The Meaning of Joshua 23:4 Explained

Joshua 23:4

KJV: Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

YLT: see, I have caused to fall to you these nations who are left for an inheritance to your tribes, from the Jordan, (and all the nations which I cut off), and the great sea, the going in of the sun.

Darby: Behold, I have divided unto you by lot for an inheritance, according to your tribes, these nations that remain, from the Jordan, as well as all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the great sea toward the sun-setting.

ASV: Behold, I have allotted unto you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold,  I have divided  unto you by lot these nations  that remain,  to be an inheritance  for your tribes,  from Jordan,  with all the nations  that I have cut off,  even unto the great  sea  westward. 

What does Joshua 23:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 23:1-16 - Joshua's Farewell Address
Joshua's anxiety for the welfare of his people after his death has New Testament parallels. See Acts 20:29; 2 Peter 1:13-15; and especially John 13:1-38; John 14:1-31; John 15:1-27. As always, he lays stress on what the Lord had done, Joshua 23:3; Joshua 23:5; Joshua 23:9. Not one ray of glory is stolen for himself.
He argues for their steadfastness on three grounds: There are the promises of Joshua 23:5; the threatenings of Joshua 23:11-13; the exhortations of Joshua 23:14-16. Our failure to drive out the foes of our heart is due to our failure to follow the Lord. A lack of whole-hearted surrender lies at the root of all failure. Cleaving to the Lord is the Old Testament way of saying "abide in Christ," John 15:1-27.
In contrast to man's inconstancy and infidelity, notice the sublime testimony to God's faithfulness. "Not one thing hath failed," Joshua 23:14. When at last we review our life, we, too, shall be able to say as much, if only by His grace we are kept faithful and obedient. We cannot keep the old Covenant, but the new stands forever, Jeremiah 31:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 23

1  Joshua's exhortation before his death
3  by former benefits
5  by promises
11  and by threatenings

What do the individual words in Joshua 23:4 mean?

See I have divided by lot to you - nations that remain these to be an inheritance for your tribes from the Jordan and with all the nations that I have cut off and as far as the Sea Great toward the setting westward
רְאוּ֩ הִפַּ֨לְתִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶֽת־ הַ֠גּוֹיִם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנַחֲלָ֖ה לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם מִן־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן וְכָל־ הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִכְרַ֔תִּי וְהַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל מְב֥וֹא הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ

רְאוּ֩  See 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הִפַּ֨לְתִּי  I  have  divided  by  lot 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
לָכֶ֜ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַ֠גּוֹיִם  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים  that  remain 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁאַר  
Sense: to remain, be left over, be left behind.
הָאֵ֛לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
בְּנַחֲלָ֖ה  to  be  an  inheritance 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם  for  your  tribes 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן  the  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
וְכָל־  and  with  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַגּוֹיִם֙  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הִכְרַ֔תִּי  I  have  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
וְהַיָּ֥ם  and  as  far  as  the  Sea 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
הַגָּד֖וֹל  Great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
מְב֥וֹא  toward  the  setting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָבֹוא  
Sense: entrance, a coming in, entering.
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ  westward 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.

What are the major concepts related to Joshua 23:4?

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