Joshua 13:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joshua has grown old, and the LORD reminds him that much of the promised land still remains to be possessed.
What Does Joshua 13:1 Mean?
The conquest narrative pauses. After years of campaigns, Joshua is aged, and God speaks plainly about the work left undone. This verse opens the long section (chapters 13 to 21) where the land is apportioned among the tribes, even though much of it is not yet won.
God's honesty here is tender and bracing at once. He does not flatter Joshua about all that is accomplished; He names what remains. The promises of God are sure, yet they are received and entered step by step, often beyond a single lifetime. Faith holds both truths: the inheritance is given, and there is still ground to take. The aging servant is called not to despair but to keep dividing, trusting, and handing the unfinished task to those who follow.
Joshua 13:1 in the Original Language
yarash (יָרַשׁ), 'to possess' -- to take hold of and occupy what has been granted as an inheritance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 13:1
What does Joshua 13:1 mean?
Joshua has grown old, and the LORD reminds him that much of the promised land still remains to be possessed.