Joshua 1:4
What does Joshua 1:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Joshua 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joshua 1:4 means
God outlines the vast and comprehensive borders of the land promised to Israel, stretching from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea ("the great sea toward the going down of the sun"). This description includes "all the land of the Hittites," indicating a wide dominion beyond current Israelite occupation. This extensive grant demonstrates the magnitude of God's covenant faithfulness and the generous inheritance awaiting His people, contingent on their obedience.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
KJV
King James Version · 1611From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949From the waste land and this mountain Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, and all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea, in the west, will be your country.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862From this wilderness and Lebanon, and unto the great river, the river Phrath, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great Sea--the going in of the sun--is your border.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752From the desert, and from Libanus unto the great river Euphrates, all the land of the Hethites, unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890From the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river, the river Euphrates, the whole land of the Hittites, to the great sea, toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
Context
Following the general promise of land in verse 3, this verse provides specific, expansive geographical borders. It details the full extent of the inheritance God is giving, serving as a powerful demonstration of God's vast promises and setting the ambitious scope for Joshua's leadership and the conquest that is to follow.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 3:25
Let me go over, I pray thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
- Genesis 15:18
In that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
- 1 Chronicles 18:3
And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
- 1 Chronicles 5:9
and eastward he dwelt even unto the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
- Deuteronomy 11:24
Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the hinder sea shall be your border.
- Numbers 34:2
Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to the borders thereof),
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