Joshua 5 · Verse 1

Joshua 5:1

And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
Joshua 5:1, King James Version

Joshua 5:1 in other translations

BSBNow when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and their spirits failed for fear of the Israelites.
WEBWhen all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel.
ASVAnd it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass when all the kings of the Amorite which are beyond the Jordan, towards the sea, and all the kings of the Canaanite which are by the sea, hear how that Jehovah hath dried up the waters of the Jordan at the presence of the sons of Israel till their passing over, that their heart is melted, and there hath not been in them any more spirit because of the presence of the sons of Israel.
DARBYAnd it came to pass when all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they had passed over, that their heart melted, and there was no spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
BBENow when the news came to all the kings of the Amorites on the west side of Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites living by the sea, how the Lord had made the waters of Jordan dry before the children of Israel, till they had gone across, their hearts became like water, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we had passed over, that their heart melted; neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

What does Joshua 5:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Jos 5:1. The Canaanites Afraid.

1. the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea--Under the former designation were included the people who inhabited the mountainous region, and under the latter those who were on the seacoast of Palestine. heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan ... that their heart melted--They had probably reckoned on the swollen river interposing for a time a sure barrier of defense. But seeing it had been completely dried up, they were completely paralyzed by so incontestable a proof that God was on the side of the invaders. In fact, the conquest had already begun in the total prostration of spirit among the native chiefs. "Their heart melted," but unhappily not into faith and penitent submission.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The effect produced on the minds of the Canaanites by the late miracle, Jos 5:1. Joshua is commanded to circumcise the Israelites, Jos 5:2. He obeys, Jos 5:3. Who they were that were circumcised, and why it was now done, Jos 5:4-7. They abide in the camp till they are whole, Jos 5:8. The place is called Gilgal, and why, Jos 5:9. They keep the passover in the same place, Jos 5:10. They eat unleavened cakes and parched corn, on the morrow after the passover, Jos 5:11. The manna ceases, Jos 5:12. The captain of the Lord's host appears to Joshua, Jos 5:13-15. Verse 1 The Amorites which were on the side of Jordan westward - It has already been remarked that the term Amorite is applied sometimes to signify all the nations or tribes of Canaan. It appears from this verse that there were people thus denominated that dwelt on both sides of the Jordan. Those on the east side had already been destroyed in the war which the Israelites had with Sihon and Og; with those on the west side Joshua had not yet waged war. It is possible however that the Amorites of whom we read in this verse, were the remains of those who dwelt on the east side of the Jordan, and who had taken refuge here on the defeat of Og and Sihon.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 5:1-9
How dreadful is their case, who see the wrath of God advancing towards them, without being able to turn it aside, or escape it! Such will be the horrible situation of the wicked; nor can words express the anguish of their feelings, or the greatness of their terror. Oh that they would now take warning, and before it be too late, flee for refuge to lay hold upon that hope set before them in the gospel! God impressed these fears on the Canaanites, and dispirited them. This gave a short rest to the Israelites, and circumcision rolled away the reproach of Egypt. They were hereby owned to be the free-born children of God, having the seal of the covenant. When God glorifies himself in perfecting the salvation of his people, he not only silences all enemies, but rolls back their reproaches upon themselves.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Joshua 5:1 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.

וַיְהִ֣יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
כִשְׁמֹ֣עַkhish.Mo.a'when heardH8085
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
מַלְכֵ֣יmal.Khei[the] kings ofH4428
הָאֱמֹרִ֡יha.'e.mo.Rithe Amorite[s]H567
אֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherwhoH834
בְּעֵ֨בֶרbe.'E.ver[were] on [the] other side ofH5676
הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ןhai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383
יָ֗מָּהYa.mahwest -wardH3220
וְכָל\־ve.kholand allH3605
מַלְכֵ֤יmal.Khei[the] kings ofH4428
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ha.ke.na.'a.Nithe Canaanite[s]H3669
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhoH834
עַל\־'al-[were] atH5921
הַיָּ֔םhai.Yamthe seaH3220
אֵ֠ת'et<obj.>H853
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-[they heard] this:H834
הוֹבִ֨ישׁho.Vishhe had dried upH3001
יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
מֵ֧יmei[the] waters ofH4325
הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ןhai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383
מִפְּנֵ֥יmi.pe.Neifrom beforeH6440
בְנֵֽי\־ve.nei-[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
עָבְרָ֑םa.ve.ra.mpassing over theyH5674
וַיִּמַּ֣סvai.yi.Masand it meltedH4549
לְבָבָ֗םle.va.Vamheart theirH3824
וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
הָ֨יָהHa.yahit wasH1961
בָ֥םvamin <the> them
עוֹד֙'OdstillH5750
ר֔וּחַRu.achspiritH7307
מִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.Nei<from> because ofH6440
בְּנֵֽי\־be.nei-[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃\ \סYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

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

Cross references for Joshua 5:1

  • Joshua 2:9-11

    And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

  • Numbers 13:29

    The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

  • 1 Kings 10:5

    And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her.

  • Ezekiel 16:3

    And say, Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.

  • Judges 11:23

    So now the Lord God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?

  • Genesis 48:22

    Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

  • Revelation 18:10

    Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

  • Judges 4:2

    And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

  • Judges 3:3

    Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal–hermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

  • Judges 1:1

    Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

  • Psalms 48:4-6

    For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

  • Joshua 12:9-24

    The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth–el, one; The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The Canaanites are afraid.
2 Joshua renews circumcision.
10 The passover is kept at Gilgal
12 They eat the corn of the land and the manna ceases.
13 An angel appears to Joshua.

all the kings.
12:9-24; 24:15; Ge 10:15-19; 15:18-21; 48:22; Jud 11:23; 2Sa 21:2
Eze 16:3; Am 2:9
Canaanites.
17:12,18; Ge 12:6; Ex 23:28; Jud 1:1; 4:2; Ezr 9:1; Ps 135:11
which were by.
Nu 13:29; Jud 3:3; Zep 2:4-6
heard.
2:9-11; Ex 15:14,15; Ps 48:4-6; Re 18:10
neither was.
1Sa 25:37; 1Ki 10:5; Isa 13:6-8; Eze 21:7; Da 5:6

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

Context

  • Joshua 5:1

    And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

  • Joshua 5:2

    At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

Read all of Joshua 5

Joshua 5:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y CUANDO todos los reyes de los Amorrheos, que estaban de la otra parte del Jordán al occidente, y todos los reyes de los Cananeos, que estaban cerca de la mar, oyeron como Jehová había secado las aguas del Jordán delante de los hijos de Israel hasta que hubieron pasado, desfalleció su corazón, y no hubo más espíritu en ellos delante de los hijos de Israel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
*Et il arriva que, lorsque tous les rois des Amoréens qui étaient en deçà du Jourdain vers l’occident, et tous les rois des Cananéens qui étaient près de la mer, entendirent comment l’ Éternel avait mis à sec les eaux du Jourdain devant les fils d’Israël, jusqu’à ce que nous soyons passés, leur cœur se fondit, et il n’y eut plus de courage en eux, à cause des fils d’Israël.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und es geschah, als alle Könige der Amoriter, die diesseit des Jordan westwärts, und alle Könige der Kanaaniter, die am Meere waren, hörten, daß Jehova die Wasser des Jordan vor den Kindern Israel ausgetrocknet hatte, bis wir hinübergezogen waren, da zerschmolz ihr Herz, und es war kein Mut mehr in ihnen vor den Kindern Israel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Postquam ergo audierunt omnes reges Amorrhæorum, qui habitabant trans Jordanem ad occidentalem plagam, et cuncti reges Chanaan, qui propinqua possidebant magni maris loca, quod siccasset Dominus fluenta Jordanis coram filiis Israël donec transirent, dissolutum est cor eorum, et non remansit in eis spiritus, timentium introitum filiorum Israël.