Joshua 5:3
New International Version
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.

New Living Translation
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the entire male population of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

English Standard Version
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Berean Standard Bible
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

King James Bible
And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

New King James Version
So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

New American Standard Bible
So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

NASB 1995
So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

NASB 1977
So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Amplified Bible
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelite men at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelite men at Gibeath-haaraloth.

American Standard Version
And Joshua made him knives of flint, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

Contemporary English Version
Joshua made the knives, then circumcised those men and boys at Haaraloth Hill.

English Revised Version
And Joshua made him knives of flint, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the men of Israel at the Hill of Circumcision.

Good News Translation
So Joshua did as the LORD had commanded, and he circumcised the Israelites at a place called Circumcision Hill.

International Standard Version
So Joshua made some flint knives and circumcised the Israelis at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Majority Standard Bible
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

NET Bible
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites on the Hill of the Foreskins.

New Heart English Bible
So Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the Hill of the Foreskins.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

World English Bible
Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Joshua makes knives of flint for himself, and circumcises the sons of Israel at the height of the foreskins.

Young's Literal Translation
and Joshua maketh for him knives of flint, and circumciseth the sons of Israel at the height of the foreskins.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua will make to him swords of stone and will circumcise the sons of Israel at the hill of uncircumcisions:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He did what the Lord had commanded, and he circumcised the children of Israel in the hill of the foreskins.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He did what the Lord had commanded, and he circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

New American Bible
So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath-haaraloth.

New Revised Standard Version
So Joshua made flint knives, and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath-haaraloth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So Joshua made a flint knife for himself, and circumcised the children of Israel the second time at the Hill of the Uncircumcised.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yeshua made for himself a blade of flint and he circumcised the children of Israel again in The Hill of the Uncircumcised
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joshua made him knives of flint, and circumcised the children of Israel at Gibeath-ha-araloth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua made sharp knives of stone, and circumcised the children of Israel at the place called the Hill of Foreskins.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Circumcision at Gilgal
2At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.” 3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt.…

Cross References
Genesis 17:10-14
This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. / You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. / Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. ...

Exodus 4:25-26
But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. / So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

Deuteronomy 10:16
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.

Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”

Romans 2:28-29
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. / No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

Galatians 5:2-3
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. / Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

Colossians 2:11-12
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. / And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Acts 7:8
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Genesis 34:14-17
“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us. / We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males. / Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people. ...

Ezekiel 44:7-9
In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant. / And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.’ / This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.

Philippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

1 Corinthians 7:18-19
Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. / Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

Acts 15:1-2
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” / And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Genesis 21:4
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

Joshua

Genesis 17:23-27
And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him…

Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

the hill of the foreskins.

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Joshua 5
1. The Canaanites are afraid
2. Joshua renews circumcision
10. The Passover is kept at Gilgal
12. manna ceases
13. An angel appears to Joshua














So Joshua made flint knives
The use of "flint knives" is significant, as it connects the Israelites to their ancient past. Flint, a hard type of sedimentary rock, was used for tools and weapons in prehistoric times. The Hebrew word for "flint" is "tzur," which can also mean "rock" or "cliff," symbolizing strength and permanence. This act of making flint knives is a return to the basics, a reminder of the covenant with God that transcends time and technology. It signifies a renewal of commitment to God’s commands, as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land.

and circumcised the sons of Israel
Circumcision is a physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, as described in Genesis 17. The Hebrew word for circumcise is "mul," which means to cut or to remove. This act is not merely physical but deeply spiritual, symbolizing the cutting away of sin and the dedication of the people to God. It is a renewal of identity and purpose for the Israelites, marking them as God’s chosen people. Historically, this act reaffirms their distinctiveness from other nations and their commitment to follow God’s laws.

at Gibeath-haaraloth
The name "Gibeath-haaraloth" translates to "Hill of the Foreskins." This location is significant as it marks a place of transformation and obedience. The act of circumcision here is a collective renewal of the covenant, a necessary preparation for the battles and challenges ahead in the Promised Land. The name itself serves as a memorial of this pivotal moment in Israel’s history, where they reaffirmed their identity and commitment to God. It is a reminder of the cost of discipleship and the importance of obedience to God’s commands.

Verse 3. - The hill of the foreskins. The name given to the hill where the circumcision took place.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Joshua
יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

made
וַיַּעַשׂ־ (way·ya·‘aś-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

flint
צֻרִ֑ים (ṣu·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6697: A cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge

knives
חַֽרְב֣וֹת (ḥar·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

and circumcised
וַיָּ֙מָל֙ (way·yā·māl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4135: To cut short, curtail, to blunt, to destroy

the sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

at
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Gibeath-haaraloth.
גִּבְעַ֖ת (giḇ·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1389: A hillock


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OT History: Joshua 5:3 Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 5:2
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