Joshua 9:23 Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

◄ Joshua 9:23 ►

New International Version
You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

New Living Translation
May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.”

English Standard Version
Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

King James Bible
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

New King James Version
Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

New American Standard Bible
Now therefore, you are cursed, and you will never cease to be slaves, both gatherers of firewood and labor to draw water for the house of my God.”

NASB 1995
“Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

NASB 1977
“Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, you are cursed, and you shall never be cut loose from being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

Amplified Bible
Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall always be slaves, both cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the house of my God.”

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

American Standard Version
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

Contemporary English Version
So now you are under a curse, and from now on your people will have to send workers to cut wood and carry water for the place of worship."

English Revised Version
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You are under a curse now. You will always be servants. You will be woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

Good News Translation
Because you did this, God has condemned you. Your people will always be slaves, cutting wood and carrying water for the sanctuary of my God."

International Standard Version
Now therefore you are under a curse. Some of you will always be slaves, wood cutters, and water carriers for the house of my God."

Majority Standard Bible
Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.?

NET Bible
Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

New Heart English Bible
Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be bondservants, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God."

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bond-men, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

World English Bible
Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And now you are cursed, and none of you is cut off [from being] a servant, even hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, cursed are ye, and none of you is cut off from being a servant, even hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now ye are cursed, and there shall not be cut off from you to serve, and hewing wood and drawing water for the house of my God.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore you shall be under a curse, and your race shall always be hewers of wood, and carriers of water unto the house of my God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, you shall be under a curse, and your stock shall not cease to be cutters of wood and carriers of water, into the house of my God.”

New American Bible
Now are you accursed: every one of you shall always be a slave, hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall always be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Now therefore you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the house of God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Therefore you will be cursed and there will not fail from you a man, a gatherer of wood and a fetcher of water for the house of God”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now ye are cursed: there shall not fail of you a slave, or a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water to me and my God.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Deceit of the Gibeonites
…22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us? 23Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” 24The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 29:11
your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water—

Genesis 9:25
he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

1 Kings 9:20-21
As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

2 Samuel 21:1-2
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

Nehemiah 3:26
and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.

Nehemiah 11:21
The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them.

Exodus 27:19
All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze.

Leviticus 27:28-29
Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. / No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.

1 Chronicles 9:2
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

2 Chronicles 8:7-8
As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

Matthew 15:22
And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”

John 4:9
“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Romans 9:4
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

Galatians 3:10
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Ephesians 2:12
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being slaves, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

Genesis 9:25,26
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren…

Leviticus 27:28,29
Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD…

Joshua 9:21,27
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them…

Jump to Previous

Always Bondmen Bond-Men Bondservants Carriers Cease Cursed Cut Cutters Cutting Drawers Hewers House Servant Servants Serve Slaves Water Wood Woodcutters

Jump to Next

Always Bondmen Bond-Men Bondservants Carriers Cease Cursed Cut Cutters Cutting Drawers Hewers House Servant Servants Serve Slaves Water Wood Woodcutters

Joshua 9

1. The kings combine against Israel
3. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league
22. They are condemned to perpetual bondage

Berean Study Bible

Now therefore
This phrase indicates a conclusion or result based on previous actions or events. In the context of Joshua 9, the Gibeonites had deceived the Israelites into making a covenant with them by pretending to be from a distant land. The phrase "now therefore" marks the transition from the discovery of their deception to the pronouncement of their punishment. It underscores the principle of cause and effect, a recurring theme in the Bible, where actions have consequences.

you are under a curse
The Hebrew word for "curse" here is "ארור" (arur), which signifies being bound by a negative pronouncement or judgment. In the biblical context, a curse often implies divine disfavor and a state of being set apart for misfortune. The Gibeonites' deception led to this curse, reflecting the seriousness of their actions. This serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity, as well as the reality of divine justice.

and will perpetually serve
The word "perpetually" indicates an ongoing, indefinite duration. The Gibeonites' service was not temporary but was to last for generations. This reflects the enduring nature of certain biblical covenants and judgments. The concept of perpetual service also highlights the idea of servitude as a consequence of sin, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, reminding believers of the freedom found in Christ.

as woodcutters and water carriers
These roles were menial and labor-intensive, often assigned to the lowest social classes or to those in servitude. In ancient Near Eastern culture, woodcutters and water carriers were essential for daily life, providing necessary resources for survival and worship. The Gibeonites' assignment to these tasks symbolizes their subjugation and the loss of their autonomy. It also illustrates how God can use even the lowliest of tasks for His purposes, as these roles were crucial for the functioning of the tabernacle and later the temple.

for the house of my God
The "house of my God" refers to the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. By serving in this capacity, the Gibeonites were integrated into the religious life of Israel, albeit in a subservient role. This phrase highlights the centrality of worship and service to God in the life of the Israelite community. It also serves as a reminder that all service, regardless of its nature, is ultimately for God's glory and purposes. The inclusion of the Gibeonites in the service of the tabernacle foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles in the New Covenant, emphasizing God's redemptive plan for all nations.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.--The precedent established in regard to the Gibeonites appears to have been followed by Solomon in his dealings with all the remnant of the doomed nations of Canaan who were not destroyed. (See 1Kings 9:20-21; 2Chronicles 8:7-8.) It is thought that they are to be recognised in the Nethinim of Ezra and Nehemiah, who come after the Levites, singers, and porters in the enumeration of the restored captives (Ezra 2:43). Compare also the mention of Solomon's servants (Ezra 2:58), whose children are coupled with the Nethinim. The existence of this large body of Canaanites should be remembered in considering the edict of the law of Moses, that the seven nations were to be destroyed. The sentence was clearly not executed on the mass of the non-resisting population.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - There shall none of you be freed from being bondmen. Literally, as margin, there shall not be cut off from you a servant, as in 2 Samuel 3:29, and 1 Kings 2:4. The sense is, "you shall not cease to be servants." The term "bondmen" is somewhat too strong. The עֶבֶד was usually a bondman among the Hebrews, but not always (see 1 Samuel 29:3; 1 Kings 11:26, etc.). But the Gibeonites were to be employed forever in servile work. Hewing of wood and drawing of water was a task frequently imposed on the strangers (probably captives) dwelling among the Israelites, as we learn from Deuteronomy 29:11. We are not directly told that, as Keil and others have stated, the "lowest of the people" had to perform this office. It is, however, implied that the stranger who performed it occupied the lowest social station in the community. "Si qui tales sunt in nobis, quorum tides tantummodo habet ut ad Ecclesiam veniant, et inclinent caput suum sacerdotibus, officia exhibeant, servos Dei honorent, ad ornatum quoque altaris vel Ecclesiae aliquid conferant, non tamen adhibeant studium ut etiam mores suos excolant, actus emendent, vitia deponant, castitatem colant, iracundiam mitigent, avaritiam reprirnant, rapacitatem refrenant, maleloquia et stultiloquia, vel scurrilitatem et obtrectationum venena ex ore suo non adimant, sciant sibi, qui tales sunt, qui emendare se nolunt, sed in his usque in senectutem ultimam perseverant, partem sortemque at Jesu Domino cum Gabaonitis esse tribuendam" (Orig., Horn. 10 on Joshua).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Now therefore
וְעַתָּ֖ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

you
אַתֶּ֑ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are under a curse
אֲרוּרִ֣ים (’ă·rū·rîm)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 779: To execrate

and will perpetually
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

serve
עֶ֗בֶד (‘e·ḇeḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

as woodcutters
וְחֹטְבֵ֥י (wə·ḥō·ṭə·ḇê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2404: To cut or gather wood

and water
מַ֖יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

carriers
וְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי־ (wə·šō·’ă·ḇê-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7579: To bale up water

for the house
לְבֵ֥ית (lə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of my God.”
אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (’ĕ·lō·hāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Links

Joshua 9:23 NIV
Joshua 9:23 NLT
Joshua 9:23 ESV
Joshua 9:23 NASB
Joshua 9:23 KJV

Joshua 9:23 BibleApps.com
Joshua 9:23 Biblia Paralela
Joshua 9:23 Chinese Bible
Joshua 9:23 French Bible
Joshua 9:23 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 9:23 Now therefore you are cursed and some (Josh. Jos)