Joshua 21:44 Meaning and Explanation
“And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord gave Israel rest on every side; no enemy could stand before them, for He delivered them all into Israel's hand.
What Does Joshua 21:44 Mean?
The fighting is over and the Lord grants rest on every side. The narrator is clear about the source: it was the Lord who gave the rest, the Lord who let no enemy stand, the Lord who delivered them. The victory belonged to God from first to last.
The rest Israel enjoyed was God's gift, not their own achievement. So it is with the deeper rest the soul longs for; it is given, not earned. This earthly rest in the land was a foretaste, pointing ahead to the fuller rest God holds out to His people in Christ, who alone gives rest to the weary.
Joshua 21:44 in the Original Language
nuach (נוּחַ), 'to rest' -- the settled peace God grants after striving; the same root behind the rest promised to His people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 21:44
What does Joshua 21:44 mean?
The Lord gave Israel rest on every side; no enemy could stand before them, for He delivered them all into Israel's hand.