Joshua 5 · Verse 13

Joshua 5:13

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
Joshua 5:13, King James Version

Joshua 5:13 in other translations

BSBNow when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”
WEBWhen Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?”
ASVAnd it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
YLTAnd it cometh to pass in Joshua's being by Jericho, that he lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, one standing over-against him, and his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua goeth unto him, and saith to him, ‘Art thou for us or for our adversaries?'
DARBYAnd it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man before him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him, and said to him: Art thou for us, or for our enemies?
BBENow when Joshua was near Jericho, lifting up his eyes he saw a man in front of him, with his sword uncovered in his hand: and Joshua went up to him and said, Are you for us or against us?
WebsterAnd it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went to him, and said to him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

What does Joshua 5:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Jos 5:13-15. An Angel Appears to Joshua.

13. when Joshua was by Jericho--in the immediate vicinity of that city, probably engaged in surveying the fortifications, and in meditating the best plan of a siege. there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn--It is evident from the strain of the context that this was not a mere vision, but an actual appearance; the suddenness of which surprised, but did not daunt, the intrepid leader.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 When Joshua was by Jericho - The sixth chapter should have commenced here, as this is an entirely new relation; or these two chapters should have made but one, as the present division has most unnaturally divided the communication which Joshua had from the angel of the Lord, and which is continued to Jos 6:5. It is very likely that Joshua had gone out privately to reconnoitre the city of Jericho when he had this vision; and while contemplating the strength of the place, and probably reflecting on the extreme difficulty of reducing it, God, to encourage him, granted him this vision, and instructed him in the means by which the city should be taken. There stood a man over against him - It has been a very general opinion, both among the ancients and moderns, that the person mentioned here was no other than the Lord Jesus in that form which, in the fullness of time, he was actually to assume for the redemption of man. That the appearance was supernatural is agreed on all hands; and as the name Jehovah is given him, (Jos 6:2), and he received from Joshua Divine adoration, we may presume that no created angel is intended. And Joshua went unto him - This is a very natural relation, and carries with it all the appearances and characteristics of a simple relation of fact. The whole history of Joshua shows him to have been a man of the most undaunted mind and intrepid courage - a genuine Hero. An ordinary person, seeing this man armed, with a drawn sword in his hand, would have endeavored to have regained the camp, and sought safety in flight; but Joshua, undismayed though probably slightly armed, walks up to this terrible person and immediately questions him, Art thou for us or for our adversaries? probably at first supposing that he might be the Canaanitish general coming to reconnoitre the Israelitish camp, as himself was come out to examine the city of Jericho.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 5:13-15
We read not of any appearance of God's glory to Joshua till now. There appeared to him one as a man to be noticed. This Man was the Son of God, the eternal Word. Joshua gave him Divine honours: he received them, which a created angel would not have done, and he is called Jehovah, chap. 6:2. To Abraham he appeared as a traveller; to Joshua as a man of war. Christ will be to his people what their faith needs. Christ had his sword drawn, which encouraged Joshua to carry on the war with vigour. Christ's sword drawn in his hand, denotes how ready he is for the defence and salvation of his people. His sword turns every way. Joshua will know whether he is a friend or a foe. The cause between the Israelites and Canaanites, between Christ and Beelzebub, will not admit of any man's refusing to take one part or the other, as he may do in worldly contests. Joshua's inquiry shows an earnest desire to know the will of Christ, and a cheerful readiness and resolution to do it. All true Christians must fight under Christ's banner, and they will conquer by his presence and assistance.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Joshua 5:13 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.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
בִּֽהְי֣וֹתbih.Yotwhen wasH1961
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ye.ho.shu.a'JoshuaH3091
בִּירִיחוֹ֒bi.ri.Choat JerichoH3405
וַיִּשָּׂ֤אvai.yi.Sa'and he lifted upH5375
עֵינָיו֙'ei.Naveyes hisH5869
וַיַּ֔רְאvai.Yar'and he sawH7200
וְהִנֵּה\־ve.hi.neh-and there!H2009
אִישׁ֙'isha manH376
עֹמֵ֣ד'o.Med[was] standingH5975
לְנֶגְדּ֔וֹle.neg.Doto before himH5048
וְחַרְבּ֥וֹve.char.Boand sword hisH2719
שְׁלוּפָ֖הshe.lu.Fah[was] drawnH8025
בְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.Doin hand hisH3027
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhand he wentH1980
יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַye.ho.Shu.a'JoshuaH3091
אֵלָיו֙'e.Lavto himH413
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
ל֔וֹloto <the> him
הֲלָ֥נוּha.La.nu¿ for <the> us
אַתָּ֖ה'a.Tah[are] youH859
אִם\־'im-or?H518
לְצָרֵֽינוּ\׃le.tza.Rei.nufor foes ourH6862

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

Cross references for Joshua 5:13

  • Genesis 18:2

    And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

  • Numbers 22:23

    And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

  • Numbers 22:31

    Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:16-17

    And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:30

    But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

  • Daniel 10:5

    Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

  • Hosea 12:3-5

    He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth–el, and there he spake with us; Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.

  • Exodus 23:23

    For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

  • Genesis 32:24-30

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. …

  • Acts 1:10

    And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

  • Zechariah 1:8

    I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

  • Judges 13:11

    And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he lifted.
Ge 33:1,5; Da 8:3; 10:5
a man.
6:2; Ge 18:2; 32:24-30; Ex 23:23; Jud 13:8,9,11,22; Da 10:5
Ho 12:3-5; Zec 1:8; Ac 1:10; Re 1:13
his sword.
Nu 22:23; 1Ch 21:16,17,27,30
Art thou for us.
1Ch 12:17,18

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

Context

  • Joshua 5:12

    And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

  • Joshua 5:13

    And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

  • Joshua 5:14

    And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

Read all of Joshua 5

Joshua 5:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y estando Josué cerca de Jericó, alzó sus ojos, y vió un varón que estaba delante de él, el cual tenía una espada desnuda en su mano. Y Josué yéndose hacia él, le dijo: ¿Eres de los nuestros, ó de nuestros enemigos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il arriva, comme Josué était près de Jéricho, qu’il leva ses yeux et vit; et voici, un homme se tenait debout devant lui, son épée nue dans sa main; et Josué alla vers lui et lui dit: Es-tu pour nous, ou pour nos ennemis?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und es geschah, als Josua bei Jericho war, da erhob er seine Augen auf und sah: und siehe, ein Mann stand vor ihm, und sein Schwert gezückt in seiner Hand. Und Josua ging auf ihn zu und sprach zu ihm: Bist du für uns oder für unsere Feinde
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cum autem esset Josue in agro urbis Jericho, levavit oculos, et vidit virum stantem contra se, evaginatum tenentem gladium: perrexitque ad eum, et ait: Noster es, an adversariorum?