Joshua 1 · Verse 18

Joshua 1:18

Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
Joshua 1:18, King James Version

Joshua 1:18 in other translations

BSBAnyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”
WEBWhoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”
ASVWhosoever he be that shall rebel against thy commandment, and shall not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage.
YLTAny man who doth provoke thy mouth, and doth not hear thy words, in all that thou dost command him, is put to death; only, be strong and courageous.'
DARBYEvery one that is rebellious against thy commandment and hearkeneth not to thy words in everything that thou commandest us, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.
BBEWhoever goes against your orders, and does not give attention to all your words, will be put to death: only take heart and be strong.
WebsterEvery one that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken to thy words in all that thou commandest him, shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.

What does Joshua 1:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 1:10-18

10-18. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people--These were the Shoterim (see on Ex 5:6; De 20:5).

Read the full comment on Joshua 1:10-18 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 He shall be put to death - This was martial law; he who disobeyed the command of his general should be put to death. To this the people agreed, and it was essentially necessary in order that proper discipline should be kept up in this great army. By insubordination their fathers had suffered much in the wilderness; they rejected the authority of Moses, mutinied and made themselves a leader to conduct them back to Egypt. (See Num 14:4). And Joshua himself, for attempting to encourage them against their fears, was near being stoned to death. It was necessary, therefore, that they should give him the most positive assurance that they would not act as their fathers had done. 1. Notwithstanding the great honor God put on his servants Moses, Aaron, Phinehas, and Joshua, yet we find him using every means to induce the people to trust in himself alone. Hence he is ever showing them that even those great men had nothing but what they had received, and that they were as fully dependent upon himself as the meanest of the people. What was even Moses without his God? 2. Is it not strange that at the death of Moses utter despair had not overwhelmed the whole camp, as he whom they expected to give them rest had died before any conquest was made in Canaan? We find, however, that they are not discouraged; he who gave them Moses, has now given them Joshua in his place; and they had now fully learned that if God be for them, none could be successfully against them. 3. From all this we may learn, that when God has a great work to accomplish, he will provide himself suitable instruments; and though one which he has greatly honored, appear to fail, we should know that he is not confined to work by that one alone. He has way every where, and all things serve the purposes of his will. He will as surely support his Church on earth, as he will support the earth itself; and while the sun and moon endure, the Church shall flourish: this is for his own honor, and he certainly is more concerned for his own glory in the administration of justice, judgment, and salvation in the earth, than any of the children of men can possibly be. 4. Though God had so implicitly promised them his help, yet he strongly insists on their own co-operation. He requires the use of every power and talent he has given; even Joshua himself must be strong and very courageous, and the people must obey him in all things, in order that they may go over the Jordan to possess the good land; and without this they had never got into the promised rest. Shall we suppose, then, that if we be not workers together with God we shall be saved? Vain expectation! He works in us to will and to do, i.e., he gives the principle of volition in things that are holy, and the principle of power to bring the acts of will into good practical effect; therefore, says the apostle, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Will, therefore, under the influence of the gracious principle of volition; act under the influence of the principle of power. Without the power you can neither will nor do; but having the power it is your duty to will and do. It is enough that God gives the power. It is our duty, when we receive these talents, to improve them. In a million of cases a man may be both able to will and to do, and yet do neither to the salvation of his soul.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 1:16-18

The people of Israel engage to obey Joshua; All that thou commandest us to do we will readily do, without murmuring or disputing, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go. The best we can ask of God for our magistrates, is, that they may have the presence of God; that will make them blessings to us, so that in seeking this for them, we consult our own interest. May we be enabled to enlist under the banner of the…

Read the full comment on Joshua 1:16-18 →

Joshua 1:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
אִ֞ישׁ'ishpersonH376
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whoH834
יַמְרֶ֣הyam.Rehhe will rebel towardH4784
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
פִּ֗יךָPi.khamouth yourH6310
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
יִשְׁמַ֧עyish.Ma'he will obeyH8085
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
דְּבָרֶ֛יךָde.va.Rei.khawords yourH1697
לְכֹ֥לle.Kholto allH3605
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-thatH834
תְּצַוֶּ֖נּוּte.tzav.Ve.nuyou will command himH6680
יוּמָ֑תyu.Mathe will be put to deathH4191
רַ֖קrakonlyH7535
חֲזַ֥קcha.Zakbe strongH2388
וֶאֱמָֽץ\׃\ \פve.'e.Matzand be boldH553

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Joshua 1:18

  • Ephesians 6:10

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

  • Ezra 10:4

    Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

  • Joshua 1:9

    Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:13

    Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

  • Hebrews 10:28-29

    He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

  • Hebrews 12:25

    See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

  • 1 Samuel 11:12

    And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

  • Deuteronomy 17:12

    And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

  • Luke 19:27

    But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

  • Joshua 1:6-7

    Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

  • Psalms 2:1-6

    Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. …

  • Romans 13:1-5

    Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that doth rebel.
De 17:12; 1Sa 11:12; Ps 2:1-6; Lu 19:27; Heb 10:28,29; 12:25
he shall be.
Ro 13:1-5
only be.
6,7,9; Ezr 10:4; 1Co 16:13; Eph 6:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Joshua 1:17

    According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

  • Joshua 1:18

    Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.

Read all of Joshua 1

Joshua 1:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cualquiera que fuere rebelde á tu mandamiento, y no obedeciere á tus palabras en todas las cosas que le mandares, que muera; solamente que te esfuerces, y seas valiente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Tout homme qui sera rebelle à ton commandement et qui n’écoutera pas tes paroles en tout ce que tu nous commanderas, sera mis à mort; seulement fortifie-toi et sois ferme.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jedermann, der deinem Befehle widerspenstig ist und nicht auf deine Worte hört in allem, was du uns gebietest, soll getötet werden. Nur sei stark und mutig!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui contradixerit ori tuo, et non obedierit cunctis sermonibus, quos præceperis ei, moriatur. Tu tantum confortare, et viriliter age.