Focused Passage

Joshua 9:19-21

The Gibeonite Deception and Israel’s Covenant Oath

The surrounding kings prepare for war, the Gibeonites deceive Israel into making a covenant, Israel fails to inquire of the LORD, and Joshua preserves the oath while assigning Gibeon to servant labor for the LORD’s house.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

19All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

20This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

21They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 19

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 8:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Allכָל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe leadersהַנְּשִׂיאִים֙H5387Article | Noun - masculine plural. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionansweredוַיֹּאמְר֤וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular construct-הָ֣עֵדָ֔הH5712Article | Noun - feminine singularWeאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙H587Pronoun - first person common pluralhave sworn an oathנִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּH7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common pluralto themלָהֶ֔םPreposition | third person masculine pluralby the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֣יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularand nowוְעַתָּ֕הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbwe cannotלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particle. . .נוּכַ֖לH3201Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluraltouchלִנְגֹּ֥עַH5060Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthemבָּהֶֽם׃Preposition | third person masculine plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

Exodus 20:7Classic cross-references Ezekiel 17:12Classic cross-references Malachi 3:5Classic cross-references Proverbs 20:25Classic cross-references

Original words

Thisזֹ֛אתH2063Pronoun - feminine singularis how we will treatנַעֲשֶׂ֥הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluralthemלָהֶ֖םPreposition | third person masculine pluralWe will let them liveוְהַחֲיֵ֣הH2421Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute-אוֹתָ֑םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralso that noוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlewrathקֶ֔צֶףH7110Noun - masculine singularwill fallיִֽהְיֶ֤הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularon usעָלֵ֙ינוּ֙H5921Preposition | first person common pluralbecause ofעַל־H5921Prepositionthe oathהַשְּׁבוּעָ֖הH7621Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativewe sworeנִשְׁבַּ֥עְנוּH7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common pluralto themלָהֶֽם׃Preposition | third person masculine plural

Verse 21

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 29:11Classic cross-references Joshua 9:23Classic cross-references Ezra 2:58Classic cross-references Joshua 9:27Classic cross-references

Original words

Theyהַנְּשִׂיאִ֖יםH5387Article | Noun - masculine pluralcontinuedוַיֹּאמְר֧וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .אֲלֵיהֶ֛םH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralLet them liveיִֽחְי֑וּH2421Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralbut let them beוַ֠יִּֽהְיוּH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralwoodcuttersחֹטְבֵ֨יH2404Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct. . .עֵצִ֤יםH6086Noun - masculine pluraland waterמַ֙יִם֙H4325Noun - masculine pluralcarriersוְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי־H7579Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructfor the wholeלְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationהָ֣עֵדָ֔הH5712Article | Noun - feminine singularSoכַּאֲשֶׁ֛רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativethe leadersהַנְּשִׂיאִֽים׃H5387Article | Noun - masculine pluralkept their promiseדִּבְּר֥וּH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural-לָהֶ֖םPreposition | third person masculine plural

Read full chapter context All Joshua chapters

<- Joshua 8 Joshua 9 Joshua 10 ->