Joshua 6:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel carries out the devotion of the city, destroying every living thing in it by the sword.
What Does Joshua 6:21 Mean?
The verse records the carrying out of the judgment that had been declared. The whole of Jericho is given over to destruction, exactly as it was devoted to the Lord. The plainness of the language matches the solemnity of the act -- this is the cup of a long-foretold judgment now poured out on a city.
Scripture does not soften this moment, and neither should the reader. It stands as a sobering witness that God is holy and that He does judge persistent evil in His own time. Generations of warning had preceded this day. Yet the very next verses turn at once to Rahab's rescue, so that judgment and mercy are held together in a single account. The God who judges sin is also the God who reaches out to save all who turn to Him, as Rahab did.
Joshua 6:21 in the Original Language
charam (חָרַם), 'utterly destroyed' -- to devote to destruction as something given over entirely to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 6:21
What does Joshua 6:21 mean?
Israel carries out the devotion of the city, destroying every living thing in it by the sword.