King James Version

What Does Joshua 15:8 Mean?

Joshua 15:8 in the King James Version says “And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: an...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:”

Joshua 15:8 · KJV

Context

6

And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:

7

And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:

8

And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

9

And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:

10

And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem. The boundary approaches Jerusalem through the Valley of Ben-Hinnom (גֵּי בֶן־הִנֹּם), which became Gehenna (γέεννα) in Greek—the New Testament term for hell. This valley's dark history includes child sacrifice to Molech during Israel's apostasy (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31-32), making it synonymous with divine judgment. That Judah's border ran through this valley of future defilement underscores how covenant promises don't exempt God's people from facing temptation and potential apostasy.

"The Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem" identifies the city by its pre-Israelite inhabitants. The Jebusites, a Canaanite people, controlled Jerusalem until David's conquest (2 Samuel 5:6-9) approximately 400 years after Joshua. This parenthetical note acknowledges incomplete conquest—Jerusalem remained unconquered during the judges period (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21). Yet God's purposes weren't thwarted; David's eventual conquest made Jerusalem the political and spiritual capital, and ultimately the city where Christ died and rose.

The border "went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants (Rephaim, רְפָאִים) northward." This precise topographical description locates the boundary at Jerusalem's western heights, marking the division between Judah and Benjamin.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jerusalem (Hebrew Yerushalayim, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; Jebusite name probably Urusalim) appears in Egyptian Execration Texts (19th century BCE) and Amarna Letters (14th century BCE), confirming its antiquity and importance. The city's location on a ridge between the Kidron and Hinnom valleys, with water from the Gihon Spring, provided natural defenses making it "impregnable" in Jebusite estimation. The Valley of Hinnom (Ge-Hinnom, corrupted to Gehenna) curves around Jerusalem's western and southern sides. During the monarchical period, apostate kings erected high places here for Molech worship, burning children as offerings—abominations that eventually defiled the valley permanently. King Josiah desecrated the site (2 Kings 23:10), and it became Jerusalem's garbage dump where fires burned continuously, creating the perfect metaphor for eternal judgment that Jesus employed. The Valley of Rephaim ("giants") north of Hinnom was a fertile plain where David later fought Philistines (2 Samuel 5:18-22).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jerusalem's placement on Judah's boundary—partially conquered but ultimately central—illustrate that God's greatest blessings often require patient, persistent faith to fully possess?
  2. What does Hinnom Valley's transformation from inheritance boundary to judgment symbol teach about the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness?
  3. How should knowing that even promised inheritance includes potential sites of future failure (Hinnom) keep you humble and dependent on God's grace?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
וְעָלָ֨ה1 of 27

“went up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

הַגְּב֜וּל2 of 27

“And the border”

H1366

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

גֵֽי3 of 27

“by the valley”

H1516

a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)

בֶן4 of 27

“of the son”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

הִנֹּם֙5 of 27

“of Hinnom”

H2011

hinnom, apparently a jebusite

אֶל6 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כֶּ֤תֶף7 of 27

“side”

H3802

the shoulder (proper, i.e., upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anythi

הַיְבוּסִי֙8 of 27

“of the Jebusite”

H2983

a jebusite or inhabitant of jebus

מִנֶּ֔גֶב9 of 27

“unto the south”

H5045

the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)

הִ֖יא10 of 27
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

יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם11 of 27

“the same is Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וְעָלָ֨ה12 of 27

“went up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

הַגְּב֜וּל13 of 27

“And the border”

H1366

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

אֶל14 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

רֹ֣אשׁ15 of 27

“to the top”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

הָהָ֗ר16 of 27

“of the mountain”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

אֲ֠שֶׁר17 of 27
H834

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

עַל18 of 27
H5921

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

פְּנֵ֤י19 of 27

“that lieth before”

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

גֵֽי20 of 27

“by the valley”

H1516

a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)

הִנֹּם֙21 of 27

“of Hinnom”

H2011

hinnom, apparently a jebusite

יָ֔מָּה22 of 27

“westward”

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

אֲשֶׁ֛ר23 of 27
H834

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

בִּקְצֵ֥ה24 of 27

“which is at the end”

H7097

an extremity

עֵֽמֶק25 of 27

“of the valley”

H6010

a vale (i.e., broad depression)

רְפָאִ֖ים26 of 27

“of the giants”

H7497

a giant

צָפֽוֹנָה׃27 of 27

“northward”

H6828

properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)

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 15:8 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 15:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 18:16Joshua 15:63Judges 19:10Joshua 18:282 Kings 23:10Judges 1:21

Places in This Verse

JebusSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E7 verses across 3 books
JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
Valley of HinnomValley · Modern: Hinnom Valley · 31.77°N, 35.23°E12 verses across 5 books
Valley of RephaimValley · Modern: Valley of Rephaim · 31.76°N, 35.22°E8 verses across 4 books
View all places in Joshua 15 →

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