JOS 5:6 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

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 Διὸ ἀπερίτμητοι ἦσαν οἱ πλεῖστοι αὐτῶν τῶν μαχίμων τῶν ἐξεληλυθότων ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, οἱ ἀπειθήσαντες τῶν ἐντολῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ, οἷς καὶ διώρισε μὴ ἰδεῖν αὐτοὺς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσε Κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν δοῦναι γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι.
(Dio aperitmaʸtoi aʸsan hoi pleistoi autōn tōn maⱪimōn tōn exelaʸluthotōn ek gaʸs Aiguptou, hoi apeithaʸsantes tōn entolōn tou Theou, hois kai diōrise maʸ idein autous taʸn gaʸn, haʸn ōmose Kurios tois patrasin autōn dounai gaʸn ɽeousan gala kai meli. )

BrTr Wherefore most of the fighting men that came out of the land of Egypt, were uncircumcised, who disobeyed the commands of God; concerning whom also he determined that they should not see the land, which the Lord sware to give to their fathers, even a land flowing with milk and honey.

ULT For the sons of Israel had walked in the wilderness 40 years, until the finishing of all of the nation of the men of war having come out from Egypt, because they had not listened to the voice of Yahweh, to whom Yahweh had sworn not to let them see the land that Yahweh had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

UST The people of Israel traveled through the wilderness for 40 years, until all the men who were old enough to be soldiers, who had left Egypt, had died. This happened because they had not obeyed Yahweh. So Yahweh swore to them that they would not be able to enter the land that he had promised to our ancestors. He said that he would give that very fertile land to us, their descendants.

OEB For forty years the Israelites had journeyed in the desert until the whole nation of warriors who had left Egypt had perished, because they would not listen to what the Lord said, and because the Lord had sworn to them that he would not let them see the land which the Lord had sworn to their ancestors that he would give us, a land abounding in milk and honey.

WEBBE For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the LORD’s voice. The LORD swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Indeed, for forty years the Israelites traveled through the desert until all the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt, the ones who had disobeyed the Lord, died off. For the Lord had sworn a solemn oath to them that he would not let them see the land he had sworn on oath to give them, a land rich in milk and honey.

LSV for forty years the sons of Israel have gone in the wilderness, until all the nation of the men of war who are coming out of Egypt, who did not listen to the voice of YHWH, to whom YHWH has sworn not to show them the land which YHWH swore to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey, are consumed;

FBV For forty years the Israelites traveled through the wilderness until all the men of fighting age when they left Egypt had died, because they had not done what the Lord had told them to do. So the Lord had vowed that he would not let them see the land he had promised their forefathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

T4T Our Israeli ancestors traveled around in the desert for 40 years, and all the men who were old enough to be soldiers had died. The women had also died. They had not obeyed Yahweh, so Yahweh said that they would not arrive at the land that he had promised to our ancestors that he would give to us, a land that was very fertile [MTY].

LEB For forty years the _⌊Israelites_⌋[fn] traveled in the wilderness until all the nation, the warriors that left Egypt, perished, because they did not listen to the voice of Yahweh. To them Yahweh swore that they would not see the land that he[fn] swore to their ancestors[fn] to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

5:6 Literally “sons/children of Israel”

5:6 Hebrew “Yahweh”

5:6 Or “fathers”

BBE For the children of Israel were wandering in the waste land for forty years, till all the nation, that is, all the fighting-men, who had come out of Egypt, were dead, because they did not give ear to the voice of the Lord: to whom the Lord said, with an oath, that he would not let them see the land which the Lord had given his word to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Moff For forty years the Israelites had journeyed in the desert until the whole nation of warriors who had left Egypt had perished, because they would not listen to what the Eternal said, and because the Eternal had sworn to them that he would not let them see the land which the Eternal had sworn to their fathers that he would give us, a land abounding in milk and honey.

JPS For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD; unto whom the LORD swore that He would not let them see the land which the LORD swore unto their fathers that He would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

ASV For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah: unto whom Jehovah sware that he would not let them see the land which Jehovah sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

DRA Luring the forty years of the journey in the wide wilderness, were uncircumcised: till all they were consumed that had not heard the voice of the Lord, and to whom he had sworn before, that he would not shew them the land flowing with milk and honey.

YLT for forty years have the sons of Israel gone in the wilderness, till all the nation of the men of war who are coming out of Egypt, who hearkened not to the voice of Jehovah, to whom Jehovah hath sworn not to show them the land which Jehovah sware to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey, are consumed;

Drby For the children of Israel had walked forty years in the wilderness, till the whole nation of men of war had perished who had come out of Egypt, who had not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah; to whom Jehovah had sworn that he would not show them the land which Jehovah had sworn unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

RV For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war which came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not let them see the land which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

SLT For forty years the sons of Israel went in the desert till all the people of the men of war coming out of Egypt were finished, who heard not to the voice of Jehovah: which Jehovah sware to them, not for them to see the land which Jehovah sware to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing milk and honey.

Wbstr For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war who came out of Egypt were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: to whom the LORD swore that he would not show them the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

KJB-1769 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
(For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth/flows with milk and honey. )

KJB-1611 For the children of Israel walked fourtie yeeres in the wildernesse, till all the people that were men of warre which came out of Egypt were consumed, because they obeyed not the voyce of the LORD, vnto whome the LORD sware that hee would not shew them the land which the LORD sware vnto their fathers, that he would giue vs, a land that floweth with milke & honie.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For the chyldren of Israel walked fourtie yeres in the wildernesse, till al ye people of ye men of warre that came out of Egypt were consumed, because they hearkened not vnto the voyce of the Lorde: Unto whom the Lorde sware, that he woulde not shewe them ye lande which the Lorde sware vnto their fathers that he woulde geue vs, euen a lande that floweth with mylke & hony.
(For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all ye/you_all people of ye/you_all men of war that came out of Egypt were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord: Unto whom the Lord sware, that he would not show them ye/you_all land which the Lord sware unto their fathers that he would give us, even a land that floweth/flows with milk and honey.)

Gnva For the children of Israel walked fourtie yeres in the wildernes, till all the people of the men of warre that came out of Egypt were consumed, because they obeyed not the voyce of the Lord: vnto whome the Lord sware, that he would not shewe them the lande, which the Lord had sworne vnto their fathers, that he would giue vs, euen a land that floweth with milke and hony.
(For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people of the men of war that came out of Egypt were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware, that he would not show them the land, which the Lord had sworn/promised unto their fathers, that he would give us, even a land that floweth/flows with milk and honey. )

Cvdl for the children of Israel walked fortye yeares in the wyldernesse, vntyll all the people of the men of warre that came out of Egipte, were consumed, because they herkened not vnto the voyce of the LORDE, like as the LORDE sware vnto them, that they shulde not se the londe, which the LORDE sware vnto their fathers to geue vnto vs, euen a londe that floweth with mylke & honye:
(for the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the people of the men of war that came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD, like as the LORD sware unto them, that they should not see the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers to give unto us, even a land that floweth/flows with milk and honeye:)

Wycl that was borun in deseert bi fourti yeer, in the weie of broddeste wildirnesse, was vncircumsidid til thei weren waastid, that herden not the `vois of the Lord, and to whiche he swoor bifore, that he schulde schewe to hem the lond flowynge with mylk and hony.
(that was born in desert by forty year, in the way of broadest wilderness, was uncircumsidid till they were wasted, that heard not the voice of the Lord, and to which he swore/promised before, that he should show to hem the land flowing with milk and honey.)

Luth Denn die Kinder Israel wandelten vierzig Jahre in der Wüste; bis daß das ganze Volk der Kriegsmänner, die aus Ägypten gezogen waren, umkamen, darum daß sie der Stimme des HErr’s nicht gehorchet hatten; wie denn der HErr ihnen geschworen hatte, daß sie das Land nicht sehen sollten, welches der HErr ihren Vätern geschworen hatte, uns zu geben, ein Land, da Milch und Honig innen fleußt.
(Because the children Israel walked/strolled forty years in the/of_the desert; until that the whole/all people the/of_the war/battlesmänner, the out_of Egypt pulled were, died, therefore that they/she/them the/of_the voice(n) the LORD’s not obeys had; as/like because/than the/of_the LORD to_them sworn had, that they/she/them the country not see should, which the/of_the LORD your(pl) fathers sworn had, us/to_us/ourselves to/for give, a country, there milk and honey inside flows.)

ClVg per quadraginta annos itineris latissimæ solitudinis incircumcisus fuit: donec consumerentur qui non audierant vocem Domini, et quibus ante juraverat ut non ostenderet eis terram lacte et melle manantem.
(through forty years journey latissimæ loneliness incircumcisus it_was: until consumerentur who/which not/no they_had_heard voice Master, and to_whom before had_sworn as not/no would_show to_them the_earth/land milk and honey manantem. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:2–12 Joshua circumcised the men, and the Israelites observed Passover

Joshua circumcised the Israelite men, because they had not done this ceremony while they walked through the wilderness for forty years. Then the Israelites observed the Passover ceremony. They ate food from the land of Canaan, and God stopped sending them manna.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Circumcision of the next generation

Circumcision and the first Passover in the promised land

5:6a

For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years,

The Israelites walked through the wilderness for forty years
The Israelites traveled in the wilderness for forty years.

For: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as For can also be translated as “because.” It connects verse 5 to verse 6, and it gives an explanation for what is stated in verse 5. Many English versions do not translate this word, and the function is implied. You should use a connecting word that is natural in your language to connect these two verses.

the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years: The Israelites walked from place to place in the wilderness. It took the Israelites forty years to reach Kadesh Barnea. Deuteronomy 1:2 states that they could have walked this distance in eleven days. The Israelites walked for forty years because they disobeyed Yahweh.

in the wilderness: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as wilderness refers to a place where no people live.

5:6b

until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died,

until all the soldiers who left Egypt died
During that time all the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt died.

until all the nation’s men of war: This phrase refers to men more than twenty years old and old enough to be soldiers.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

until all the nation, that is, the men of war (NASB)

In many languages it may be more natural to combine the two phrases or to delete all the nation’s. For example:

all their soldiers (GW)

all the men who were old enough to fight in battle (NLT)

the men in the army (CEV)

who had come out of Egypt: It was stated in the previous verse that they came out of Egypt, so it may be more natural in some languages to leave this information implicit.

5:6c

since they did not obey the LORD.

because they did not obey Yahweh.
They died because they disobeyed Yahweh.

since: The word since introduces the reason why all these men died in the wilderness.

they did not obey the LORD: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as obey is literally “listen.” This is an idiom. It means “obey.”

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

they did not obey what Yahweh had commanded

General Comment on 5:6a-c

It may be more natural in some languages to state the reason at the beginning of the sentence instead of at the end. You can reorder the verse so that 5:6c starts the verse. For example:

^6cThe Israelites did not obey Yahweh. Because they disobeyed him, ^6athey had to walk in the wilderness for forty years ^6buntil all of Israel’s soldiers died.

5:6d

So the LORD vowed

Because they disobeyed him, Yahweh made a solemn promise to them.
So, Yahweh vowed to them

So the LORD vowed: The clause So the LORD vowed means that Yahweh made a promise to them. It may be more natural in some languages to put the indirect object in its normal order. For example:

the Lord had sworn to them (NIV)

Use whatever order is most natural in your language.

5:6e

never to let them see the land

He said he will not let them enter the land
that they will not live long enough to see the land

never to let them see the land: The clause never to let them see the land indicates that Yahweh did not let them live long enough to enter the land of Canaan.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

he would not let them enter the land of Canaan

he would not let them live to see the land of Canaan

5:6f

He had sworn to their fathers to give us,

which he promised their ancestors to give us,
he swore to give to them and to us.

He had sworn: The phrase He had sworn means that Yahweh made a vow or a promise.

to their fathers: The phrase to their fathers refers to their actual fathers and also their ancestors.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to their ancestors

to their fathers and grandfathers

to give us: There is implied information. The phrase to give us can also be translated as:

to give to us^(incl) Israelites

The writer of the book of Joshua wrote this many years later. When he said to give us he wrote about himself and the Israelites in his own time. He said that they also received what God had promised to their ancestors.5:6 Bratcher and Newman, p. 62.

Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

Yahweh did not let them see the land which he promised to their ancestors, and which he said that he would give to them and to us^(incl)

5:6g

a land flowing with milk and honey.

a rich and fertile land.
That land is a fertile land, and produces lots of crops.

a land flowing with milk and honey: The phrase a land flowing with milk and honey is a Hebrew idiom. In this idiom the rivers flow with milk and honey instead of water. It means that the land was fertile and produced abundant crops. If possible, use vivid language or an idiom which conveys the same meaning in your own language.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a very fertile land

a land which produces lots of crops

General Comment on 5:4–6

The structure of 5:4–6 is complex. Some English versions reorder these verses. If you find these verses difficult to translate, you might want to consider reordering them. For example:

^4bWhen the people of Israel left Egypt, ^5aall the males were already circumcised. ^6aHowever, during the forty years the people spent crossing the desert, ^5cnone of the baby boys had been circumcised. ^6bAlso, by the end of that time all the men who were of fighting age when they left Egypt had died ^6cbecause they had disobeyed the Lord. ^6dJust as he had sworn, ^6ethey were not allowed to see ^6gthe rich and fertile land ^6fthat he had promised their ancestors. (GNT)

If you follow the GNT, you will need to look at how it translates 5:7. Verse 5:7 includes information that is implied at the beginning of the unit 5:4–6, specifically the statement about why these men had never been circumcised. Verse 5:7 in the GNT reads:

The sons of these men had never been circumcised, and it was this new generation that Joshua circumcised. (GNT)

You might also want to consider the CEV, which reorders 5:4–7.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּ֣י ׀ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֗ה הָלְכ֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ בַּ⁠מִּדְבָּר֒ עַד־תֹּ֨ם כָּל־הַ⁠גּ֜וֹי אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַ⁠מִּלְחָמָה֙ הַ⁠יֹּצְאִ֣ים מִ⁠מִּצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּ⁠ק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה

that/for/because/then/when forty year travelled sons_of Yisrael in,wilderness until perished all/each/any/every the,nation men_of of_(the),war [who]_came,out from=Miʦrayim/(Egypt) which/who not listen to,the_voice_of YHWH

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: [Because they had not listened to the voice of Yahweh, the sons of Israel had walked in the wilderness 40 years, until the finishing of all of the nation of the men of war having come out from Egypt]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הַ⁠גּ֜וֹי אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַ⁠מִּלְחָמָה֙

the,nation men_of of_(the),war

The author seems to be speaking as if these men of war were a nation of their own. In this language and culture, people sometimes used the term “nation” to mean “army,” as in [Joel 1:6](../jol/01/06.md), for example. Alternate translation: [the men of war in the army]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּ⁠ק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה

not listen to,the_voice_of YHWH

Here, the word listened means “obeyed.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [they had not obeyed the voice of Yahweh]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּ⁠ק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה

not listen to,the_voice_of YHWH

The author is using the voice of Yahweh by association to mean the things that Yahweh commanded by using his voice. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they had not obeyed what Yahweh commanded them] or [they had not done what Yahweh told them to do]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לַֽ⁠אֲבוֹתָ⁠ם֙

to,their_of,fathers

The author is using the term fathers to mean “ancestors.” If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to their ancestors]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

לָ֔⁠נוּ

to/for=us

The author is addressing his listeners directly by saying us. Since the original listeners were Israelites, us would have been inclusive if he had marked that form. However, unless your readers are Israelites, they would not be included in the promises described here, which Yahweh made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. So it might be more natural in your language to use the exclusive form if your language marks that distinction. Decide as a team how to translate this.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּ⁠דְבָֽשׁ

earth/land flowing_of milk and,honey

Yahweh spoke of the land being good for animals and plants as if the milk and honey from those animals and plants were actually flowing through the land. If this metaphor makes sense in your language, you may use it. If your language has metaphors that mean a land is good for producing healthy livestock and good crops, you may consider using those. If neither is the case, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a fertile land that produces many good things]

Parallel JOS 5:6

Section 5:2–12 Joshua circumcised the men, and the Israelites observed Passover

5:6a

5:6b

5:6c

General Comment on 5:6a-c

5:6d

5:6e

5:6f

5:6g

General Comment on 5:4–6