God’s Word Translation
Joshua 7:9
9When the Canaanites and everyone who lives in the land hears about it, they will surround us and remove every memory of us from the earth. What will you do then so that your great name ⌞will be remembered⌟?”
Joshua 7:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
- New International Version (NIV)The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”
Context of Joshua 7:9
7Joshua said, “Almighty Lord, why did you bring these people across the Jordan River? Was it to hand us over to the Amorites so that they could destroy us? I wish we had been content to live on the other side of the Jordan! 8Lord, what else can I say after Israel ran away from its enemy? When the Canaanites and everyone who lives in the land hears about it, they will surround us and remove every memory of us from the earth. What will you do then so that your great name ⌞will be remembered⌟?” 10The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! What are you doing bowing on the ground? 11Israel has sinned. They have ignored the requirements that I have placed on them. They have taken what I claimed for myself and put it among their own goods. They have not only stolen, but they have also lied.
Read all of Joshua 7Joshua 7:9 word by word
וְיִשְׁמְע֣וּ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗י וְכֹל֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וְנָסַ֣בּוּ עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְהִכְרִ֥יתוּ אֶת־שְׁמֵ֖נוּ מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה לְשִׁמְךָ֥ הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For the Canaanitesכְּנַעֲנִיkena‛anîy · CanaaniteH3669
- and all the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- shall hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- and shall environ us roundסָבַבsâbab · to turn: surroundH5437
- and cut offכָּרַתkârath · to cut: eliminateH3772
- our nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- and what wilt thou doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- unto thy greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
Cross-references for Joshua 7:9
- Exodus 32:12Don’t let the Egyptians say, ‘He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth. That’s why he brought them out ⌞of our land⌟.’ Don’t be so angry. Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people.
- Numbers 14:13But Moses said to the Lord, “What if the Egyptians hear about it? (You used your power to take these people away from them.)
- Psalms 83:4They say, “Let’s wipe out their nation so that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered.”
- Psalms 124:2“If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us,
- Deuteronomy 32:26I said that I would cut them in pieces and erase everyone’s memory of them.
- Psalms 106:6We have sinned, and so did our ancestors. We have done wrong. We are guilty.
- Ezekiel 20:9But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations where they were living. While other nations were watching, I made myself known to them by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
- Ezekiel 36:22“So tell the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am about to do something, people of Israel. I will not do this for your sake but for the sake of my holy name, which you have dishonored among the nations wherever you have gone.
- Joel 2:17The priests who serve the Lord cry between the altar and the entrance to the temple. They say, “Spare your people, O Lord. Don’t let the people who belong to you become a disgrace. Don’t let the nations ridicule them. Why should people ask, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
- John 12:28Father, give glory to your name.” A voice from heaven said, “I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again.”
Commentaries on Joshua 7:9
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9What wilt thou do unto thy great name? - i. e. “after the Canaanites have cut off our name what will become of Thy Name?” This bold expostulation, that of one wrestling in sore need with God in prayer, like the similar appeals of Moses in earlier emergencies (Compare the marginal references), is based upon God‘s past promises and mercies. What would be said of (God by the pagan if now He permitted Israel to be destroyed?Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 Joshua's concern for the honour of God, more than even for the fate of Israel, was the language of the Spirit of adoption. He pleaded with God. He laments their defeat, as he feared it would reflect on God's wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness. We cannot at any time urge a better plea than this, Lord, what wilt thou do for thy great name? Let God be glorified in all, and then welcome his whole will.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Joshua’s fears were realistic. All of Canaan had believed that Israel could not be defeated. However, because the small town of Ai defeated Israel, the Canaanites might think this could happen again. If God allowed the wicked to destroy his people completely, the nations would no longer have a witness. They would not see that God continues to be involved with his world. Your great name: Compare Exodus 32:11–12; Numbers 14:13–19.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-96-9. Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth ... before the ark ... he and the elders--It is evident, from those tokens of humiliation and sorrow, that a solemn fast was observed on this occasion. The language of Joshua's prayer is thought by many to savor of human infirmity and to be wanting in that reverence and submission he owed to God. But, although apparently breathing a spirit of bold remonstrance and complaint, it was in reality the…Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 7:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Joshua 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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