King James Version

What Does Joshua 8:31 Mean?

Joshua 8:31 in the King James Version says “As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an ...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.”

Joshua 8:31 · KJV

Peace

Context

29

And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide : and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

30

Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,

31

As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

32

And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

33

And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
An altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron (מִזְבֵּחַ אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֹת, mizbeach avanim shlemot)—the requirement for unhewn stones (Exodus 20:25, Deuteronomy 27:5-6) preserved the altar's purity from human craftsmanship. Iron tools symbolized human warfare and violence, forbidden from touching what mediated peace with God. The altar at Mount Ebal fulfilled the Mosaic command for covenant renewal upon entering Canaan.

Burnt offerings (עֹלוֹת, olot) and peace offerings (שְׁלָמִים, shelamim) together represented complete consecration to God and fellowship communion. This worship preceded the reading of the law (v. 34), establishing that Israel's obedience flowed from covenant relationship, not mere legalism. The uncut stones pointed forward to Christ, the 'stone which the builders rejected' (Psalm 118:22), whose unbroken body secured eternal peace.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim flanked the city of Shechem, the geographical heart of Canaan where Abraham first received God's promise (Genesis 12:6-7). Moses commanded this covenant ceremony before his death (Deuteronomy 27), and Joshua faithfully executed it immediately after conquering Ai. Archaeological excavations on Mount Ebal have uncovered an altar structure from this period.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the prohibition against using iron tools on God's altar challenge our tendency to improve God's plan with human methods?
  2. What does the sequence of worship before law-reading teach about the foundation of biblical obedience?
  3. In what ways does Christ fulfill the symbolism of the unhewn stone altar as the undefiled mediator between God and humanity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 26 words
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר1 of 26
H834

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

צִוָּה֩2 of 26

“commanded”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

מֹשֶׁ֔ה3 of 26

“As Moses”

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

עֶֽבֶד4 of 26

“the servant”

H5650

a servant

לַֽיהוָ֔ה5 of 26

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

אֶת6 of 26
H853

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

בְּנֵ֣י7 of 26

“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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל8 of 26

“of Israel”

H3478

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

כַּכָּתוּב֙9 of 26

“as it is written”

H3789

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

בְּסֵ֙פֶר֙10 of 26

“in the book”

H5612

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

תּוֹרַ֣ת11 of 26

“of the law”

H8451

a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch

מֹשֶׁ֔ה12 of 26

“As Moses”

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

מִזְבַּח֙13 of 26

“an altar”

H4196

an altar

אֲבָנִ֣ים14 of 26

“stones”

H68

a stone

שְׁלֵמ֔וֹת15 of 26

“of whole”

H8003

complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly

אֲשֶׁ֛ר16 of 26
H834

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

לֹֽא17 of 26
H3808

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

הֵנִ֥יף18 of 26

“over which no man hath lift up”

H5130

to quiver (i.e., vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, bastinad

עֲלֵיהֶ֖ן19 of 26
H5921

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

בַּרְזֶ֑ל20 of 26

“any iron”

H1270

iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement

וַיַּֽעֲל֨וּ21 of 26

“and they offered”

H5927

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

עָלָ֤יו22 of 26
H5921

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

עֹלוֹת֙23 of 26

“thereon burnt offerings”

H5930

a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)

לַֽיהוָ֔ה24 of 26

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

וַֽיִּזְבְּח֖וּ25 of 26

“and sacrificed”

H2076

to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)

שְׁלָמִֽים׃26 of 26

“peace offerings”

H8002

properly, requital, i.e., a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks

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 8:31 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 8:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 27:5-7Exodus 20:24-25Joshua 8:34-35Joshua 1:8Exodus 18:121 Kings 18:31-32

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