JOS 5:1 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

5:1 OSHB variant note: עבר/נו: (x-qere) ’עָבְרָ֑/ם’: lemma_5674 a n_1 morph_HVqc/Sp3mp id_06cMr עָבְרָ֑/ם

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative, 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 Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσαν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῶν Ἀμοῤῥαίων οἳ ἦσαν πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς Φοινίκης οἳ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν, ὅτι ἀπεξήρανε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Ἰορδάνην ποταμὸν ἐκ τῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν νἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῷ διαβαίνειν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐτάκησαν αὐτῶν αἱ διάνοιαι, καὶ κατεπλάγησαν, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς φρόνησις οὐδεμία ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.
(Kai egeneto hōs aʸkousan hoi basileis tōn Amoɽɽaiōn hoi aʸsan peran tou Yordanou, kai hoi basileis taʸs Foinikaʸs hoi para taʸn thalassan, hoti apexaʸrane Kurios ho Theos ton Yordanaʸn potamon ek tōn emprosthen tōn nhiōn Israaʸl en tōi diabainein autous kai etakaʸsan autōn hai dianoiai, kai kateplagaʸsan, kai ouk aʸn en autois fronaʸsis oudemia apo prosōpou tōn huiōn Israaʸl. )

BrTr And it came to pass when the kings of the Amorites who were beyond Jordan heard, and the kings of Phœnicia by the sea, that the Lord God had dried up the river Jordan from before the children of Israel when they passed over, that their hearts failed, and [fn]they were terror-stricken, and there was no sense in them [fn]because of the children of Israel.

5:1 Gr. their minds or thoughts melted.

5:1 Gr. from the face of.

ULT And it happened that when all of the kings of the Amorite who were on the other side of the Jordan, toward the sea, and all of the kings of the Canaanite who were beside the sea heard that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan from the face of the sons of Israel until they had crossed over, then their heart melted, and a spirit was no longer in them from the face of the sons of Israel.

UST The leaders of the Amorites and Canaanites heard about how Yahweh had dried up the water of the Jordan River in front of the Israelites so that they could cross it. Those leaders included all the kings of the Amorites who lived on the west side of the Jordan River, toward the Great Sea. They also included all the kings of the Canaanites, who lived close to the Great Sea. When those kings heard what Yahweh had done, they became very afraid and no longer desired to fight the Israelites.

5:1 That is, along the Mediterranean coast; literally along the sea

5:1 Or until we had crossed over

OEB Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings by the Mediterranean heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan in front of the Israelites until they had got across, their hearts trembled and they were all dispirited, on account of the Israelites.

WEBBE When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET When all the Amorite kings on the west side of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how the Lord had dried up the water of the Jordan before the Israelites while they crossed, they lost their courage and could not even breathe for fear of the Israelites.

LSV And it comes to pass, when all the kings of the Amorite which [are] beyond the Jordan, toward the sea, and all the kings of the Canaanite which [are] by the sea, hear how that YHWH has dried up the waters of the Jordan at the presence of the sons of Israel until their passing over, that their heart is melted, and there has not been anymore spirit in them because of the presence of the sons of Israel.

FBV When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings of the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the River Jordan so that the Israelites could cross over, their courage melted and they no longer had any fighting spirit to face the Israelites.

T4T All the kings of the people-groups to the west of the Jordan River and all the kings of the groups who were descendants of Canaan and who lived close to the Mediterranean Sea heard about how Yahweh had dried up the water of the Jordan River until all we Israeli people had crossed over. So they became very dismayed. They no longer were courageous enough to fight us.

LEB And it happened, when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites[fn] who were by the sea heard that Yahweh dried up the waters of the Jordan in front of the _⌊Israelites_⌋[fn] until they crossed over, their hearts melted, and _⌊there was no courage left in them_⌋[fn] because of the presence of the _⌊Israelites_⌋.[fn]

5:1 Hebrew “Canaanite”

5:1 Literally “sons/children of Israel”

5:1 Literally “a spirit was no longer in them”

BBE Now when the news came to all the kings of the Amorites on the west side of Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites living by the sea, how the Lord had made the waters of Jordan dry before the children of Israel, till they had gone across, their hearts became like water, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel.

Moff Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings by the Mediterranean heard how the Eternal had dried up the waters of the Jordan in front of the Israelites till they had got across, their hearts quivered and they were all dispirited, on account of the Israelites.

JPS And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

ASV And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

DRA Now when all the kings of the Amorrhites, who dwelt beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of Chanaan, who possessed the places near the great sea, had heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the children of Israel, till they passed over, their heart failed them, and there remained no spirit in them, fearing the coming in of the children of Israel.

YLT And it cometh to pass when all the kings of the Amorite which [are] beyond the Jordan, towards the sea, and all the kings of the Canaanite which [are] by the sea, hear how that Jehovah hath dried up the waters of the Jordan at the presence of the sons of Israel till their passing over, that their heart is melted, and there hath not been in them any more spirit because of the presence of the sons of Israel.

Drby And it came to pass when all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they had passed over, that their heart melted, and there was no spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

RV And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were beyond Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard how that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
(And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were beyond Yordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard how that the LORD had dried up the waters of Yordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel. )

SLT And it will be as all the kings of the Amorites heard which were beyond Jordan to the sea, and all the kings of the Canaanites which were upon the sea, that Jehovah dried up the water of Jordan from before the sons of Israel till we passed over, and their heart will melt; and there was no more spirit in them from the face of the sons of Israel.

Wbstr And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we had passed over, that their heart melted; neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

KJB-1769 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
(And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Yordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Yordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel. )

KJB-1611 ¶ And it came to passe when all the Kings of the Amorites which were on the side of Iordan Westward, and all the Kings of the Canaanites, which were by the Sea, heard that the LORD had dried vp the waters of Iordan from before the children of Israel, vntill we were passed ouer, that their heart melted; neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps And whe al the kinges of ye Amorites which are beyonde Iordane westwarde, and al the kynges of the Chanaanites which were by the sea, heard howe ye Lorde had dried vp the waters of Iordane before the chyldren of Israel vntill they were gone ouer, their heartes faynted for feare, and there was no spirite in them any more for the presence of the children of Israel.
(And when all the kings of ye/you_all Amorites which are beyond Yordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites which were by the sea, heard how ye/you_all Lord had dried up the waters of Yordan before the children of Israel until they were gone over, their hearts fainted for fear, and there was no spirit in them anymore for the presence of the children of Israel.)

Gnva Nowe when all the Kings of the Amorites, which were beyond Iorden Westward, and all the Kinges of the Canaanites which were by the Sea, heard that the Lord had dried vp the waters of Iorden before the children of Israel vntill they were gone ouer, their heart fainted: and there was no courage in them any more because of the children of Israel.
(Now when all the Kings of the Amorites, which were beyond Yordan Westward, and all the Kings of the Canaanites which were by the Sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Yordan before the children of Israel until they were gone over, their heart fainted: and there was no courage in them anymore because of the children of Israel. )

Cvdl Now whan all the kynges of ye Amorites that dwelt beyonde Iordane westwarde, and all the kynges of ye Cananites by the see syde herde, how ye LORDE had dryed vp the water of Iordane before the children of Israel, tyll they were come ouer their hert fayled them, nether was there eny more corage in them at the presence of the children of Israel.
(Now when all the kings of ye/you_all Amorites that dwelt beyond Yordan westward, and all the kings of ye/you_all Canaanites by the seaside herd/heard, how ye/you_all LORD had dried up the water of Yordan before the children of Israel, till they were come over their heart failed them, neither was there any more courage in them at the presence of the children of Israel.)

Wycl Therfor aftir that alle kyngis of Ammorreys herden, that dwelliden ouer Jordan at the west coost, and alle the kyngis of Canaan, that weldiden nyy places of the greet see, that the Lord hadden dried the flowyngis of Jordan bifor the sones of Israel, til thei passiden, the herte of hem was failid, and spirit dwellide not in hem, dredynge the entring of the sones of Israel.
(Therefore after that all kings of Ammorreys heard, that dwelled/dwelt over Yordan at the west coast, and all the kings of Canaan, that weldiden nigh/near places of the great see, that the Lord had dried the flowyngis of Yordan before the sons of Israel, till they passed, the heart of hem was failed, and spirit dwelled/dwelt not in hem, dreading the entering of the sons of Israel.)

Luth Da nun alle Könige der Amoriter, die jenseit des Jordans gegen Abend wohneten, und alle Könige der Kanaaniter am Meer höreten, wie der HErr das Wasser des Jordans hatte ausgetrocknet vor den Kindern Israel, bis daß sie hinübergingen, verzagte ihr Herz, und war kein Mut mehr in ihnen vor den Kindern Israel.
(So now all king(s) the/of_the Amoriter, the beyond the Yordans to/against evening/night lived/resided, and all king(s) the/of_the Kanaaniter in/at/on_the sea heard, as/like the/of_the LORD the water the Yordans had ausgetrocknet before/in_front_of the children Israel, until that they/she/them overgingen, despaired you(pl)/their/her heart, and what/which no/not courage/heart/spirit more in to_them before/in_front_of the children Israel.)

ClVg Postquam ergo audierunt omnes reges Amorrhæorum, qui habitabant trans Jordanem ad occidentalem plagam, et cuncti reges Chanaan, qui propinqua possidebant magni maris loca, quod siccasset Dominus fluenta Jordanis coram filiis Israël donec transirent, dissolutum est cor eorum, et non remansit in eis spiritus, timentium introitum filiorum Israël.
(Postquam therefore they_heard everyone kings Amorrhæorum, who/which they_lived across Yordan to western plague, and all kings Chanaan, who/which propinqua get_itbant great of_the_sea places, that siccasset Master flowing Yordanis before to_the_children Israel until to_passnt, dissolutum it_is heart their, and not/no remained in/into/on to_them spirit, they_are_afraidium entrance of_children Israel. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–5:1 The Israelites commemorated the crossing of the Jordan River

Twelve men from among the Israelites each took a stone from the middle of the Jordan River. With these stones Joshua built a monument to remind the Israelite people, and their descendants, about how God helped them cross the river.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Setting up memorial stones

Twelve memorial stones

A reminder that God brought them to the promised land

Paragraph 5:1

This paragraph tells the reaction of the Israelites’ enemies when they heard about the things that God had done for the Israelites.

5:1a

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan

¶ All the Amorite kings who ruled the regions that were west of the Jordan River
¶ All the rulers of the Amor people who lived in the country west of the Jordan River

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan: There is a contrast between the reaction of the Israelites and the reaction of their enemies, the Amorites and Canaanites. When the Israelites saw what God had done, they respected and honored him, but their enemies were terrified. There may be a word or particle in your language that will help to emphasize that contrast.

Amorite: The Amorite people were people who lived in the hills in the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River.

Here is another way to translate this name:

Amor people

kings: The word kings refers to the rulers of the small towns in the hills of Canaan. Each “king” ruled one town and the villages around it.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

rulers

leaders

west of the Jordan: The phrase west of the Jordan refers to the land on the west side of the Jordan River.

5:1b

and all the Canaanite kings along the coast

and all the Canaanite kings who ruled the places on the seacoast
and all the rulers of the Canaan people who lived near the sea heard about this.

and all the Canaanite kings: Here are some other ways to translate the word kings:

rulers

leaders

the Canaanite: The Canaanite people were people who lived in the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River.

Here is another way to translate this word:

Canaan people

along the coast: The phrase along the coast refers to the Mediterranean Sea.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

who lived along the coast of the sea

who lived near the Mediterranean Sea

5:1c

heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites

heard that Yahweh made the Jordan River stop flowing for the Israelites.
They heard that Yahweh made a dry path through the Jordan River.

heard: The Amorite and Canaanite kings heard that the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River.

how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan: The main thing the kings heard was that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan. They understood the significance of this. Now that the Israelites had crossed the river they were a threat to their safety, especially because a powerful God was helping them.

before the Israelites: There are two ways to understand the phrase before the Israelites:

God had acted on behalf of the people of Israel. For example:
the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel (ESV) (ESV, RSV, GNT, CEV, NLT)
God had acted in the sight of the people of Israel. For example:
the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites (NIV) (BSB, NIV, NET, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is followed by many English versions and by many commentaries.

5:1d

until they had crossed over,

They heard that they walked across to the other side.
They heard that the Israelites walked over to the other side.

until they had crossed over: The phrase until they had crossed over indicates that God kept the Jordan River from flowing until the Israelites had walked across it.

they: There is a textual issue here.

The Hebrew Masoretic text reads: “until they had crossed over.” For example:
until they had crossed (NJB) (BSB, NJB, RSV, CEV, ESV, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, NJPS, NLT, GNT)
An alternate reading in the Hebrew Masoretic text reads: “until we had crossed over.” For example:
until we had crossed over (NIV) (NIV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The standard Hebrew text, nearly all the English versions, and most commentaries follow option (1).

5:1e

their hearts melted

Then they became very afraid
Then they no longer had any courage

their hearts melted: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as their hearts melted is an idiom. It means that the kings were afraid. There may be an idiom in your language that expresses this meaning in a vivid way.

5:1f

and their spirits failed

and lost their courage to fight the people of Israel
and they were terrified

and their spirits failed: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as and their spirits failed is an idiom. It means that the kings were afraid and lacked courage to fight against the Israelites.

The two idioms “their hearts melted” and their spirits failed mean the same thing. The Hebrew text uses two phrases to describe their fear to add emphasis to how fearful they were. In some languages, it may be helpful to combine the two idioms into one emphatic statement. For example, you could say:

The kings were very frightened

Use a way that is natural in your language to emphasize their fear.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The kings were very fearful and felt powerless to fight

5:1g

for fear of the Israelites.

because of what God did for the Israelites.
and were afraid to fight the Israelites.

for fear of the Israelites: The phrase for fear of the Israelites indicates that they were fearful because of what God had done for the people of Israel. If this is not clear you might need to make this explicit. For example, you could say:

because of what God had done for the Israelites

Parallel JOS 5:1