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Joshua 3:10

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And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God [is] among you, and [that] he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

And Joshua {H3091} said {H559}, Hereby ye shall know {H3045} that the living {H2416} God {H410} is among {H7130} you, and that he will without fail {H3423} drive out {H3423} from before {H6440} you the Canaanites {H3669}, and the Hittites {H2850}, and the Hivites {H2340}, and the Perizzites {H6522}, and the Girgashites {H1622}, and the Amorites {H567}, and the Jebusites {H2983}.

Then Y'hoshua said, "Here is how you will know that the living God is here with you and that, without fail, he will drive out from before you the Kena'ani, the Hitti, the Hivi, the P'rizi, the Girgashi, the Emori and the Y'vusi:

He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.

And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite.

Commentary

Joshua 3:10 marks a pivotal declaration by Joshua to the Israelites just before they miraculously cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This verse serves as a powerful assurance of God's active presence and unwavering commitment to His covenant promises.

Context

Following the forty years of wilderness wandering and the death of Moses, Joshua assumes leadership, tasked with guiding the new generation of Israelites into Canaan. This declaration comes as a direct prelude to the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, which would serve as undeniable proof of God's power and favor. The people needed this assurance, having faced decades of hardship and now standing on the brink of confronting formidable nations in the land promised to their ancestors, as seen in God's covenant with Abraham.

Key Themes

  • The Living God Among You: The central message is God's immediate and dynamic presence. Unlike the dead idols of the surrounding nations, the God of Israel is `Elohim Chayyim` (אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים), the active, life-giving God who intervenes in human history. This presence guarantees His power to fulfill His word.
  • Unwavering Faithfulness: Joshua's statement, "he will without fail drive out," emphasizes God's absolute certainty and commitment to His promises. The detailed list of seven Canaanite nations (Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites) underscores the magnitude of the task and the impossibility of its accomplishment without divine intervention.
  • Divine Assurance and Conquest: The miraculous crossing of the Jordan, detailed later in Joshua 3:17, would be the tangible proof that God was indeed with them and would empower them to conquer the land. This act was designed to bolster their faith and demonstrate God's sovereignty over nature and nations.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the living God" (Hebrew: Elohim Chayyim) is significant. It highlights God's active, vibrant, and real existence, in stark contrast to the lifeless, impotent deities worshipped by the Canaanites. This term reassures Israel that their God is not merely a distant concept but an ever-present, powerful force who acts on behalf of His people.

Practical Application

Joshua 3:10 offers profound encouragement for believers today. Just as God promised to be with Israel and overcome their enemies, He promises His constant presence with His followers. When facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, whether personal challenges, spiritual battles, or societal pressures, this verse reminds us that the "living God" is among us. We can trust in His faithfulness to fulfill His promises and help us overcome the "giants" in our lives, knowing that He will "without fail" work on our behalf according to His perfect will.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 7:1 (10 votes)

    ¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

  • Exodus 33:2 (9 votes)

    And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

  • Psalms 44:2 (6 votes)

    [How] thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; [how] thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

  • Psalms 44:3 (6 votes)

    For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

  • Hebrews 10:31 (5 votes)

    [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

  • 1 Samuel 17:26 (5 votes)

    And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

  • 2 Kings 19:4 (4 votes)

    It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that are left.