The Meaning of Joshua 15:17 Explained

Joshua 15:17

KJV: And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

YLT: And Othniel son of Kenaz, brother of Caleb, doth capture it, and he giveth to him Achsah his daughter for a wife.

Darby: And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.

ASV: And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Othniel  the son  of Kenaz,  the brother  of Caleb,  took  it: and he gave  him Achsah  his daughter  to wife. 

What does Joshua 15:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 15:13-19 - 63, Rewards Of Courage
Arba was the greatest among the Anakim or giants, Joshua 14:15. His three sons were equally formidable, Joshua 15:14. But Caleb subdued them through an omnipotent faith, 1 John 5:4-5. Jesus can give us victory over the Anakim of our hearts; the only condition is faith.
Twice in Scripture we are told this story of Achsah. See Judges 1:13, etc. With fatherly generosity Caleb gave her the upper and the nether springs. When men are right with God they can distribute living water to others. Let us never rest content with the lower, but aspire to the highest, John 3:12, remembering that it is our Father's good pleasure to give.
Alas for the record of Joshua 15:63! Centuries passed till David came and subdued the city, 2 Samuel 5:6. But there would have been no waiting had Judah gone up in the power of God. See Psalms 60:5, etc. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 15

1  The borders of the lot of Judah
13  Caleb's portion and conquest
16  Othniel, for his valour, marries Achsah, Caleb's daughter
18  She obtains a blessing of her father
21  The cities of Judah
63  The Jebusites unconquered

What do the individual words in Joshua 15:17 mean?

So took it Othniel son of Kenaz the brother of Caleb and he gave him - Acsah his daughter wife
וַֽיִּלְכְּדָ֛הּ עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־ קְנַ֖ז אֲחִ֣י כָלֵ֑ב וַיִּתֶּן־ ל֛וֹ אֶת־ עַכְסָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה

וַֽיִּלְכְּדָ֛הּ  So  took  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל  Othniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָתְנִיאֵל  
Sense: son of Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb, and husband of Achsah the daughter of Caleb and his own niece; first judge of Israel, who after the death of Joshua, delivered the Israelites from the oppression of Chushanrishathaim.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
קְנַ֖ז  of  Kenaz 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קְנַז  
Sense: son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau; one of the dukes of Edom.
אֲחִ֣י  the  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
כָלֵ֑ב  of  Caleb 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּלֵב 
Sense: the godly son of Jephunneh and the faithful spy who reported the Promised Land favourably and urged its capture.
וַיִּתֶּן־  and  he  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person 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.
עַכְסָ֥ה  Acsah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַכְסָה  
Sense: the daughter of Caleb and wife of Caleb’s brother Othniel to whom she was given as a reward for capturing Debir.
בִתּ֖וֹ  his  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
לְאִשָּֽׁה  wife 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.