The Meaning of Joshua 5:13 Explained

Joshua 5:13

KJV: And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

YLT: And it cometh to pass in Joshua's being by Jericho, that he lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, one standing over-against him, and his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua goeth unto him, and saith to him, 'Art thou for us or for our adversaries?'

Darby: And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man before him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him, and said to him: Art thou for us, or for our enemies?

ASV: And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, when Joshua  was by Jericho,  that he lifted up  his eyes  and looked,  and, behold, there stood  a man  over against him with his sword  drawn  in his hand:  and Joshua  went  unto him, and said  unto him, [Art] thou for us, or for our adversaries? 

What does Joshua 5:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 5:13-15 - The Commander And His Plan Of Campaign
When the heart is perfect with God we may count on His presence and help. It is to the separated and obedient servant that the vision of Christ, as Ally and Captain, is given. Here were three hosts marshaled by Jericho-of the Canaanites, of Israel, and of the heavenly armies, waiting to war against the evil spirits which ruled the darkness of the land, Ephesians 6:12.
The answer to Joshua's question depended on whether Israel was prepared to accept God's plan of campaign, which was very humbling to the flesh. "The Lord is with us, if we are with Him," Joshua 7:11-12; 2 Chronicles 15:2. As Jericho was the key to Canaan, and its fall was to be the earnest of complete victory, the program was carefully planned to give God His rightful position. From first to last its capture was the result of the interposition of Him who dwelled in the bush. Therefore, the Ark was borne around the city, as the symbol of His presence, Numbers 10:35. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 5

1  The Canaanites are afraid
2  Joshua renews circumcision
10  The Passover is kept at Gilgal
12  manna ceases
13  An angel appears to Joshua

What do the individual words in Joshua 5:13 mean?

And it came to pass when was Joshua by Jericho that he lifted his eyes and looked and behold a Man stood to opposite him and with His sword drawn in His hand and went Joshua Him and said to Him [Are] for us You or for our adversaries
וַיְהִ֗י בִּֽהְי֣וֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ בִּירִיחוֹ֒ וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה־ אִישׁ֙ עֹמֵ֣ד לְנֶגְדּ֔וֹ וְחַרְבּ֥וֹ שְׁלוּפָ֖ה בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ הֲלָ֥נוּ אַתָּ֖ה אִם־ ؟ לְצָרֵֽינוּ

וַיְהִ֗י  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בִּֽהְי֣וֹת  when  was 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
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.
בִּירִיחוֹ֒  by  Jericho 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.
וַיִּשָּׂ֤א  that  he  lifted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עֵינָיו֙  his  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וַיַּ֔רְא  and  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְהִנֵּה־  and  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
אִישׁ֙  a  Man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
עֹמֵ֣ד  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לְנֶגְדּ֔וֹ  to  opposite  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
וְחַרְבּ֥וֹ  and  with  His  sword 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
שְׁלוּפָ֖ה  drawn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: שָׁלַף  
Sense: to draw out or off, take off.
בְּיָד֑וֹ  in  His  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ  and  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ  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.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ל֔וֹ  to  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
הֲלָ֥נוּ  [Are]  for  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
؟ לְצָרֵֽינוּ  for  our  adversaries 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.