Joshua 8:35 kjv
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
Joshua 8:35 nkjv
There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.
Joshua 8:35 niv
There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.
Joshua 8:35 esv
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.
Joshua 8:35 nlt
Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them.
Joshua 8 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 31:10-12 | "At the end of every seven years… you shall read this law before all Israel…" | Moses' command for public reading of the Law |
| Deut 27:1-8 | "And Moses… commanded the people… ‘You shall set up large stones… and plaster them… and you shall write on them all the words of this law’…" | Instructions for the ceremony at Ebal |
| Josh 1:7-8 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you…" | Joshua's call to strict obedience to the Law |
| Deut 6:6-9 | "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…" | Command to teach the Law diligently to all family members |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | Importance of God's word for guidance |
| Neh 8:1-8 | "And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform… And Ezra opened the book… And they read from the Law of God clearly…" | Ezra's public reading of the Law to a reunited Israel |
| Ex 12:49 | "There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you." | Equality of law for natives and sojourners |
| Lev 19:34 | "You shall treat the stranger who sojourns among you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself…" | Command to include and love the sojourner |
| Num 15:15-16 | "For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you… one law and one custom." | Unity of law for all in the community |
| Deut 29:10-13 | "You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner…" | Inclusion of all in the covenant assembly |
| Josh 11:15 | "Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses." | Joshua's complete obedience to all commands |
| Josh 23:6 | "Therefore, be very strong to observe and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses…" | Joshua's exhortation to observe the Law |
| Heb 3:5 | "Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant…" | Moses' faithfulness in delivering God's commands |
| Rom 10:17 | "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." | Importance of hearing the word for faith |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…" | Sufficiency and authority of Scripture |
| Ps 19:7-8 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple…" | Perfection and power of God's law |
| Acts 15:21 | "For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." | Regular public reading of the Law |
| 1 Tim 4:13 | "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." | Command for public reading in the New Testament church |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…" | Inclusion of Gentiles in God's covenant through Christ |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Spiritual equality of all in Christ |
| Josh 21:45 | "Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." | God's faithfulness in fulfilling His word |
| Matt 5:18 | "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." | The permanence and complete fulfillment of God's Law |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 35 Meaning
This verse proclaims Joshua's meticulous obedience to Moses' commands, particularly concerning the public reading of the Law at Mount Ebal and Gerizim. It highlights that no part of the divine instruction was omitted, ensuring the entire assembly of Israel, including women, children, and resident foreigners, heard and understood the covenant obligations and blessings, thus formally binding the new generation to God's Law upon entering the promised land.
Joshua 8 35 Context
Joshua 8:35 concludes the pivotal covenant renewal ceremony at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Following the military success at Ai and the correction of Achan's sin in chapter 7, this event marks a profound national and spiritual commitment by Israel. It directly fulfills Moses' command given in Deut 11:29 and Deut 27:1-8, where specific instructions were provided for building an altar, inscribing the Law on stones, and publicly reading the blessings and curses of the covenant upon entering the land. This act, situated strategically after the initial conquest of Ai and before further campaigns, emphasizes that Israel's possession and successful dwelling in the Promised Land are contingent on unwavering obedience to God's Law. It served as a solemn reaffirmation of their covenant relationship with Yahweh.
Joshua 8 35 Word analysis
- There was not a word (כֹּל דָּבָר, kol davar): "Davar" means "word," "matter," "thing," or "command." The phrase emphasizes comprehensive totality, meaning every single detail or command. This highlights the meticulous adherence to divine instructions, ensuring nothing was missed or overlooked from Moses' extensive body of laws.
- of all that Moses commanded (כָּל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה, kol asher tzivah Moshe): This underscores the divine origin of the Law. It was not of human devising but a direct revelation from God mediated through Moses. Joshua's faithfulness as a leader is tied to his exact execution of these divinely given statutes.
- which Joshua did not read (לֹא קָרָא, lo qara'): The Hebrew verb qara' means "to call out," "to proclaim," or "to read aloud." The double negative construction ("not a word... did not read") creates a powerful affirmation: Joshua read every word, every command, leaving nothing out. This thoroughness implies a public, audible proclamation of the entire Torah, ensuring its accessibility.
- before all the assembly of Israel (לִפְנֵי כָּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, lifnei kol qehal Yisra'el): The "assembly" or "congregation" (qahal) denotes the unified body of the people of Israel. The public nature of the reading ensured corporate accountability and mutual commitment to the covenant. This act binds the entire nation collectively to God's standards.
- with the women (הַנָּשִׁים, hannashim): The explicit mention of women highlights their integral role in the covenant community. They were not excluded from hearing the Law, indicating their spiritual responsibility and participation in God's plan for Israel. This inclusion was significant in a patriarchal society.
- the little ones (וְהַטַּף, vehataf): Refers to children or dependants. Their presence signifies that the covenant and its obligations extend across generations. It underscores the concept of early training and the lifelong nature of covenant commitment (Deut 6:7), showing that even the youngest were considered part of God's people and accountable.
- and the sojourners who were among them (וְהַגֵּר אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבָּם, vehagger asher beqirbam): The "sojourner" (ger) refers to non-Israelites who lived permanently among the community and adhered to its laws. Their inclusion is a powerful demonstration of God's expansive heart beyond ethnic boundaries. It signified that all who committed to Yahweh, regardless of their natural origin, were to be fully integrated into the covenant and held to its standards, a precursor to the inclusion of Gentiles in God's people (e.g., Ruth).
Joshua 8 35 Bonus section
- This ceremony at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim vividly re-enacted elements of the Sinai covenant, signaling a fresh start and renewal for a new generation entering the land promised to their ancestors.
- The comprehensive nature of the reading, "not a word" omitted, emphasizes the complete sufficiency and divine perfection of God's revealed Law for guiding Israel. It teaches that God's people must internalize all of His commands.
- The solemnity and likely prolonged nature of the public reading (potentially spanning days given the extent of the Law) underscores the gravity and central importance of the Torah in Israelite life.
- This event solidified Joshua's role as Moses' divinely appointed successor, demonstrating his fidelity not just in military leadership but crucially, in spiritual stewardship and the preservation of God's Word.
Joshua 8 35 Commentary
Joshua 8:35 stands as a powerful testament to the unwavering authority of God's Law and Israel's foundational commitment to it. Joshua's precise and exhaustive recitation of Moses' commands served as a national covenant renewal, underscoring that blessings and curses alike hinged on obedience. This act of thorough public reading ensured that every segment of the community—men, women, children, and even foreign residents who had cast their lot with Israel—was fully aware of their covenant responsibilities. It highlights Joshua's faithfulness as a leader who diligently executed divine instructions, setting a precedent for obedience within the new generation as they prepared to inherit the Promised Land. This meticulous act contrasts sharply with Achan's earlier disobedience, presenting a picture of corporate recommitment that was vital for future success. The inclusion of all demographics emphasizes that the covenant embraced the entire "household of God," showing God's comprehensive reach and the unified nature of His people.