Joshua 11:6 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots."

◄ Joshua 11:6 ►

New International Version
The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”

New Living Translation
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel as dead men. Then you must cripple their horses and burn their chariots.”

English Standard Version
And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

New King James Version
But the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”

New American Standard Bible
Yet the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I am going to turn all of them over to Israel as good as dead; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”

NASB 1995
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”

NASB 1977
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give all of them over, slain, before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow by this time I am going to hand over all of them slain [by the sword] to Israel; you shall hamstring (disable) their horses and set fire to their chariots.”

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for at this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to be killed before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for at this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to be killed before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD told Joshua: Don't let them frighten you! I'll help you defeat them, and by this time tomorrow they will be dead. When you attack, the first thing you have to do is to cripple their horses. Then after the battle is over, burn their chariots.

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them because I am going to give them to Israel. About this time tomorrow they will all be dead. You must disable their horses so that they cannot be used in battle. You must burn their chariots."

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will have killed all of them for Israel. You are to cripple their horses and burn their chariots."

International Standard Version
But the LORD told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, because tomorrow about this time I am giving them all to you—dead—in the presence of Israel. Hamstring their horses and incinerate their chariots."

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Joshua, ?Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.?

NET Bible
The LORD told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for about this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to lie dead before Israel. You must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to-morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to Joshua, “Don’t be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of their presence, for about this time tomorrow I am giving all of them slain before Israel; hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Joshua, 'Be not afraid of their presence, for to-morrow about this time I am giving all of them wounded before Israel; their horses thou dost hough, and their chariots burn with fire.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to Joshua, Thou shalt not be afraid of their face: for to-morrow about this time I gave them all wounded before Israel: thou shalt hamstring their horses and their chariots thou shalt burn in fire.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to Josue: Fear them not: for to morrow at this same hour I will deliver all these to be slain in the sight of Israel: thou shalt hamstring their horses, and thou shalt burn their chariots with fire.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to Joshua: “You should not fear them. For tomorrow, at this same hour, I will deliver all these to be wounded in the sight of Israel. You will hamstring their horses, and you will burn their chariots with fire.”

New American Bible
The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for by this time tomorrow I will present them slain to Israel. You must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”

New Revised Standard Version
And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will hand over all of them, slain, to Israel; you shall hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Joshua, Do not be afraid of them; for tomorrow about this time I will cause them to be routed before Israel; and I will annihilate their horses and burn their chariots with fire.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Yeshua: “You shall not be afraid of them, because tomorrow at this time I am causing all of them to be destroyed before the children of Israel, and their horses I shall destroy and their twoman chariots I shall burn in fire

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said unto Joshua: 'Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel; thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to Joshua, Be not afraid of them, for to-morrow at this time I will put them to flight before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Conquest of the Northern Cities
…5All these kings joined forces and encamped at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. 6Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.” 7So by the waters of Merom, Joshua and his whole army came upon them suddenly and attacked them,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 14:13-14
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Judges 4:14-15
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?” So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. / And in front of him the LORD routed with the sword Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.

1 Samuel 17:45-47
But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

2 Chronicles 20:15-17
And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. / Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. / You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:1-2
But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! / When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. / Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15-18
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. / Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. / And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ...

Luke 12:4-7
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. / But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! / Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ...

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: you shall hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

Be not

Joshua 10:8
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

Psalm 27:1,2
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? …

Psalm 46:11
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

tomorrow

Joshua 3:5
And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

Judges 20:28
And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

1 Samuel 11:9
And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

hough

Joshua 11:9
And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

2 Samuel 8:4
And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

horses

Deuteronomy 7:16
And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.

Psalm 20:7,8
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God…

Psalm 46:9
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

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Joshua 11

1. Diverse kings overcome at the waters of Merom
10. Hazor is taken and burnt
16. All the country taken by Joshua
21. The Anakims cut off
23. The land rests from war

Berean Study Bible

The LORD said to Joshua
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication between God and Joshua, highlighting the divine guidance that Joshua received. In Hebrew, "The LORD" is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, signifying His eternal presence and faithfulness. This divine assurance is crucial for Joshua, as it reinforces that the battle is not merely a physical struggle but a spiritual mission ordained by God. The personal nature of God's communication underscores the intimate relationship between God and His chosen leader, Joshua.

Do not be afraid of them
Fear is a natural human response to overwhelming odds, and the coalition of kings against Israel was formidable. However, God's command to "not be afraid" is a recurring theme in the Bible, often accompanying divine promises of protection and victory. The Hebrew word for "afraid" is "yare," which can also mean to stand in awe. Here, God is instructing Joshua to replace fear with faith, trusting in God's power rather than being intimidated by the enemy's might.

for by this time tomorrow
This phrase indicates the immediacy and certainty of God's intervention. The specific timeframe underscores God's control over time and events, assuring Joshua that the victory is imminent. It reflects the prophetic nature of God's word, which is always fulfilled. This assurance would have bolstered the morale of Joshua and the Israelites, knowing that their deliverance was not a distant hope but a near certainty.

I will deliver all of them slain before Israel
The phrase "I will deliver" is a promise of divine action. The Hebrew root "nathan" means to give or deliver, emphasizing that the victory is a gift from God, not a result of Israel's military prowess. The assurance that the enemies will be "slain" highlights the totality of the victory God promises. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty and His ability to bring about His purposes despite human opposition.

You are to hamstring their horses
Hamstringing horses was a common practice in ancient warfare to incapacitate the enemy's cavalry. The Hebrew word "‛āqar" means to cut or disable. This command signifies a strategic move to ensure that the enemy cannot regroup or retaliate. It also reflects a reliance on God's power rather than military technology, as horses and chariots were symbols of military strength. By disabling the horses, Joshua is demonstrating faith in God's provision and protection.

and burn their chariots with fire
Chariots were the tanks of the ancient world, representing the pinnacle of military technology. The command to burn them signifies a complete destruction of the enemy's resources. The act of burning, in Hebrew "saraph," often symbolizes purification and judgment. This command ensures that Israel does not become reliant on captured technology but continues to trust in God's guidance. It also serves as a reminder of God's past deliverances, such as the destruction of Pharaoh's chariots in the Red Sea, reinforcing the theme of divine victory over human might.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Thou shalt hough their horses.--See Note on Joshua 11:9, and observe that the command of Jehovah is the authority for the act.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - And the Lord said unto Joshua. The encouragement was not unnecessary. The task before Joshua was harder than any that had yet befallen him. The enemy was far more numerous and better equipped. And it is a well known fact that men of tried courage are often daunted by unaccustomed dangers. Therefore all Joshua's strength of mind was required to inspirit even men who had experienced God's wonderful support at the passing of the Jordan, at the siege of Jericho, at the battle before Gibeon, now that they were face to face with the unwonted spectacle of a vast host, furnished with all the best munitions of war known to that age. The Israelites had nothing to depend upon but their own tried valour, and the reliance they felt upon God's support. "Unequal in arms and tactics," says Ewald ('Hist. Israel.,' 2:2. C.), "they could oppose to the Canaanites only courage and confidence." Tomorrow about this time. The promise was made on the eve of the encounter, but not, of course, as some have supposed, while Joshua was still at Gilgal. We are not told how long Joshua was on the march. Probably (as in ch. 2.) he had sent scouts forward, who brought him intelligence on the day before the battle of the vastness of the host, and the formidable nature of its equipment. The martial spirit Joshua had infused into the host, and the spirit of faith in God begotten of His recent acts of favour, contrast remarkably with the conduct of the Israelites described in Numbers 14. To each servant of God His own special gift is vouchsafed. Moses was the man to inspire the Israelites with a reverence for law. Joshua had the special aptitudes for the leader in a campaign. It is a confirmation of this view that, in the one successful engagement recorded during the forty years' wandering in the desert, Joshua, not Moses, was the leader of the troops, while the aged law giver remained at a distance, encouraging them by his prayers (see Exodus 17:8-13). But while we thus regard the secondary influences of individual character, we must not forget that the Israelites were also sustained at this moment by the assurances of Divine protection given at Jericho, at Ai, at Beth-horon, which had not been vouchsafed to them while under Moses's leadership in the wilderness. Will I deliver up. The "I" in the original is emphatic. And the use of the present participle in the Hebrew adds vividness to the promise. Slain. LXX. and Vulg., wounded.. Thou shalt hough their horses. To hough (or hoxe, Wiclif) is to hamstring, νευροκοπεῖν, LXX., to cut the sinews behind the hoofs, the hocks, as they are called. This rendered the horse useless, for the sinew could not reunite. The effects of the horses and chariots upon the mind of Joshua and his host, who had neither, is here traceable. "Those very horses and chariots, which seem to you so formidable, will I, the Lord of hosts, be tomorrow at this time delivering into your hand. The horses shall be forever useless to your enemies, and the dreaded chariots shall cease to be." Why should Joshua have destroyed the horses? Perhaps (as Keil, following Calvin, suggests) in order that the Israelites should not put their trust in chariots or in horses (Psalm 20:7; Psalm 147:10), but in God alone (cf. Deuteronomy 17:16). But more obvious considerations of policy may have dictated the measure. God never (see Matthew 4:1-7) makes use of supernatural means when natural ones are sufficient. Now the Israelites were unacquainted with the use of horses in warfare, while their enemies were not. To retain the horses while the country was as yet unsubdued would have been a double burden to them, for they would have had not only to keep them themselves, but to prevent the enemy from regaining them. On the same principle in modern warfare do we spike guns we cannot carry off, and destroy provisions we cannot convert to our own use.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

Joshua,
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ (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

“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be afraid
תִּירָ֣א (tî·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

of them,
מִפְּנֵיהֶם֒ (mip·pə·nê·hem)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

by this
הַזֹּ֗את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

time
כָּעֵ֣ת (kā·‘êṯ)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

tomorrow
מָחָ֞ר (mā·ḥār)
Adverb
Strong's 4279: Deferred, the morrow, tomorrow, hereafter

I
אָנֹכִ֞י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

will deliver
נֹתֵ֧ן (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

all of them
כֻּלָּ֛ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

slain
חֲלָלִ֖ים (ḥă·lā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2491: Pierced, polluted

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

You shall hamstring
תְּעַקֵּ֔ר (tə·‘aq·qêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6131: To pluck up, to hamstring, to exterminate

their horses
סוּסֵיהֶ֣ם (sū·sê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

and burn up
תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף (tiś·rōp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

their chariots.?
מַרְכְּבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (mar·kə·ḇō·ṯê·hem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4818: A chariot

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OT History: Joshua 11:6 Yahweh said to Joshua Don't be afraid (Josh. Jos)