King James Version

What Does Joshua 5:6 Mean?

Joshua 5:6 in the King James Version says “For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came ou... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Joshua 5:6 · KJV


Context

4

And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.

5

Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

6

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.

7

And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.

8

And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. they had: Heb. the people had made an end to be circumcised


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

This verse provides comprehensive explanation for the forty-year wilderness period. The Hebrew tammu (תַּמּוּ, "were consumed") means finished, completed, or exhausted—the entire condemned generation died. The cause was explicit: "they obeyed not the voice of the LORD" (lo shamu beqol YHWH, לֹא שָׁמְעוּ בְּקוֹל יְהוָה). Disobedience brought death; obedience brings life—a principle woven throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

The phrase "unto whom the LORD sware" (asher nishba YHWH lahem, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לָהֶם) indicates a divine oath of judgment—just as God swore to give the land, He swore the disobedient would not see it. Divine oaths guarantee both promise and warning. The contrast is poignant: "the land which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us"—the same land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would go to the children, not the parents.

The description "land that floweth with milk and honey" (eretz zavat chalav udvash, אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ) depicts abundant fertility and blessing. This phrase appears throughout the Pentateuch, symbolizing covenant blessing. The tragedy is that those who came closest—having left Egypt, witnessed miracles, received the Law—forfeited blessing through unbelief. This warns that proximity to truth doesn't guarantee salvation; only faith appropriates promise. From a Reformed perspective, this demonstrates the distinction between external covenant membership and internal regeneration—many within the visible church lack saving faith.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The forty-year period (approximately 1446-1406 BCE, traditional dating) was not arbitrary but precisely calibrated to divine justice. Numbers 14:34 explicitly states: "After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years." This proportional judgment—one year per day of faithless spying—demonstrates God's precise justice.

Archaeologically, evidence of significant Israelite presence during this period appears mainly in Kadesh-barnea and the Transjordan region rather than the central Sinai. This aligns with the biblical narrative that they wandered primarily in the southern and eastern regions, not through the barren central Sinai mountains. The generation that died in the wilderness left no permanent settlements—a fitting memorial to their transience and forfeited inheritance.

The phrase "land flowing with milk and honey" reflected Canaanite agricultural richness. Archaeological excavations confirm that Late Bronze Age Canaan supported mixed agriculture (grain, grapes, olives) and animal husbandry (sheep, goats, cattle). The coastal plains and hill country terraces provided diverse ecological niches for productive farming. Honey likely refers to date or grape syrup rather than bee honey, as both were common sweeteners. The description contrasted sharply with the wilderness' austerity, making the forfeited blessing all the more tragic.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the contrast between God's oath to give the land and His oath to withhold it demonstrate that divine promises and warnings are equally certain?
  2. What does this passage teach about the relationship between disobedience and forfeiting blessing, even when blessing has been promised?
  3. How does the wilderness generation's failure warn against presuming that exposure to spiritual truth guarantees salvation?
  4. In what ways might you be like the wilderness generation—hearing God's promises but failing to enter through unbelief?
  5. How does Hebrews 4:1-11's application of Canaan rest to Christian salvation help us understand that earthly Canaan prefigured heavenly rest?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 38 words
כִּ֣י׀1 of 38
H3588

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

אַרְבָּעִ֣ים2 of 38

forty

H705

forty

שָׁנָ֗ה3 of 38

years

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הָֽלְכ֣וּ4 of 38

walked

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

בְנֵֽי5 of 38

For the children

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

יִשְׂרָאֵל֮6 of 38

of Israel

H3478

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

בַּמִּדְבָּר֒7 of 38

in the wilderness

H4057

a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

עַד8 of 38
H5704

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

תֹּ֨ם9 of 38

were consumed

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

כָּל10 of 38
H3605

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

הַגּ֜וֹי11 of 38

till all the people

H1471

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

אַנְשֵׁ֤י12 of 38
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הַמִּלְחָמָה֙13 of 38

of war

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

הַיֹּֽצְאִ֣ים14 of 38

which came out

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם15 of 38

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

אֲשֶׁ֥ר16 of 38
H834

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

לֹֽא17 of 38
H3808

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

שָׁמְע֖וּ18 of 38

because they obeyed

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

בְּק֣וֹל19 of 38

not the voice

H6963

a voice or sound

יְהוָ֤ה20 of 38

of the LORD

H3068

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

אֲשֶׁ֨ר21 of 38
H834

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

נִשְׁבַּ֨ע22 of 38

sware

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

יְהוָ֤ה23 of 38

of the LORD

H3068

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

לָהֶ֔ם24 of 38
H0
לְבִלְתִּ֞י25 of 38
H1115

properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n

הַרְאוֹתָ֣ם26 of 38

that he would not shew

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

אֶת27 of 38
H853

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

אֶ֛רֶץ28 of 38

them the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

אֲשֶׁר֩29 of 38
H834

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

נִשְׁבַּ֨ע30 of 38

sware

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

יְהוָ֤ה31 of 38

of the LORD

H3068

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

לַֽאֲבוֹתָם֙32 of 38

unto their fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

לָ֣תֶת33 of 38

that he would give

H5414

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

לָ֔נוּ34 of 38
H0
אֶ֛רֶץ35 of 38

them the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

זָבַ֥ת36 of 38

that floweth

H2100

to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow

חָלָ֖ב37 of 38

with milk

H2461

milk (as the richness of kine)

וּדְבָֽשׁ׃38 of 38

and honey

H1706

honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup


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 5:6 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 5:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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