Joshua 9:15 Meaning and Explanation
“And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joshua makes peace and the leaders bind the treaty with an oath.
What Does Joshua 9:15 Mean?
Persuaded by the evidence, Joshua makes peace and enters a league with the Gibeonites, granting them their lives. The princes of the congregation seal the agreement with a sworn oath, invoking God's name over the covenant. The treaty is now binding.
What was begun in deception is now bound by a sacred vow. The oath, once given, cannot simply be undone. The verse sets up the deeper question the rest of the chapter must face: when a solemn promise has been made on false grounds, does the holiness of the promise still hold? Israel will answer with their integrity.
Joshua 9:15 in the Original Language
shalom (שָׁלוֹם), 'peace' -- wholeness and well-being secured by covenant, not mere absence of war.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 9:15
What does Joshua 9:15 mean?
Joshua makes peace and the leaders bind the treaty with an oath.