King James Version

What Does Joshua 11:6 Mean?

Joshua 11:6 in the King James Version says “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all s...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.”

Joshua 11:6 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

4

And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.

5

And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. met: Heb. assembled by appointment

6

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

7

So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

8

And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. great Zidon: or, Zidonrabbah Misrephothmaim: or, Salt pits: Heb. Burnings of waters

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God's command 'Be not afraid' (al-tira, אַל־תִּירָא) directly addresses Joshua's natural human fear facing superior forces. The basis for courage is divine promise—'I will deliver them up all slain before Israel.' The time specification 'tomorrow about this time' demonstrates God's precise control over events; He knows exactly when victory will occur. The Hebrew construction machar ka'et hazot (מָחָר כָּעֵת הַזֹּאת) indicates approximately 24 hours hence. The phrase 'all slain' (chalal, חָלָל) means pierced through or fatally wounded—complete military defeat. The commands to hamstring horses and burn chariots seem strategically foolish, destroying valuable military assets. Yet this reveals God's method: Israel must not trust in horses and chariots (Psalm 20:7) but in Yahweh alone. Keeping these would tempt Israel toward military self-sufficiency rather than dependence on God. The destruction of advanced weaponry demonstrates that God's power, not military technology, wins victories for His people. This principle finds New Testament expression in 2 Corinthians 10:4—spiritual warfare requires spiritual weapons, not worldly might.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern warfare increasingly centered on chariotry by the Late Bronze Age. Iron-reinforced wooden chariots provided mobile platforms for archers and spear-throwers, offering decisive tactical advantages over infantry. Each chariot required breeding programs for horses, skilled craftsmen, and trained crews—representing enormous resource investment. Capturing enemy chariots meant acquiring cutting-edge military technology that could shift regional power balances. God's command to destroy these chariots rather than incorporate them into Israel's forces prevented Israel from adopting Canaanite military methods and the centralized royal administration required to maintain chariot forces. Hamstringing horses (cutting the tendon making them lame) rendered them useless for military purposes while keeping them alive for agricultural work. This fulfilled Deuteronomy 17:16's prohibition against multiplying horses, which anticipated Israel's future desire for monarchy and military power like surrounding nations. The principle reappears when David later hamstrings captured horses (2 Samuel 8:4), maintaining dependence on God rather than military might.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'horses and chariots'—superior resources or advantages—tempt you to trust in them rather than God?
  2. How does God's promise of specific timing ('tomorrow about this time') encourage faith in His precise control over your circumstances?
  3. What valuable but potentially distracting assets might God be calling you to 'hamstring and burn' to maintain dependence on Him?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 25

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֣ה2 of 25

“And the LORD”

H3068

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

אֶל3 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮4 of 25

“unto Joshua”

H3091

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

אַל5 of 25
H408

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

תִּירָ֣א6 of 25

“Be not afraid”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

לִפְנֵ֣י7 of 25

“because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

כִּֽי8 of 25
H3588

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

מָחָ֞ר9 of 25

“of them for to morrow”

H4279

properly, deferred, i.e., the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter

כָּעֵ֣ת10 of 25

“about this time”

H6256

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc

הַזֹּ֗את11 of 25
H2063

this (often used adverb)

אָֽנֹכִ֞י12 of 25
H595

i

נֹתֵ֧ן13 of 25

“will I deliver them up”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֶת14 of 25
H853

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

כֻּלָּ֛ם15 of 25
H3605

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

חֲלָלִ֖ים16 of 25

“all slain”

H2491

pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted

לִפְנֵ֣י17 of 25

“because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל18 of 25

“Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֶת19 of 25
H853

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

סֽוּסֵיהֶ֣ם20 of 25

“their horses”

H5483

a horse (as leaping)

תְּעַקֵּ֔ר21 of 25

“thou shalt hough”

H6131

to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to exterminate

וְאֶת22 of 25
H853

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

מַרְכְּבֹֽתֵיהֶ֖ם23 of 25

“their chariots”

H4818

a chariot

תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף24 of 25

“and burn”

H8313

to be (causatively, set) on fire

בָּאֵֽשׁ׃25 of 25

“with fire”

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

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 11:6 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 11:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 10:82 Samuel 8:41 Samuel 11:9Judges 20:28Joshua 11:9Proverbs 20:7

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