Joshua 5:5

KJV

Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people [that were] born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, [them] they had not circumcised.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {H3588} all the people {H5971} that came out {H3318} were circumcised {H4135}: but all the people {H5971} that were born {H3209} in the wilderness {H4057} by the way {H1870} as they came forth {H3318} out of Egypt {H4714}, them they had not circumcised {H4135}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For although all the people who left Egypt had been circumcised, all those who had been born in the desert on the way as they went on from Egypt had not been circumcised;

Berean Standard Bible

Though all who had come out were circumcised, none of those born in the wilderness on the journey from Egypt had been circumcised.

American Standard Version

For all the people that came out were circumcised; but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, they had not circumcised.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 5:5 serves as a pivotal explanatory verse, clarifying the historical and spiritual context for the mass circumcision performed at Gilgal. It reveals a critical generational divide: the Israelites who departed Egypt were circumcised, upholding the covenant sign, whereas those born during the forty years of wilderness wandering had not received the rite. This cessation of circumcision underscored a period of divine judgment and disinheritance for the rebellious generation, making the subsequent renewal of the covenant sign essential for the new generation poised to enter and possess the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 5:5 is nestled within a crucial transitional chapter in the book of Joshua. It immediately follows the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River in [Joshua 3](/joshua/3 "Joshua 3 - Crossing the Jordan") and [Joshua 4](/joshua/4 "Joshua 4 - Memorial Stones"), and the establishment of the first camp at Gilgal. This verse provides the necessary background for understanding the command given to Joshua in [Joshua 5:2](/joshua/5-2 "Joshua 5:2 - God's Command for Circumcision") to circumcise the wilderness-born generation. The subsequent verses ([Joshua 5:6-9](/joshua/5-6 "Joshua 5:6-9 - The Circumcision at Gilgal")) detail the execution of this command and its profound theological significance, specifically the "rolling away" of the "reproach of Egypt." This act of covenant renewal precedes the first major military engagement, the conquest of Jericho, emphasizing that spiritual readiness and covenant faithfulness were paramount before any physical conquest.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of circumcision originated as a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham, marking his descendants as God's chosen people ([Genesis 17:10-14](/genesis/17-10 "Genesis 17:10-14 - The Covenant of Circumcision")). For the Israelites, it was not merely a cultural tradition but a deeply significant religious obligation, symbolizing their unique relationship with Yahweh. The first generation of Israelites who exited Egypt were circumcised, but during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the practice ceased for those born during that period. This cessation was a direct consequence of God's judgment upon the rebellious generation, who, due to their unbelief and disobedience, were condemned to die in the wilderness and denied entry into the Promised Land ([Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29 "Numbers 14:29-35 - Judgment on the Rebellious Generation")). Thus, the mass circumcision at Gilgal under Joshua signified not only a renewal of the Abrahamic covenant for the new generation but also a formal end to the wilderness period of judgment and a re-consecration of the nation before they could inherit God's promises.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Joshua and the broader Pentateuchal narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Covenant Renewal and Faithfulness**. The lapse in circumcision during the wilderness period represented a break in the visible sign of Israel's covenant with God, a consequence of their unfaithfulness. Its restoration at Gilgal underscores God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant promises and Israel's renewed commitment to Him. Secondly, it emphasizes **Obedience and Consecration**. The act of circumcision, as commanded by God, was an act of obedience, signifying the people's spiritual readiness and ritual purity before engaging in the holy war and taking possession of the land. This theme resonates with the broader biblical principle that God's blessings often follow obedience. Thirdly, the verse clearly delineates a **Generational Transition**. It starkly contrasts the generation that failed in the wilderness with the new generation, led by Joshua, who were now prepared to fully embrace their identity as God's covenant people and fulfill His purposes. This transition marks a pivotal moment where the past judgment is left behind, and a new era of promise and fulfillment begins.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Circumcised (Hebrew, _mûl_):** This verb, meaning "to cut off," refers to the physical removal of the foreskin, which served as the indelible sign of the Abrahamic covenant. Its significance transcends the physical act, symbolizing purification, dedication to God, and inclusion within the covenant community. The fact that the wilderness generation was "not circumcised" (negative form of the verb) highlights their exclusion from the full blessings and identity of the covenant during that period, a direct consequence of divine judgment.
* **Wilderness (Hebrew, _midbar_):** More than a mere geographical descriptor for a barren, uncultivated region, "the wilderness" in biblical theology is a profound theological space. It was a place of divine testing, judgment, and purification for Israel. It was where the rebellious generation perished, and where the new generation was formed and prepared. The fact that they were "born in the wilderness" underscores their unique status, distanced from the initial covenant observance of the Exodus generation, yet now positioned for a new beginning.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now all the people that came out were circumcised":** This initial clause establishes the baseline: the generation that experienced the Exodus from Egypt, led by Moses, had indeed received the covenant sign of circumcision. This affirms their initial status as God's covenant people, even as their subsequent rebellion led to judgment. It sets up the contrast that follows.
* **"but all the people [that were] born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, [them] they had not circumcised."**: This is the core explanatory statement of the verse. It identifies the specific group that lacked the covenant sign—those born during the forty years of wandering. The phrase "by the way as they came forth out of Egypt" clarifies that these were individuals who had not been part of the initial Exodus generation's circumcision, but rather were born *during* the journey. This omission of circumcision was not an oversight but a deliberate theological consequence, reflecting God's judgment on the parents' unbelief and rebellion, which prevented this generation from inheriting the land until the covenant was renewed.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Joshua 5:5 is **Contrast**. The verse explicitly contrasts two distinct generations of Israelites: those who "came out" of Egypt (and were circumcised) and those "born in the wilderness" (who were not). This stark juxtaposition highlights the theological significance of the wilderness period as a time of judgment and separation, and it sets the stage for the dramatic act of covenant renewal that follows. The verse also functions as a crucial **Explanation** or **Justification**, providing the necessary background for the command given in [Joshua 5:2](/joshua/5-2 "Joshua 5:2 - God's Command to Circumcise") and the subsequent narrative of mass circumcision. It answers the implicit question of "why now?" by revealing the long-standing omission. Furthermore, it subtly employs **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the profound spiritual and national transformation that must occur before Israel can fully step into its promised inheritance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 5:5 underscores the profound theological significance of the covenant and its visible sign. Circumcision was not merely a ritual; it was a physical embodiment of Israel's unique identity as God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes. The cessation of this practice during the wilderness wandering was a stark symbol of the broken relationship between God and the rebellious generation, a visible manifestation of their spiritual uncircumcision and their exclusion from the Promised Land. The renewal of circumcision at Gilgal, therefore, was a powerful act of national repentance, consecration, and re-identification with God's covenant. It signified a fresh start, a rolling away of the "reproach of Egypt" (Joshua 5:9), and a declaration that this new generation was ready to walk in obedience and claim their inheritance. This physical act pointed to a deeper spiritual reality: the need for a circumcised heart, a heart wholly devoted to God, which is a recurring theme throughout Scripture.

* [Genesis 17:10](/genesis/17-10 "The Covenant of Circumcision")
* [Deuteronomy 10:16](/deuteronomy/10-16 "Circumcision of the Heart")
* [Romans 2:29](/romans/2-29 "Spiritual Circumcision")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 5:5, while detailing an ancient physical rite, carries profound spiritual implications for believers today. Just as the wilderness generation experienced a period where the visible sign of their covenant relationship was neglected, we, too, can find ourselves in "wilderness periods" where our spiritual disciplines wane, our commitment to God's covenant feels distant, or our identity in Christ becomes obscured. This verse calls us to a renewed awareness of our spiritual state and the need for ongoing consecration. Before Israel could conquer the land, they had to be spiritually prepared and ritually pure. Similarly, before we can effectively engage in God's work or fully inherit the spiritual blessings He has for us, we must ensure our hearts are fully yielded to Him. It's a reminder that God's promises are always linked to our obedient response and a consecrated life. We are called to continually renew our commitment to Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to "circumcise" our hearts, cutting away anything that hinders our full devotion and readiness to live out our identity as His chosen people, ready for the spiritual battles and blessings that lie ahead.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "wilderness periods" in our lives might have led to a neglect of spiritual disciplines or a weakening of our commitment to God's covenant?**
* **How does the call for Israel's consecration before entering the Promised Land speak to our own need for spiritual preparation and purity before engaging in God's work or pursuing His will?**
* **In what ways can we, like the new generation of Israel, intentionally renew our commitment to God's covenant and fully embrace our identity in Christ today?**

### FAQ

**Why did circumcision cease in the wilderness for the generation born there?**

Answer: The cessation of circumcision for the wilderness-born generation was primarily a consequence of God's judgment upon the rebellious generation who had refused to enter the Promised Land from Kadesh Barnea ([Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29 "God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation")). As a sign of the covenant, its absence for this new generation symbolized their temporary exclusion from the full blessings and inheritance of the covenant due to their parents' disobedience. It served as a visible reminder of the broken relationship and the consequences of unbelief. Additionally, some scholars suggest practical reasons, such as the nomadic lifestyle making the procedure difficult or dangerous, but the primary biblical emphasis is on the theological reason of judgment and separation.

**What is the significance of "Gilgal" in this context?**

Answer: Gilgal, meaning "rolling" or "circle," becomes a profoundly significant location in Israel's history. In [Joshua 5:9](/joshua/5-9 "The Reproach Rolled Away"), God declares, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you." This refers to the shame or disgrace associated with Israel's past, possibly their slavery, their uncircumcised state (which was a reproach among nations), or their wilderness wanderings due to unbelief. Gilgal marks a new beginning, a place of covenant renewal, spiritual healing, and preparation for conquest. It's where Israel fully re-identifies as God's consecrated people, ready to fulfill their destiny. It also served as their initial base camp for the conquest of Canaan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 5:5, with its focus on physical circumcision as a sign of covenant and identity, finds its ultimate fulfillment and spiritual transformation in Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that the true "circumcision" is not of the flesh, but of the heart, performed by the Holy Spirit, through faith in Christ ([Colossians 2:11-12](/colossians/2-11 "Circumcision of Christ")). The physical rite, which marked Israel as God's people, is superseded by a spiritual reality in the new covenant, where believers are incorporated into the body of Christ through baptism, symbolizing their death to sin and resurrection to new life with Him ([Romans 6:3-4](/romans/6-3 "Baptized into Christ's Death")). Just as the wilderness generation needed to be circumcised to enter the physical Promised Land, believers today enter the spiritual "rest" and heavenly inheritance not through ritual, but through faith in the finished work of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Christ Himself is the true Israel, the perfectly obedient Son, and through Him, all who believe become part of the true spiritual Israel, heirs according to the promise ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Heirs According to the Promise")). The "reproach of Egypt" (sin and separation from God) is definitively "rolled away" not by a physical cutting, but by the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, making us new creations and granting us full access to God's presence and promises ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "New Creation in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 7:19

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Romans 2:26

Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Matthew 12:7

But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Galatians 6:15

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Deuteronomy 12:8

Ye shall not do after all [the things] that we do here this day, every man whatsoever [is] right in his own eyes.

Deuteronomy 12:9

For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.

Galatians 5:6

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.