King James Version

What Does Joshua 10:25 Mean?

Joshua 10:25 in the King James Version says “And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all y...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”

Joshua 10:25 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

23

And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

24

And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

25

And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

26

And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

27

And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

After capturing the five coalition kings, Joshua transforms their humiliation into an object lesson for Israel. The command "Fear not, nor be dismayed" (al-tir'u ve'al-techatu, אַל־תִּירְאוּ וְאַל־תֵּחָתּוּ) uses the same paired imperatives God spoke to Joshua (8:1), showing how leaders transmit divine encouragement to their followers. The additional exhortation "be strong and of good courage" (chizqu ve'imtzu, חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ) echoes God's repeated commission to Joshua (1:6, 7, 9), demonstrating the generational transmission of faith-filled courage.

The phrase "thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies" establishes the defeated kings as paradigm for all future victories. The visible evidence of God's judgment on these rulers—displayed at Israel's feet (verse 24)—provides tangible proof that Yahweh fights for Israel. This pedagogical approach recognizes humanity's need for visible confirmations of invisible realities. Reformed theology affirms that God accommodates human weakness by providing signs, ordinances, and historical evidences that strengthen faith (Westminster Confession 1.5).

Joshua's leadership demonstrates the pastoral dimension of military command. He doesn't merely achieve tactical victories; he interprets those victories theologically, building his people's confidence in God's promises. This models spiritual leadership that connects present experiences to eternal truths, helping believers see God's hand in current circumstances and trust Him for future challenges. The pattern established here—victory, testimony, encouragement—repeats throughout redemptive history, culminating in Christ's resurrection testimony and the apostolic witness.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The practice of displaying defeated kings—forcing them to prostrate while conquerors placed feet on their necks (verse 24)—appears throughout ancient Near Eastern iconography. Egyptian temple reliefs show pharaohs standing on bound captives, and Assyrian monuments depict similar scenes. This was not mere cruelty but symbolic demonstration of absolute victory, intended to demoralize remaining resistance while encouraging the victors. Joshua's adaptation of this practice serves theological purposes—demonstrating Yahweh's superiority over Canaanite kings and their gods.

The five kings represented major city-states: Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. Their simultaneous defeat broke the southern coalition's power structure, leaving smaller cities defenseless. Ancient warfare often focused on eliminating leadership; once kings were captured or killed, their cities typically surrendered. Joshua's rapid exploitation of this victory (verses 28-39) demonstrates understanding of ancient warfare's psychological dimensions—maintaining momentum after decisive victory could produce cascading surrenders.

The execution of the kings (verse 26) and their corpses' display until evening (verse 27) followed Deuteronomic law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23), which required that hanged bodies not remain overnight, lest the land be defiled. Paul later applies this principle to Christ's crucifixion, noting that Christ became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). The kings' burial in the cave where they hid created a permanent memorial—the sealed cave with great stones (verse 27) marking the site of divine judgment on Canaanite rebellion.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can Christian leaders follow Joshua's example of interpreting God's work in ways that strengthen others' faith?
  2. What visible evidences of God's faithfulness in your past can you use to encourage yourself and others facing current challenges?
  3. How does this passage's emphasis on transmitting courage from leader to followers inform our approach to discipleship and mentoring?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 19

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵיהֶם֙2 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ3 of 19

“And Joshua”

H3091

jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader

אַל4 of 19
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תִּֽירְא֖וּ5 of 19

“unto them Fear”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

וְאַל6 of 19
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תֵּחָ֑תּוּ7 of 19

“not nor be dismayed”

H2865

properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear

חִזְק֣וּ8 of 19

“be strong”

H2388

to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restra

וְאִמְצ֔וּ9 of 19

“and of good courage”

H553

to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)

כִּ֣י10 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

כָ֗כָה11 of 19
H3602

just so, referring to the previous or following context

יַֽעֲשֶׂ֤ה12 of 19

“do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

יְהוָה֙13 of 19

“for thus shall the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לְכָל14 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֹ֣יְבֵיכֶ֔ם15 of 19

“to all your enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

אֲשֶׁ֥ר16 of 19
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אַתֶּ֖ם17 of 19
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

נִלְחָמִ֥ים18 of 19

“against whom ye fight”

H3898

to feed on; figuratively, to consume

אוֹתָֽם׃19 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

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 10:25 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 10:25 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 1:92 Corinthians 1:10Ephesians 6:101 Samuel 17:37Deuteronomy 7:19Romans 8:37

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