Joshua 8:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD tells Joshua to stretch his spear toward Ai as the sign of victory, and Joshua obeys, extending it toward the city.
What Does Joshua 8:18 Mean?
At the decisive moment God speaks again, commanding Joshua to stretch out his spear toward Ai with the renewed promise, "I will give it into thine hand." The lifted spear is both the signal to the waiting ambush and a sign that the victory comes from God. Joshua's raised hand recalls Moses' uplifted hands over the battle with Amalek.
The gesture itself wins nothing, yet through it God works. Joshua holds out the spear and the LORD gives the city. So God often joins His mighty acts to the simple, obedient gestures of His servants, a raised hand, an outstretched rod, a spoken word, that the glory may plainly be His and not ours. Our part is the small act of faith; His part is the deliverance.
Joshua 8:18 in the Original Language
kidon (כִּידוֹן), 'spear' -- a javelin or short throwing-spear, here lifted as a banner of God-given victory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 8:18
What does Joshua 8:18 mean?
The LORD tells Joshua to stretch his spear toward Ai as the sign of victory, and Joshua obeys, extending it toward the city.