JOS 10:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Τότε ἐλάλησεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς Κύριον, ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ παρέδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Ἀμοῤῥαῖον ὑποχείριον Ἰσραὴλ, ἡνίκα συνέτριψεν αὐτοὺς ἐν Γαβαὼν, καὶ συνετρίβησαν ἀπὸ προσώπου υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ· καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς, στήτω ὁ ἥλιος κατὰ Γαβαὼν, καὶ ἡ σελήνη κατὰ φάραγγα Αἰλών.
(Tote elalaʸsen Yaʸsous pros Kurion, haʸ haʸmera paredōken ho Theos ton Amoɽɽaion hupoⱪeirion Israaʸl, haʸnika sunetripsen autous en Gabaōn, kai sunetribaʸsan apo prosōpou huiōn Israaʸl; kai eipen Yaʸsous, staʸtō ho haʸlios kata Gabaōn, kai haʸ selaʸnaʸ kata faranga Ailōn. )

BrTr Then Joshua spoke to the Lord, in the day in which the Lord delivered the Amorite into the power of Israel, when he destroyed them in Gabaon, and they were destroyed from before the children of Israel: and Joshua said, Let the sun stand over against Gabaon, and the moon over against the valley of Ælon.

ULT Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day of Yahweh giving the Amorite to the face of the sons of Israel, and he said to the eyes of Israel, “Sun, be still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

UST On that same day, when Yahweh was helping the Israelites defeat the Amorites, Joshua spoke to Yahweh. While the Israelites were watching, Joshua prayed, asking Yahweh to make the sun stay in place over the city of Gibeon and to make the moon stay in place over the Valley of Aijalon.

OEB It was on the day when the Lord handed over the Amorites to the Israelites that Joshua said to the Lord before Israel,
⇔ ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon!
⇔ Move not, moon, from Aijalon vale!’

CSB On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

NLT On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the LORD in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.”

NIV On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

ESV At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

NASB Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”

LSB Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh gave over the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”

WEBBE Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel. He said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!”

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(12-14)The day God gave the Amorites up to Israel, Joshua spoke to God, with all Israel listening:
“Stop, Sun, over Gibeon;
Halt, Moon, over Aijalon Valley.”
And Sun stopped,
Moon stood stock still
Until he defeated his enemies.

NET The day the Lord delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the Lord before Israel:
⇔ “O sun, stand still over Gibeon!
⇔ O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon!”

LSV Then Joshua speaks to YHWH in the day of YHWH’s giving up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he says before the eyes of Israel, “Sun—stand still in Gibeon; and moon—in the Valley of Ajalon”;

FBV On the day that the Lord handed the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke by[fn] the Lord in the presence of the Israelites, saying, “Sun, stand still over Gibeon! Moon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon!”

10:12 “By”: or “because of.” Though often translated as “to,” the sense here indicates divine approval rather than a conversation.

T4T On the day that Yahweh enabled the Israeli army to defeat the groups who were descendants of Amor, Joshua said to Yahweh while the Israeli people were listening, “Yahweh, cause the sun to stand still over Gibeon, and cause the moon to not move when it is over Aijalon Valley.”

LEB Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh, on the day Yahweh gave the Amorites[fn] over to the _⌊Israelites_⌋,[fn] and he said in the sight of Israel,
• “Sun in Gibeon, stand still,
• and moon, in the valley of Aijalon.”

10:12 Hebrew “Amorite”

10:12 Literally “sons/children of Israel”

NRSV On the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD; and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.”

NKJV Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

NAB It was then, when the d LORD d* delivered up the Amorites to the Israelites, that Joshua prayed to the d LORD d*, and said in the presence of Israel: Sun, stand still at Gibeon, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon!

BBE It was on the day when the Lord gave up the Amorites into the hands of the children of Israel that Joshua said to the Lord, before the eyes of Israel, Sun, be at rest over Gibeon; and you, O moon, in the valley of Aijalon.

Moff It was on the day when the Eternal handed over the Amorites to the Israelites that Joshua said to the Eternal before Israel,
⇔ “O sun, stand over Gibeon!
⇔ Move not, O moon, from Ajalon vale!”

JPS Then spoke Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel: 'Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.'

ASV Then spake Joshua to Jehovah in the day when Jehovah delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel,
⇔ Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon;
⇔ And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.

DRA Then Josue spoke to the Lord, in the day that he delivered the Amorrhite in the sight of the children of Israel, and he said before them: Move not, O sun, toward Gabaon, nor thou, O moon, toward the valley of Ajalon.

YLT Then speaketh Joshua to Jehovah in the day of Jehovah's giving up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he saith, before the eyes of Israel, 'Sun — in Gibeon stand still; and moon — in the valley of Ajalon;'

Drby Then spoke Joshua to Jehovah in the day when Jehovah gave up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; And thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon!

RV Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.
(Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou/you still upon Gibeon; and thou/you, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon. )

SLT Then will Joshua speak to Jehovah in the day Jehovah will give the Amorite before the sons of Israel, and he will say before the eyes of Israel, Sun in Gibeon, be thou silent, and thou Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

Wbstr Then spoke Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

KJB-1769 ¶ Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.[fn]
(¶ Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou/you still upon Gibeon; and thou/you, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. )

10.12 stand…: Heb. be silent

KJB-1611 ¶ Then spake Ioshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD deliuered vp the Amorites before the children of Israel, and hee said in the sight of Israel, Sunne, [fn]stand thou still vpon Gibeon, and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon.
(¶ Then spake Yoshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou/you still upon Gibeon, and thou/you Moon in the valley of Aialon.)

10:12 Heb. bee silent.

Bshps Then spake Iosuah to the Lorde in the day when the Lorde deliuered the Amorites before the children of Israel, & he sayd in the sight of Israel, Sunne, stande thou styll vpon Gibeon, and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon.
(Then spake Yoshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou/you still upon Gibeon, and thou/you Moon in the valley of Aialon.)

Gnva Then spake Ioshua to the Lord, in the day when the Lord gaue the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he sayd in the sight of Israel, Sunne, stay thou in Gibeon, and thou moone, in the valley of Aialon.
(Then spake Yoshua to the Lord, in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stay thou/you in Gibeon, and thou/you moon, in the valley of Aialon. )

Cvdl Then spake Iosua vnto the LORDE (the same daye that the LORDE gaue ouer the Amorites before the children of Israel) and sayde in the presence of Israel: Sonne, holde styll at Gibeon, and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon.
(Then spake Yoshua unto the LORD (the same day that the LORD gave over the Amorites before the children of Israel) and said in the presence of Israel: Son, hold still at Gibeon, and thou/you Moon in the valley of Aialon.)

Wycl Thanne Josue spak to the Lord, in the dai in which he bitook Amorrey in the siyt of the sones of Israel; and Josue seide bifore hem, Sunne, be thou not mouyd ayens Gabaon, and the moone ayens the valei of Hailon.
(Then Yosue spake to the Lord, in the day in which he betook/entrusted Amorrey in the sight of the sons of Israel; and Yosue said before hem, Sun, be thou/you not moved against Gabaon, and the moon against the valley of Hailon.)

Luth Da redete Josua mit dem HErr’s des Tages, da der HErr die Amoriter übergab vor den Kindern Israel, und sprach vor gegenwärtigem Israel: Sonne, stehe still zu Gibeon, und Mond, im Tal Ajalon!
(So talked Yosua with to_him LORD’s the day, there the/of_the LORD the Amoriter handed-over before/in_front_of the children Israel, and spoke before/in_front_of currentlyem Israel: sun, stand still to/for Gibeon, and moon, in_the valley Ayalon!)

ClVg Tunc locutus est Josue Domino, in die qua tradidit Amorrhæum in conspectu filiorum Israël, dixitque coram eis: [Sol, contra Gabaon ne movearis, et luna contra vallem Ajalon.
(Then spoke it_is Yosue Master, in/into/on day which he_delivered Amorrhæum in/into/on in_sight of_children Israel, and_said before to_them: [Sol, on_the_contrary Gabaon not movearis, and moon on_the_contrary the_valley Ayalon. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–27 Five Canaanite Kings attacked the Israelites

The kings of five Canaanite towns joined together to fight against Gibeon. Because the Israelites had a peace treaty with Gibeon, they helped them in their fight. Yahweh helped the Israelites by sending down hailstones on the Canaanites, and by causing the sun to stop moving so that the Israelites could continue their victory. The five Canaanite kings were captured and put to death.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Israel defeated the Canaan group

The sun stood still

10:12a

On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites,

On the same day that Yahweh helped the Israelites to defeat the Amorites,
On the day that they defeated the Amorites with the help of Yahweh,

On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites: This is the same day as the events referred to in 10:10–11. In 10:12–15, the author told the story of the battle of Gibeon again from another perspective and added new information to what he had already said. It may be clearer in some languages to translate the clause the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites as an independent sentence. For example, you could say:

Yahweh gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites on that day. On that same day Joshua spoke to Yahweh…

the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites: The clause the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites is a Hebrew idiom. It indicates that Yahweh helped the Israelites to defeat the Amorites. For example:

the Lord gave the men of Israel victory over the Amorites (GNT)

10:12b

Joshua spoke to the LORD

¶ Joshua spoke to Yahweh.
¶ Joshua prayed to Yahweh.

Joshua spoke to the LORD: Some English versions follow the Hebrew word order, “spoke Joshua to the LORD.” It puts the verb before the subject. The natural English word order is Joshua spoke as in the BSB. Translate this phrase in a way that is natural in your language.

Joshua spoke: In some languages it may be more natural to translate the word spoke as “prayed.” For example:

on that same day Joshua prayed to Yahweh while the Israelites watched him

10:12c

in the presence of Israel:

Joshua prayed in front of the Israelites:
Joshua prayed while Israel was watching, and he said:

in the presence of Israel: The phrase in the presence of Israel indicates that the Israelites who fought the battle watched while Joshua prayed to Yahweh.

10:12d

“O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

“Sun, stop moving above Gibeon, and moon, stop moving above the valley of Aijalon.”
“Let the sun stay in one place over Gibeon, and the moon stay in one place over the valley of Aijalon.”

O sun, stand still over Gibeon: The expression, O sun, stand still over Gibeon is a kind of figurative language called personification. Personification gives human characteristics to non-human things for poetic effect. In 12b Joshua spoke to Yahweh. In 12d Joshua spoke to the sun. If the reader does not understand that this is figurative language, it is good to make this clear. One way to clarify this is to include some implicit information:

Joshua asked Yahweh to make the sun and the moon stand still. He said, “Sun, stay still at Gibeon. And moon, stay still in the valley of Aijalon.”

O sun, stand still: The command sun, stand still may not be natural in some languages. The sun does not have legs and it may not be possible to say that the sun can stand.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Sun, stop moving in the sky

Sun, stay in one place

over Gibeon: It may be more natural to translate the phrase over Gibeon as “at Gibeon,” or “above Gibeon.” The sun shone in the sky over the town of Gibeon. Use a preposition that is natural in your language.

O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon: The expression O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon is an example of personification. Personification gives human characteristics to non-human things for poetic effect.

the Valley of Aijalon: The phrase Valley of Aijalon refers to the valley where the town of Aijalon was, seven to ten miles west of Gibeon.10:12 Bratcher and Newman, p. 143. The Amorites fled from Gibeon as far as Azekah (10:10d). Aijalon was between Gibeon and Azekah.

Here are some ways to translate 10:12c-d:

Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” (NLT)

In the presence of the people of Israel, Joshua said, “Yahweh, cause the sun to stop moving over Gibeon and cause the moon to stop moving over the valley of Aijalon.”

General Comment on 10:12d

In the ancient Near East many people believed that natural objects such as the sun and the moon had a soul or a spirit. The Bible does not teach this. Joshua did not actually speak to the sun or the moon, and he did not expect them to respond to his command. The language Joshua used is a figure of speech called “personification.” Personification gives human characteristics to non-human things. It is used to add emotional impact to the story. As you translate this verse, keep in mind that this response by the sun and moon to Joshua’s command is poetic language. It should not be understood literally.

A miracle of God’s power took place when he lengthened the day. It was God, responding to the prayer of Joshua, who caused the miracle. The sun and moon did not actually do anything. God made them stand still.

Joshua spoke to both the sun and the moon. Biblical scholars do not agree on why he addressed both the sun and the moon. One possibility is that Joshua prayed this prayer in the early morning when the sun was rising in the east and the moon was setting in the west.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בְּ⁠י֗וֹם תֵּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֶת־הָ֣⁠אֱמֹרִ֔י לִ⁠פְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

in/on=day to_give YHWH DOM the=ʼAmorī to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before sons_of Yisrael

The author is using a common expression to mean that Yahweh enabled the Israelites to defeat the Amorites. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [on the day when Yahweh enabled the sons of Israel to defeat the Amorites]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אֶת־הָ֣⁠אֱמֹרִ֔י

DOM the=ʼAmorī

The author is not referring to a specific Amorite. He means all of these Amorites who opposed Joshua. It may be more natural in your language to express this meaning by using a plural form. Alternate translation: [the Amorites] or [these Amorites]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לְ⁠עֵינֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל

to,the_eyes_of Yisrael

The author is using the term eyes by association to mean witnessing or watching. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [to the watching Israelites]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

שֶׁ֚מֶשׁ בְּ⁠גִבְע֣וֹן דּ֔וֹם וְ⁠יָרֵ֖חַ בְּ⁠עֵ֥מֶק אַיָּלֽוֹן

sun at,Gibeon stand_still and,O_moon in,the_valley_of ʼAyyālōn

The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [Sun, be still over Gibeon, and moon, be still over the Valley of Aijalon]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative