King James Version

What Does Joshua 10:13 Mean?

Joshua 10:13 in the King James Version says “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this wr...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. Jasher: or, the upright?”

Joshua 10:13 · KJV

Context

11

And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

12

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. stand: Heb. be silent

13

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. Jasher: or, the upright?

14

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

15

And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. This verse records one of Scripture's most extraordinary miracles—God stopping celestial motion in response to Joshua's prayer (Joshua 10:12). The Hebrew vayyadom (וַיִּדֹּם, "stood still") means to be silent, cease, or stop completely. The parallel verb amad (עָמַד, "stayed") reinforces the cessation of normal movement.

The phrase "until the people had avenged themselves" (ad yiqom goy oyevav, עַד יִקֹּם גּוֹי אֹיְבָיו) reveals the purpose: the extended daylight allowed Israel to complete their divinely mandated conquest of the Amorite coalition. The reference to "the book of Jasher" (Hebrew Sefer HaYashar, סֵפֶר הַיָּשָׁר, "book of the upright") cites an ancient poetic collection of Israel's victories, now lost but demonstrating that this miracle was widely known and documented.

The description "hasted not to go down about a whole day" emphasizes the miracle's duration and completeness. This event demonstrates: (1) God's absolute sovereignty over creation, (2) His responsiveness to faith-filled prayer, (3) His commitment to fulfilling covenant promises, and (4) His power to intervene supernaturally in human history. Whether understood as actual celestial cessation or miraculous atmospheric phenomena extending daylight, the miracle affirms God's active involvement in accomplishing His redemptive purposes.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This miracle occurred during Israel's conquest of Canaan around 1400 BC, when five Amorite kings formed a coalition to attack Gibeon (Joshua 10:1-5). The Gibeonites had made a treaty with Israel through deception (Joshua 9), but Joshua honored the covenant and came to their defense. The battle at Gibeon became a decisive moment in the conquest of southern Canaan.

Ancient Near Eastern warfare typically ceased at nightfall due to practical limitations of fighting in darkness. The extended daylight gave Israel a supernatural advantage, allowing them to pursue and destroy the fleeing coalition forces completely (Joshua 10:10-11). God had already sent hailstones that killed more Amorites than Israelite swords (Joshua 10:11), demonstrating divine intervention before Joshua's prayer for extended daylight.

The astronomical phenomenon has been debated for centuries. Some interpreters understand it as literal cessation of earth's rotation, others as atmospheric refraction extending visible sunlight, still others as poetic description of God's intervention. Ancient extrabiblical sources from Egypt, China, and Mexico record unusual day-lengths, though dating these accounts is problematic. Regardless of mechanism, the miracle accomplished its purpose: complete victory over enemies threatening Israel's covenant mission. The event became legendary, cited in Jewish tradition as proof of God's power and responsiveness to prayer.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this miracle demonstrate the relationship between human prayer and divine sovereignty?
  2. What does God's willingness to alter creation's normal operations teach about His commitment to His covenant purposes?
  3. How should we understand and respond to biblical miracles that seem scientifically impossible?
  4. What principles from Joshua's bold prayer can guide our own prayers in seemingly impossible situations?
  5. How does this passage challenge deistic views that God created the world but does not actively intervene in it?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וַיִּדֹּ֨ם1 of 23

“stood still”

H1826

to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish

הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙2 of 23

“And the sun”

H8121

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

וְיָרֵ֣חַ3 of 23

“and the moon”

H3394

the moon

וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֤ד4 of 23

“stayed”

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

עַד5 of 23
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

יִקֹּ֥ם6 of 23

“had avenged”

H5358

to grudge, i.e., avenge or punish

גּוֹי֙7 of 23

“until the people”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

אֹֽיְבָ֔יו8 of 23

“themselves upon their enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

הֲלֹא9 of 23
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

הִ֥יא10 of 23

“Is not this”

H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

כְתוּבָ֖ה11 of 23

“written”

H3789

to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

עַל12 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

סֵ֣פֶר13 of 23

“in the book”

H5612

properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book

הַיָּשָׁ֑ר14 of 23

“of Jasher”

H3477

straight (literally or figuratively)

וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֤ד15 of 23

“stayed”

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙16 of 23

“And the sun”

H8121

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

בַּֽחֲצִ֣י17 of 23

“in the midst”

H2677

the half or middle

הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם18 of 23

“of heaven”

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וְלֹא19 of 23
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אָ֥ץ20 of 23

“and hasted”

H213

to press; (by implication) to be close, hurry, withdraw

לָב֖וֹא21 of 23

“not to go down”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

כְּי֥וֹם22 of 23

“day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

תָּמִֽים׃23 of 23

“about a whole”

H8549

entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 10:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 10:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Habakkuk 3:11Isaiah 38:8Joshua 10:14Judges 16:28Psalms 136:7-9Esther 8:13

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