King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they utterly destroyed all that [was] in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They completely destroyed everything in the city with the sword - men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.
Berean Standard Bible:
At the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
American Standard Version:
And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they utterly destroyed{H2763} all that was in the city{H5892}, both man{H376} and woman{H802}, young{H5288} and old{H2205}, and ox{H7794}, and sheep{H7716}, and ass{H2543}, with the edge{H6310} of the sword{H2719}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 48:18
- Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from [thy] glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, [and] he shall destroy thy strong holds.
Psalms 137:8
- O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy [shall he be], that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
Psalms 137:9
- Happy [shall he be], that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
Deuteronomy 7:16
- And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee.
Joshua 10:39
- And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that [were] therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
Deuteronomy 7:2
- And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
Deuteronomy 7:3
- Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Joshua 6:21
Joshua 6:21 is set within the broader narrative of the Israelite conquest of Canaan, a region that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants. The verse specifically describes the culmination of the battle of Jericho, one of the first cities the Israelites encountered after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. According to the biblical account, God had given specific instructions to Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, on how to capture Jericho. This involved a ritualistic procession around the city for seven days, led by priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, followed by a shout from the people and the blowing of trumpets, which resulted in the miraculous collapse of the city walls.
The verse reflects the theme of divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's promises. It also highlights the concept of "herem," a form of total warfare in which everything in the city was to be devoted to destruction as an offering to God, reflecting the harsh realities of ancient warfare and the belief that the inhabitants of Canaan were to be completely removed from the land to prevent their religious and cultural practices from influencing the Israelites. This command was specific to the conquest and is not presented as a timeless principle for warfare in the Bible.
In the historical context, the destruction of Jericho would have served as a powerful demonstration of God's power to the surrounding nations and to the Israelites themselves, solidifying Joshua's leadership and the people's commitment to God's laws and directives. The verse underscores the themes of obedience to divine command, the sanctity of the Promised Land, and the distinctive identity of Israel as a people set apart for God's purposes. It also raises complex ethical questions about warfare and the treatment of enemies, which have been the subject of theological reflection and debate throughout history.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2763
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָרַם
Transliteration: châram
Pronunciation: khaw-ram'
Description: a primitive root; to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose; make accursed, consecrate, (utterly) destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly (slay, make away). - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H5288
There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַעַר
Transliteration: naʻar
Pronunciation: nah'-ar
Description: from נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man). - Strong's Number: H2205
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָקֵן
Transliteration: zâqên
Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator. - Strong's Number: H7794
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוֹר
Transliteration: shôwr
Pronunciation: shore
Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). - Strong's Number: H7716
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׂה
Transliteration: seh
Pronunciation: seh
Description: or שֵׂי; probably from שָׁאָה through the idea of pushing out to graze; a member of a flock, i.e. a sheep or goat; (lesser, small) cattle, ewe, goat, lamb, sheep. Compare זֶה. - Strong's Number: H2543
There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲמוֹר
Transliteration: chămôwr
Pronunciation: kham-ore'
Description: or (shortened) חֲמֹר; from חָמַר; a male ass (from its dun red); (he) ass. - Strong's Number: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.