The Meaning of Joshua 11:6 Explained

Joshua 11:6

KJV: And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto Joshua, 'Be not afraid of their presence, for to-morrow about this time I am giving all of them wounded before Israel; their horses thou dost hough, and their chariots burn with fire.'

Darby: And Jehovah said to Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow about this time will I give them all up slain before Israel: their horses shalt thou hough, and thou shalt burn their chariots with fire.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said  unto Joshua,  Be not afraid  because  of them: for to morrow  about this time  will I deliver them up  all slain  before  Israel:  thou shalt hough  their horses,  and burn  their chariots  with fire. 

What does Joshua 11:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 11:1-15 - Joshua's Obedience To The Lord's Commands
The scene is removed to the waters of Merom, near the sources of the Jordan. Hazor was the capital of the region; Jabin, like Pharaoh, was an hereditary title, Judges 4:2. All the northern nations combined. Joshua's heart might well have failed, had it not been for the divine promise on the night before the battle, Joshua 11:6.
His attack under cover of night was like the falling of a thunderbolt. The effect was immediate. The huge host dissolved. The hocking of the horses disabled them, so that Israel was not tempted to trust in chariots and horses, Deuteronomy 17:16; Isaiah 31:1. God's will was literally carried out. But what a noble record is given of this simple-minded soldier! "He left nothing undone," Joshua 11:15. It is only as we literally obey that we can count on such success as his. See 2 Timothy 4:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 11

1  Diverse kings overcome at the waters of Merom
10  Hazor is taken and burnt
16  All the country taken by Joshua
21  The Anakims cut off
23  The land rests from war

What do the individual words in Joshua 11:6 mean?

But said Yahweh to Joshua not do be afraid because of them for tomorrow about time this I will deliver - all of them slain before Israel their horses You shall hamstring and their chariots burn with fire
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֣ה אֶל־ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ אַל־ תִּירָ֣א מִפְּנֵיהֶם֒ כִּֽי־ מָחָ֞ר כָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּ֗את אָנֹכִ֞י נֹתֵ֧ן אֶת־ כֻּלָּ֛ם חֲלָלִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל סוּסֵיהֶ֣ם תְּעַקֵּ֔ר וְאֶת־ מַרְכְּבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  But  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮  Joshua 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ  
Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
תִּירָ֣א  do  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מִפְּנֵיהֶם֒  because  of  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
מָחָ֞ר  tomorrow 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מָחָר  
Sense: tomorrow, in time to come, in the future.
כָּעֵ֣ת  about  time 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַזֹּ֗את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
נֹתֵ֧ן  will  deliver 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כֻּלָּ֛ם  all  of  them 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חֲלָלִ֖ים  slain 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חָלָל 
Sense: slain, fatally wounded, pierced.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
סוּסֵיהֶ֣ם  their  horses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
תְּעַקֵּ֔ר  You  shall  hamstring 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָקַר 
Sense: to pluck up, root up.
מַרְכְּבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם  their  chariots 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מֶרְכָּבָה  
Sense: chariot.
תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף  burn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׂרַף  
Sense: to burn.
בָּאֵֽשׁ  with  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.