New International Version Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself. New Living Translation The Israelites completely destroyed every living thing in the city, leaving no survivors. Not a single person was spared. And then Joshua burned the city. English Standard Version And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. Berean Standard Bible The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself. Berean Literal Bible And they struck every soul that was in it with the mouth of the sword, devoting them to destruction. There was not left anyone breathing. And he burned Hazor with the fire. King James Bible And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. New King James Version And they struck all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was none left breathing. Then he burned Hazor with fire. New American Standard Bible They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. NASB 1995 They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. NASB 1977 And they struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. Legacy Standard Bible And they struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction; there was no one left who breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. Amplified Bible They struck all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he set fire to Hazor. Berean Annotated Bible The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction {cherem}. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself (castle). Christian Standard Bible They struck down everyone in it with the sword, completely destroying them; he left no one alive. Then he burned Hazor. Holman Christian Standard Bible They struck down everyone in it with the sword, completely destroying them; he left no one alive. Then he burned down Hazor. American Standard Version And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left that breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire. Contemporary English Version and everyone else, then they set the town on fire. English Revised Version And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was none left that breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire. GOD'S WORD® Translation They claimed everyone for the LORD by destroying them with swords. Not one person survived. Joshua also burned Hazor. Good News Translation They put everyone there to death; no one was left alive, and the city was burned. International Standard Version They executed all of the people who lived in it, completely destroying it and leaving no one alive. Then he burned Hazor in fire. NET Bible They annihilated everyone who lived there with the sword--no one who breathed remained--and burned Hazor. New Heart English Bible They struck all the souls who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was no one left who breathed. He burnt Hazor with fire. Webster's Bible Translation And they smote all the souls that were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself. World English Bible They struck all the souls who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was no one left who breathed. He burned Hazor with fire. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand they strike every person who [is] in it by the mouth of the sword; he has devoted—he has not left anyone breathing, and he has burned Hazor with fire; Berean Literal Bible And they struck every soul that was in it with the mouth of the sword, devoting them to destruction. There was not left anyone breathing. And he burned Hazor with the fire. Young's Literal Translation and they smite every person who is in it by the mouth of the sword; he hath devoted -- he hath not left any one breathing, and Hazor he hath burnt with fire; Smith's Literal Translation And they will smite every soul which is in it with the mouth of the sword, exterminating: and no breath was left: and he burnt Hazor in fire. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he cut off all the souls that abode there: he left not in it any remains, but utterly destroyed all, and burned the city itself with fire. Catholic Public Domain Version And he struck down all the souls that were staying there. He did not leave in it any remains, but he destroyed everything unto utter annihilation, and he destroyed the city itself with fire. New American Bible He also struck down with the sword every person there, carrying out the ban, till none was left alive. Hazor itself he burned. New Revised Standard Version And they put to the sword all who were in it, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed, and he burned Hazor with fire. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they smote with the edge of the sword all the people that were in it, utterly destroying them; there was not a soul left among them; and he burned Hazor with fire. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he destroyed all the souls in it by the mouth of the sword and he did not leave one of them breathing, and Khetsur he burned in fire OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left that breathed; and he burnt Hazor with fire. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they slew with the sword all that breathed in it, and utterly destroyed them all, and there was no living thing left in it; and they burnt Asor with fire. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Conquest of the Northern Cities…10At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword, because Hazor was formerly the head of all these kingdoms. 11The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, devoting them to destruction. Nothing that breathed remained, and Joshua burned down Hazor itself. 12Joshua captured all these kings and their cities and put them to the sword. He devoted them to destruction, as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded.… Cross References The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, Joshua 10:37 They captured it and put to the sword its king, all its villages, and all the people. Joshua left no survivors, just as he had done at Eglon; he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it. 1 Samuel 15:8 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. devoting them to destruction. 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Nothing that breathed remained, Deuteronomy 20:16 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. Joshua 10:40 So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. and Joshua burned down Hazor itself. Joshua 8:19 and as soon as he did so, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They rushed forward, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire. Joshua 6:24 Then the Israelites burned up the city and everything in it. However, they put the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house. Numbers 33:52 you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Judges 1:8 Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire. 1 Kings 9:21 their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day. 2 Chronicles 8:7-8 As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day. Psalm 106:34-35 They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. Jeremiah 25:9 behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation. Ezekiel 9:5-6 And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! / Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. Matthew 22:7 The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Treasury of Scripture And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. any left to breathe [heb] any breath Joshua 10:40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. Jump to Previous Breathe Breathed Breathing Burned Burning Burnt Curse Death Destroyed Destroying Devoted Edge Hazor Itself Mercy Mouth Smite Smote Souls Sparing Struck Sword Therein Totally UtterlyJump to Next Breathe Breathed Breathing Burned Burning Burnt Curse Death Destroyed Destroying Devoted Edge Hazor Itself Mercy Mouth Smite Smote Souls Sparing Struck Sword Therein Totally UtterlyJoshua 11 1. Diverse kings overcome at the waters of Merom10. Hazor is taken and burnt 16. All the country taken by Joshua 21. The Anakims cut off 23. The land rests from war The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword, Hazor had led the northern Canaanite coalition and was “the head of all those kingdoms” (Josh. 11:10). Its defeat demonstrated that no political or military power could withstand the Lord’s covenant purposes for Israel. The judgment carried out against Hazor fulfilled God’s command concerning the Canaanite nations and removed a center of idolatry and resistance from the land. Jos 10:37 They captured it and put to the sword its king,… devoting them to destruction. Hazor and its inhabitants were placed under God’s judgment, as Jericho had been (Josh. 6:17–21). The destruction was not motivated by Israelite expansion alone, but by the Lord’s condemnation of entrenched wickedness and pagan worship (Leviticus 18:24–25; Deut. 9:4–5). Israel was also guarded from the spiritual corruption that had brought judgment upon Canaan. 1Sa 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote… Nothing that breathed remained, The complete nature of the victory emphasizes Joshua’s obedience to God’s instruction (Deut. 20:16–18). No surviving Canaanite population was left in Hazor to restore its former power or to draw Israel into its religious practices. Deu 20:16 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God… and Joshua burned down Hazor itself. Hazor alone among the northern cities was burned, marking the fall of the coalition’s chief city and preventing its immediate restoration as a royal stronghold. Excavations at Hazor have uncovered a major destruction layer by fire consistent with the city’s violent fall. The burned city stood as a public witness that the Lord had fulfilled His promise to give Israel victory in the land. Jos 8:19 They rushed forward, entered the city, captured it… Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, who led the conquest of Canaan. 2. Hazor A significant Canaanite city, described as the head of all those kingdoms, which was targeted and destroyed by the Israelites. 3. Canaanites The inhabitants of the land of Canaan, who were the primary opponents of the Israelites during their conquest of the Promised Land. 4. Israelites The people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were fulfilling God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. 5. The Conquest of Canaan A series of military campaigns led by Joshua to take possession of the land promised by God to the Israelites. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsJoshua's actions demonstrate the importance of following God's instructions completely, even when they are difficult or challenging. The Severity of Sin The complete destruction of Hazor serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which God views sin and idolatry. God's Sovereignty and Justice The conquest of Canaan illustrates God's sovereign plan and His justice in dealing with nations that oppose His will. Spiritual Warfare Just as the Israelites were called to destroy physical strongholds, Christians are called to demolish spiritual strongholds in their lives. Trust in God's Promises The fulfillment of God's promise to give the Israelites the land of Canaan encourages believers to trust in God's promises for their lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 11:11?2. How does Joshua 11:11 demonstrate God's judgment against persistent sinfulness? 3. What can we learn about obedience from Joshua's actions in Joshua 11:11? 4. How does Joshua 11:11 connect to God's promises in Deuteronomy 7:2? 5. How should believers today respond to God's commands, as seen in Joshua 11:11? 6. What does Joshua 11:11 teach about the consequences of opposing God's will? 7. How does Joshua 11:11 align with the concept of a loving and merciful God? 8. What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Joshua 11:11? 9. Why were no survivors left according to Joshua 11:11? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 11? What Does Joshua 11:11 Mean The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword“The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword” (Joshua 11:11). • This decisive action fulfilled earlier commands such as Deuteronomy 7:2—“you must completely destroy them.” • It also echoes the pattern established at Jericho (Joshua 6:21) and Ai (Joshua 8:26), demonstrating consistency in Israel’s conquest strategy under God’s direction (Exodus 23:23). • The phrase underscores Israel’s obedience to divine instruction rather than personal vengeance (Numbers 31:28; Deuteronomy 20:16-18). Devoting them to destruction “Devoting them to destruction” (ḥērem) indicated placing the city under God’s ban, rendering its people and possessions exclusively His (Leviticus 27:28-29). • By treating Hazor in this manner, Israel publicly affirmed that victory and spoils belonged to the LORD (Joshua 6:19). • Comparable examples: Amalek in 1 Samuel 15:3 and the Midianites in Numbers 31:17-18. • The act protected Israel from adopting corrupt pagan practices (Deuteronomy 12:29-31). Nothing that breathed remained “Nothing that breathed remained” restates totality. • This mirrors Deuteronomy 20:16-18, where God ordered removal of Canaanite influence “so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do.” • The thoroughness highlights God’s holiness and the seriousness of sin (Genesis 15:16; Habakkuk 1:13). • It also foreshadows final judgment scenes, such as Revelation 19:17-18, where nothing opposed to God survives. Joshua burned down Hazor itself “Joshua burned down Hazor itself.” • Hazor was the head of northern kingdoms (Joshua 11:10), so its destruction crippled regional resistance. • Burning the city ensured no immediate rebuilding, paralleling the curse pronounced on Jericho (Joshua 6:26). • Fire often signifies divine judgment (Genesis 19:24; Isaiah 66:15-16) and purification (Numbers 31:23). • Archaeology confirms a massive destruction layer at Hazor in the Late Bronze Age, reinforcing the historical reliability of the text. summary Joshua 11:11 records complete, God-directed judgment on Hazor. The Israelites obeyed by slaying every inhabitant, placing the city under the ban, leaving no survivors, and burning the site. These actions fulfilled earlier divine commands, safeguarded Israel from idolatry, demonstrated God’s holiness, and secured Israel’s hold on the land. Verse 11. - Utterly destroying them (see note on Joshua 6:17; so below, ver. 12). There was not any left to breathe (see note on Joshua 10:40). And he burnt Hazor with fire. Comparing this verse with verses 13 and 21, there can be little doubt that Joshua had heard that the Anakim had succeeded in re-occupying the cities he had captured in the south. He resolved to prevent this in the case of Hazor, which had been the capital of the neighbourhood, though he did not think the same step necessary in the case of the inferior cities. Hazor was afterwards rebuilt and reoccupied by the Canaanites (Judges 4:2), though not in the time of Joshua. For the present, this destruction of the stronghold of Phoenician power in the north was a decisive measure, and would have been so permanently had the Israelites followed up the policy of Joshua.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew [The Israelites] struck downוַ֠יַּכּוּ (way·yak·kū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5221: To strike everyone כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every in [Hazor] בָּ֤הּ (bāh) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's Hebrew with the sword, חֶ֙רֶב֙ (ḥe·reḇ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword utterly destroying [them]. הַֽחֲרֵ֔ם (ha·ḥă·rêm) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose Nothing לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no that breathed נְשָׁמָ֑ה (nə·šā·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5397: A puff, wind, angry, vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, an animal remained, נוֹתַ֖ר (nō·w·ṯar) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve and וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-) Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case [Joshua] burned down שָׂרַ֥ף (śā·rap̄) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 8313: To be, on fire Hazor itself. חָצ֖וֹר (ḥā·ṣō·wr) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 2674: Hazor -- the name of several places in Palestine, also one in Arabia Additonal Resources Joshua 11:11 Blue Letter BibleJoshua 11:11 Bible Gateway Joshua 11:11 Bible.com Joshua 11:11 NIV |
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