New International Version Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. New Living Translation Joshua had to circumcise them because all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died in the wilderness. English Standard Version And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. Berean Standard Bible Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. Berean Literal Bible And this is the reason that Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt, males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. King James Bible And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. New King James Version And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. New American Standard Bible This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt. NASB 1995 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt. NASB 1977 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out of Egypt. Legacy Standard Bible Now this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way when they came out of Egypt. Amplified Bible This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness along the way after they left Egypt. Berean Annotated Bible Now this is why Joshua (YHWH saves) circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt (land of bondage)—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. Christian Standard Bible This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males—all the men of war—had died in the wilderness along the way after they had come out of Egypt. Holman Christian Standard Bible This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males—all the men of war—had died in the wilderness along the way after they had come out of Egypt. American Standard Version And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt. English Revised Version And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt. GOD'S WORD® Translation This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: All the soldiers had died on the way through the desert after they left Egypt. International Standard Version Joshua circumcised them because all of the males among the people who came out of Egypt—that is, all the warriors—had died during their journey through the wilderness following their departure from Egypt. NET Bible This is why Joshua had to circumcise them: All the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt died on the journey through the desert after they left Egypt. New Heart English Bible This is the reason Joshua circumcised: all the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Webster's Bible Translation And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNow this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. World English Bible This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out of Egypt. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd this [is] the thing [for] which Joshua circumcises [them]: all the people who are coming out of Egypt, who are males, all the men of war have died in the wilderness, in the way, in their coming out of Egypt, Berean Literal Bible And this is the reason that Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt, males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. Young's Literal Translation And this is the thing for which Joshua circumciseth them: all the people who are coming out of Egypt, who are males, all the men of war have died in the wilderness, in the way, in their coming out of Egypt, Smith's Literal Translation And this the reason that Joshua circumcised: all the people came forth out of Egypt, the males, all the men of war, died in the desert in the way, in their coming out of Egypt. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow this is the cause of the second circumcision: All the people that came out of Egypt that were males, all the men fit for war, died in the desert, during the time of the long going about in the way. Catholic Public Domain Version Now this is the reason for the second circumcision: All the people who departed from Egypt of the male gender, all the men fit for war, died in the desert during the very long wandering way; New American Bible This was the reason for the circumcision: Of all the people who had come out of Egypt, every male of military age had died in the wilderness during the journey after they came out of Egypt. New Revised Standard Version This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the warriors, had died during the journey through the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd these are the men whom Joshua did circumcise: every male child who had been born after they had come out of Egypt, because all the men of war had died in the wilderness on the journey, after they came out of Egypt. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And these are those whom Yeshua circumcised: every child of the people who had gone out from Egypt, the males, because all of the men workers of war had died in the wilderness in the way when they went out from Egypt OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt. Brenton Septuagint Translation And this is the way in which Joshua purified the children of Israel; as many as were born in the way, and as many as were uncircumcised of them that came out of Egypt, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Circumcision at Gilgal…3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt— all the men of war— had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. 5Though all who had come out were circumcised, none of those born in the wilderness on the journey from Egypt had been circumcised.… Cross References Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: Genesis 17:10-14 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. / You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. / Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. … Exodus 12:48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. Leviticus 12:3 And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised. All those who came out of Egypt— Exodus 12:41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 13:18 So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle. Numbers 33:3 On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, all the men of war— Deuteronomy 2:14-15 The time we spent traveling from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the Brook of Zered was thirty-eight years, until that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. / Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them, to eliminate them from the camp, until they had all perished. Numbers 26:64-65 Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. / For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. had died on the journey in the wilderness Numbers 14:29-35 Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me. / Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. / But I will bring your children, whom you said would become plunder, into the land you have rejected—and they will enjoy it. … Psalm 106:24-27 They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise. / They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD. / So He raised His hand and swore to cast them down in the wilderness, … Deuteronomy 1:34-35 When the LORD heard your words, He grew angry and swore an oath, saying, / “Not one of the men of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your fathers, after they had left Egypt. Deuteronomy 8:2-4 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. / He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. / Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Deuteronomy 29:5 For forty years I led you in the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. Numbers 32:13 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation who had done evil in His sight was gone. Exodus 12:37-38 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. / And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. Numbers 26:63-65 These were the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. / Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. / For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. Treasury of Scripture And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. All the Numbers 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Numbers 26:64,65 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai… Deuteronomy 2:16 So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, Jump to Previous Age Cause Circumcise Circumcised Circumciseth Death Desert Died Egypt Joshua Males Military Overtaken Reason War Waste Way WildernessJump to Next Age Cause Circumcise Circumcised Circumciseth Death Desert Died Egypt Joshua Males Military Overtaken Reason War Waste Way WildernessJoshua 5 1. The Canaanites are afraid2. Joshua renews circumcision 10. The Passover is kept at Gilgal 12. manna ceases 13. An angel appears to Joshua Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: Circumcision marked Israel’s covenant relationship with God, established with Abraham. Before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua led the new generation in renewing this covenant sign and setting themselves apart for the Lord. Gen 17:10-14 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you,… All those who came out of Egypt— The generation delivered from Egyptian slavery had witnessed God’s mighty acts in the exodus and wilderness. Exo 12:41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day… all the men of war— These were the adult men counted for military service, the generation originally expected to enter and possess the land. Deu 2:14-15 The time we spent traveling from Kadesh-barnea… had died on the journey in the wilderness Because they refused to trust God at Kadesh-barnea, that generation was judged to die in the wilderness during the forty years of wandering. Num 14:29-35 Your bodies will fall in this wilderness… after they had left Egypt. Israel’s deliverance from Egypt began their journey toward the Promised Land, but the land was entered by their children, who now stood ready to obey God under Joshua’s leadership. Deu 8:2-4 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you… Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land. 2. Israelites The people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. 3. Egypt The land of bondage from which the Israelites were delivered. 4. Wilderness The place where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith. 5. Circumcision A covenantal sign given to Abraham and his descendants, symbolizing their unique relationship with God. Teaching Points Covenant RenewalThe act of circumcision in Joshua 5:4 represents a renewal of the covenant with God. It is a reminder of the importance of maintaining our commitments to God and His commands. Generational Faithfulness The new generation of Israelites needed to embrace the covenant for themselves. This teaches us the importance of passing down faith and ensuring that each generation understands and commits to God's promises. Obedience and Consequences The death of the previous generation in the wilderness serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience. It encourages us to trust and obey God fully to avoid spiritual stagnation. Spiritual Preparation Before entering the Promised Land, the Israelites needed to be spiritually prepared. This underscores the importance of spiritual readiness in our own lives before undertaking new ventures or challenges. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 5:4?2. Why did God command circumcision for Israelites born in the wilderness, Joshua 5:4? 3. How does circumcision in Joshua 5:4 symbolize spiritual renewal for believers today? 4. What parallels exist between Joshua 5:4 and New Testament teachings on spiritual purity? 5. How can we apply the obedience shown in Joshua 5:4 to our lives? 6. In what ways does Joshua 5:4 highlight the importance of covenant faithfulness to God? 7. Why did God command circumcision in Joshua 5:4 after the Israelites entered the Promised Land? 8. How does Joshua 5:4 reflect on the faithfulness of the Israelites during the Exodus? 9. What is the significance of circumcision in Joshua 5:4 for the Israelites' covenant with God? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 5? (4) The cause why Joshua did circumcise.--As the narrative stands it is not quite obvious why uncircumcision is called "the reproach of Egypt," whereas all the people born in Egypt were circumcised. The uncircumcision attached to those who were born in the wilderness, during the years of wandering. But that period of wandering, between the departure from Kadesh-barnea and the return to Kadesh (thirty-seven and a half years, Numbers 15-19, inclusive), is a kind of blank in the story of the Exodus. The five chapters which belong to it in the Book of Numbers contain no note of progress as to time or place. The people had "turned back in their hearts to Egypt" (Acts 7:39; Numbers 14:4), and were bearing the reproach of their apostasy all those years, "the reproach of Egypt." Suffering under the "breach of promise" of Jehovah (Numbers 14:34), they appear to have omitted the sign of the covenant, as though they were no longer the people of God. The passage of Jordan was the practical proof of Israel's restoration to Divine favour, and they were brought into covenant with Him once more.Verse 4. - After they came out from Egypt. Rather "on their journey from Egypt." See next verse, where the same words are translated "as they came out." Joshua 5:4 reminds us that covenant faithfulness is essential for experiencing God’s promises. Joshua’s act of circumcising the new generation reconnects Israel to the Abrahamic sign, distinguishes them from the unbelieving soldiers who perished, and positions them to receive the land God swore to give. The verse sets a contrast between a redeemed yet faithless past and a present generation ready to trust and obey, underlining that God’s victory belongs to a people marked by covenant loyalty. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Now thisוְזֶ֥ה (wə·zeh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that is why הַדָּבָ֖ר (had·dā·ḇār) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites circumcised them: מָ֣ל (māl) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4135: To cut short, curtail, to blunt, to destroy All כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every those הָעָ֣ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock who came out הַיֹּצֵא֩ (hay·yō·ṣê) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim of Egypt— מִמִּצְרַ֨יִם (mim·miṣ·ra·yim) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa all כֹּ֣ל ׀ (kōl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the men אַנְשֵׁ֣י (’an·šê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 582: Man, mankind of war— הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (ham·mil·ḥā·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4421: A battle, war had died מֵ֤תוּ (mê·ṯū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill on the journey בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (bad·de·reḵ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action in the wilderness בַמִּדְבָּר֙ (ḇam·miḏ·bār) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech after they had left בְּצֵאתָ֖ם (bə·ṣê·ṯām) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim Egypt. מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (mim·miṣ·rā·yim) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa Additonal Resources Joshua 5:4 Blue Letter BibleJoshua 5:4 Bible Gateway Joshua 5:4 Bible.com Joshua 5:4 NIV |
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