King James Version
Joshua 8:4 in the King James Version says “And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:”
Joshua 8:4 · KJV
And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. drawn: Heb. pulled
KJV Study — Public Domain
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“Behold”
H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
“against the city”
H5892a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
“even behind”
H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
“against the city”
H5892a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
“far”
H7368to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
“against the city”
H5892a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
“not very”
H3966properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“but be ye all ready”
H3559properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
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.
Joshua 8:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to Joshua 8:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge