Joshua 8:26
New International Version
For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai.

New Living Translation
For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed.

English Standard Version
But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.

Berean Standard Bible
Joshua did not draw back the hand that held his battle lance until he had devoted to destruction all who lived in Ai.

King James Bible
For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

New King James Version
For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

New American Standard Bible
For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he reached out with the sword until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

NASB 1995
For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

NASB 1977
For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Legacy Standard Bible
For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted to destruction all the inhabitants of Ai.

Amplified Bible
For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the spear until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Christian Standard Bible
Joshua did not draw back his hand that was holding the javelin until all the inhabitants of Ai were completely destroyed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joshua did not draw back his hand that was holding the sword until all the inhabitants of Ai were completely destroyed.

American Standard Version
For Joshua drew not back his hand, wherewith he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

English Revised Version
For Joshua drew not back his hand wherewith he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joshua did not lower his hand holding the spear until he had completely destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

International Standard Version
Joshua did not cease his attack until he had completely destroyed every inhabitant of Ai.

Majority Standard Bible
Joshua did not draw back the hand that held his battle lance until he had devoted to destruction all who lived in Ai.

NET Bible
Joshua kept holding out his curved sword until Israel had annihilated all who lived in Ai.

New Heart English Bible
For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Webster's Bible Translation
For Joshua drew not his hand back with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

World English Bible
For Joshua didn’t draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joshua has not brought back his hand which he stretched out with the javelin until he has devoted all the inhabitants of Ai;

Young's Literal Translation
And Joshua hath not brought back his hand which he stretched out with the javelin till that he hath devoted all the inhabitants of Ai;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua turned not back his hand which he stretched out with the spear till he exterminated all the inhabitants of Ai.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Josue drew not back his hand, which he had stretched out on high, holding the shield, till all the inhabitants of Hai were slain.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Truly Joshua did not draw back his hand, which he had stretched out on high, keeping hold of the shield until all the inhabitants of Ai were put to death.

New American Bible
Joshua kept the javelin in his hand stretched out until he had carried out the ban on all the inhabitants of Ai.

New Revised Standard Version
For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the sword, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For Joshua did not draw his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yeshua did not return his hand that was raised with the spear until he had destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For Joshua drew not back his hand, wherewith he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Conquest of Ai
25A total of twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. 26Joshua did not draw back the hand that held his battle lance until he had devoted to destruction all who lived in Ai. 27Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua.…

Cross References
Exodus 17:11-13
As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. / When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. / So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword.

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

1 Samuel 15:8-9
He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. / Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

1 Samuel 15:32-33
Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” / But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

2 Samuel 8:2
David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

2 Kings 13:18-19
Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. / But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”

2 Kings 13:25
Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.

2 Kings 23:25
Neither before nor after Josiah was there any king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses.

1 Chronicles 5:22
and many others fell slain, because the battle belonged to God. And they occupied the land until the exile.

Psalm 18:37-42
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. / I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. / You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me. ...

Psalm 21:8-12
Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You. / You will place them in a fiery furnace at the time of Your appearing. In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, and the fire will consume them. / You will wipe their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from the sons of men. ...

Isaiah 34:2
The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter.

Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.

Matthew 5:18
For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.


Treasury of Scripture

For Joshua drew not his hand back, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Joshua 8:18
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.

drew not

Joshua 8:18
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.

Exodus 17:11,12
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed…

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Joshua 8
1. God encourages Joshua
3. The plan whereby Ai was taken
29. The king thereof is hanged
30. Joshua builds an altar
32. writes the law on stones
33. and pronounces the blessings and curses














Joshua did not draw back the hand
This phrase emphasizes Joshua's unwavering commitment and determination. In the Hebrew context, the hand often symbolizes power and action. Joshua's steadfastness reflects his obedience to God's command and his role as a leader who executes divine justice. The imagery of not drawing back suggests a relentless pursuit of God's will, a call for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and mission.

that held his battle lance
The "battle lance" signifies the instrument of warfare and divine judgment. In ancient warfare, the lance was a symbol of authority and power. Joshua's holding of the lance represents his role as God's chosen instrument to carry out His judgment against Ai. This can inspire believers to understand that God equips His people with the necessary tools to fulfill His purposes, and they must wield them with faith and responsibility.

until he had devoted to destruction
The phrase "devoted to destruction" comes from the Hebrew word "herem," which means to dedicate something completely to God, often through destruction. This was a common practice in ancient Israelite warfare, signifying the complete eradication of anything that could lead the people away from God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for total devotion to God, encouraging believers to remove anything from their lives that hinders their relationship with Him.

all who lived in Ai
Ai was a Canaanite city, and its destruction was part of God's judgment against the Canaanites for their idolatry and wickedness. Historically, Ai's defeat was crucial for Israel's conquest of the Promised Land. This highlights God's sovereignty and justice, as well as His faithfulness to His promises. For believers, it underscores the importance of trusting in God's plan and timing, even when His ways are beyond human understanding.

Verse 26. - Utterly destroyed. Hebrew, הֶחֶרִים (see note on Joshua 6:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

did not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

draw back
הֵשִׁ֣יב (hê·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

his hand
יָד֔וֹ (yā·ḏōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

held
נָטָ֖ה (nā·ṭāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

his battle lance
בַּכִּיד֑וֹן (bak·kî·ḏō·wn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3591: Something to strike with, a dart

until
עַ֚ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the inhabitants
יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of Ai
הָעָֽי׃ (hā·‘āy)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5857: Ai -- a Canaanite city

were completely destroyed.
הֶחֱרִ֔ים (he·ḥĕ·rîm)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose


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OT History: Joshua 8:26 For Joshua didn't draw back his hand (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 8:25
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