Joshua 15:15
New International Version
From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).

New Living Translation
From there he went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher).

English Standard Version
And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.

Berean Standard Bible
From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).

Berean Literal Bible
And he went up from there to those dwelling in Debir; and the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher.

King James Bible
And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.

New King James Version
Then he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher).

New American Standard Bible
Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir previously was Kiriath-sepher.

NASB 1995
Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.

NASB 1977
Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.

Amplified Bible
Then he went up from there against the people of Debir; Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher.

Berean Annotated Bible
From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (sanctuary) (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher (city of the book)).

Christian Standard Bible
From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir, which used to be called Kiriath-sepher,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir whose name used to be Kiriath-sepher,

American Standard Version
And he went up thence against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.

Contemporary English Version
Next, Caleb started a war with the town of Debir, which at that time was called Kiriath-Sepher.

English Revised Version
And he went up thence against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
From there he marched against the people living in Debir. (In the past Debir was called Kiriath Sepher.)

Good News Translation
From there he went to attack the people living in Debir. (This city used to be called Kiriath Sepher.)

International Standard Version
Then he went up from there to attack the inhabitants of Debir. (Debir was formerly known as Kiriath-sepher.)

NET Bible
From there he attacked the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.)

New Heart English Bible
He went up against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath Sepher.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).

World English Bible
He went up against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he goes up there to the inhabitants of Debir; and the name of Debir [was] formerly Kirjath-Sepher.

Berean Literal Bible
And he went up from there to those dwelling in Debir; and the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher.

Young's Literal Translation
and he goeth up thence unto the inhabitants of Debir; and the name of Debir formerly is Kirjath-Sepher.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will go up from thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before, the City of the Book.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And going up from thence he came to the inhabitants of Dabir, which before was called Cariath-Sepher, that is to say, the city of letters.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And ascending further from there, he came to the inhabitants of Debir, which before was called Kiriath-Sepher, that is, the City of Letters.

New American Bible
From there he marched up against the inhabitants of Debir, which was formerly called Kiriath-sepher.

New Revised Standard Version
From there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he went up thence against the inhabitants of Debir; and the name of Debir before was Koriath-sepra.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he went up from there to the inhabitants of Dabir, and the name of Dabir from the former time was Quryath Sepra”The Town of the Scroll”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he went up thence against the inhabitants of Debir--now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Chaleb went up thence to the inhabitants of Dabir; and the name of Dabir before was the city of Letters.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Caleb's Portion and Conquest
14And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher). 16And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”…

Cross References
From there he marched

Judges 1:11
From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).

Joshua 10:38
Finally Joshua and all Israel with him turned toward Debir and fought against it.
against the inhabitants of Debir

Joshua 10:39
And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages. They put them to the sword and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. Joshua did to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king.

Judges 1:12
And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”
(formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).

Judges 18:29
They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city was formerly named Laish.

Joshua 19:47
(Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)
Judges 3:9-11
But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them. / The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him. / So the land had rest for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.

1 Chronicles 4:13-15
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai. / Meonothai was the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of those living in Ge-harashim, which was given this name because its people were craftsmen. / The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.

Numbers 13:22
They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 1:36
except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”

Joshua 14:13-15
Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. / Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. / (Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war.

2 Samuel 23:8-39
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. …

1 Chronicles 11:10-47
Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. / This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. …

Matthew 1:5
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

Hebrews 11:32
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

1 Samuel 30:14
We raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.”


Treasury of Scripture

And he went up there to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.

Joshua 10:3,38
Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, …

Judges 1:11-13
And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher: …

Jump to Previous
Beforetime Debir Inhabitants Kiriath Kiriath-Sepher Kir'iath-Se'pher Kirjathsepher Kirjath-Sepher Marched Sepher Thence
Jump to Next
Beforetime Debir Inhabitants Kiriath Kiriath-Sepher Kir'iath-Se'pher Kirjathsepher Kirjath-Sepher Marched Sepher Thence
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












From there he marched

Caleb continued his campaign from Hebron into the hill country of Judah, carrying out Israel’s task of taking possession of the land allotted to his tribe.

Jdg 1:11 From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir…
Jos 10:38 Finally Joshua and all Israel with him…

against the inhabitants of Debir

Debir was a fortified Canaanite city whose defeat secured another part of Judah’s inheritance and demonstrated Caleb’s continued strength and faithfulness in old age.

Jos 10:39 And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages.…
Jdg 1:12 And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher……

(formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).

The city’s earlier Canaanite name, Kiriath-sepher, meaning “City of Books” or “City of Scribes,” is preserved to identify the place and recall its former inhabitants before it came under Israelite control.

Jdg 18:29 They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan…
Jos 19:47 Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land and conquering it.

2. Debir
A city in the hill country of Judah, previously known as Kiriath-sepher, which means "City of Books" or "City of the Scribe."

3. Kiriath-sepher
The former name of Debir, indicating its possible significance as a center of learning or record-keeping.

4. Caleb
Although not mentioned directly in this verse, Caleb is a key figure in the surrounding account, as he was given the task of conquering Debir.

5. Inhabitants of Debir
The people living in Debir, who were part of the Canaanite tribes that the Israelites were commanded to drive out.
Teaching Points
Faithful Obedience
Caleb's actions in conquering Debir demonstrate faithful obedience to God's commands. Believers are called to trust and act on God's promises, even when faced with challenges.

Spiritual Inheritance
Just as Caleb claimed his inheritance in the Promised Land, Christians are encouraged to claim their spiritual inheritance in Christ, living out their faith boldly.

Overcoming Obstacles
The conquest of Debir symbolizes overcoming spiritual and personal obstacles. Believers can draw strength from God to face and conquer the "Debirs" in their lives.

Legacy of Faith
Caleb's account is a reminder of the impact of a life lived in faith. Our actions and faithfulness can leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 15:15?

2. How does Joshua 15:15 demonstrate Caleb's faithfulness in claiming God's promises?

3. What can we learn from Caleb's persistence in Joshua 15:15 for our lives?

4. How does Caleb's conquest relate to God's promises in Deuteronomy 1:36?

5. In what ways can we emulate Caleb's courage in our spiritual battles today?

6. How does Caleb's leadership in Joshua 15:15 inspire us to trust God's timing?

7. What is the significance of Caleb's conquest of Debir in Joshua 15:15?

8. How does Joshua 15:15 reflect God's promise to the Israelites?

9. Why is the city of Debir important in biblical history?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 15?


Verse 15. - Kirjath-sepher (see note on Joshua 10:38).

Joshua 15:15 shows Caleb moving immediately from Hebron to Debir, trusting God’s promise, acting with vigor, confronting real opposition, securing strategic territory, and renaming what was once pagan ground. The verse invites every believer to keep advancing, wage decisive battle against lingering strongholds, and expect God to replace old identities with redeemed ones.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
From there
מִשָּׁ֔ם (miš·šām)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

he marched
וַיַּ֣עַל (way·ya·‘al)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

against
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the inhabitants
יֹשְׁבֵ֖י (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of Debir
דְּבִ֑ר (də·ḇir)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1688: Debir -- an Amorite king, also the name of several places in Palestine

(formerly
לְפָנִ֖ים (lə·p̄ā·nîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

known as
וְשֵׁם־ (wə·šêm-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

Kiriath-sepher).
סֵֽפֶר׃ (sê·p̄er)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7158: Kiriath-sepher -- 'city of writing', a city in Judah


Additonal Resources
Joshua 15:15 Blue Letter Bible
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OT History: Joshua 15:15 He went up against the inhabitants (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 15:14
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