signifying a full dependence on the land's produce. This entire chapter, including verse 8, emphasizes Israel's renewed covenant identity and their consecration to God before inheriting their promised inheritance. The vulnerability during healing highlighted in verse 8 underscores their absolute reliance on divine protection at this crucial juncture.

Joshua 5 8 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - va·yĕ·hî): A common Hebrew narrative introductory phrase. It functions as a temporal connector, marking the immediate sequential outcome of the previous action (the mass circumcision). It signals a significant development in the narrative.

• when they had finished (מִכְלָּתוֹ - miḵ·lā·ṯōw from kalah - to complete, finish) circumcising (מוּל - mūl - to circumcise): This emphasizes the completion of the act. The entire generation, which represented the nation, had undergone the covenant ritual. The act was total and done. "Circumcising" refers to the ancient rite marking inclusion in the Abrahamic covenant. The large-scale performance for an entire nation signifies profound corporate covenant renewal and obedience after years of neglect.

• all (כָּל - kol) the people (הָעָם - hā·‘ām): "All" stresses the comprehensiveness of the act. Not one male was exempt. This includes every man capable of bearing arms and inheriting the land, highlighting corporate identity and shared vulnerability. It indicates a unified people wholly submitting to God's command.

• that they remained (וַיֵּשְׁבוּ - way·yê·šḇū from yashab - to sit, dwell, remain) in their places (תַּחְתָּם - taḥ·tām - in their place/stead): "Remained" signifies a deliberate cessation of movement, a fixed stay. They did not immediately move or resume activities. "In their places" means they stayed exactly where they were, highlighting their immobility. This fixed state was necessitated by their physical condition, emphasizing their complete vulnerability. It's an act of humble, trusting waiting.

• in the camp (בַּמַּחֲנֶה - bam·ma·ḥă·neh): Refers to their military encampment at Gilgal, the first permanent site after crossing the Jordan. It suggests their vulnerable position despite being in a defensive formation. The camp signifies their communal life and immediate surroundings.

• till they were healed (עַד הֵחָיוֹתָם - ‘aḏ hê·ḥā·yō·w·ṯām from chayah - to live, recover, be restored to health): The specific duration was until their recovery. This directly addresses the physical consequences of the circumcision. The term chayah here indicates not just superficial recovery but being restored to a state of strength and health, ready for action. It emphasizes that this waiting period was one of necessary physical restoration after a painful procedure, illustrating their temporary military incapacitation and complete dependence on God for protection during this time.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "when they had finished circumcising all the people": This phrase encapsulates the national obedience to the covenant command, signifying Israel's spiritual preparation and dedication. It underscores the profound theological reality of a whole generation re-entering covenant with YHWH through the sign. This collective action washes away the neglect of the wilderness years.
  • "they remained in their places in the camp till they were healed": This phrase details the physical aftermath and the necessary period of rest. It portrays the temporary state of weakness and vulnerability the entire male population faced. This vulnerability highlights divine protection—God shielded His newly consecrated people from their enemies during this critical time, demonstrating His faithfulness even in their weakness. This resting period before battle is counter-intuitive for military strategy, emphasizing faith over human strength.

Joshua 5 8 Bonus section

The phrase "in their places" (תַּחְתָּם - taḥtam) carries a nuance of remaining firmly settled. It implies not just stopping but taking up a fixed dwelling for a specific duration, which was the temporary healing period. This emphasizes the intentionality of their wait, contrasting with their prior nomadic lifestyle.This act of mass circumcision, followed by a period of vulnerable waiting, served as a divine test. It showed whether Israel would truly trust God for their safety while obeying His command, especially given the formidable foes nearby (Canaanites, Amorites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Jebusites). God effectively halted Israel's military capabilities, thereby demonstrating that the conquest would be His work, not theirs. It reinforces the idea that victories are from the Lord and obedience is paramount to receiving blessings. This foreshadows a principle applied in the New Testament: spiritual battles and blessings require spiritual readiness and sometimes a vulnerable dependence on God.

Joshua 5 8 Commentary

Joshua 5:8 is more than a mere factual statement about Israel's recovery; it carries profound spiritual and theological weight. Following the command to renew the covenant through circumcision, this verse underscores Israel's full obedience and its physical consequence. The act of circumcising an entire generation, making them physically vulnerable, demonstrates their profound faith and total dependence on God's protection as they prepared to inherit the land. No nation on the brink of war would disarm its fighting men in such a manner unless absolute trust in a greater power was present. The "remaining in their places until they were healed" is a testament to this faith. It's a purification and a patient waiting upon God, a necessary interlude before their military conquest began. This event symbolized their dedication to the covenant, removing the "reproach of Egypt" (Josh 5:9), and setting them apart as God's holy people, ready to possess His promised inheritance. It demonstrates that spiritual readiness often precedes physical triumph, and obedience, even when inconvenient or seemingly illogical, brings God's favor and protection.