And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.

JOSHUA 10:39KJV
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Joshua 10:39 (KJV)

What does Joshua 10:39 mean?

Joshua 10:39 describes how Joshua and the Israelites captured the city of Debir, killed its king, and destroyed all the people in it, just as they had done to the cities of Hebron and Libnah. The verse emphasizes that Joshua left no survivors in Debir, following the same pattern of complete conquest as in the previous cities.

In this part of the book of Joshua, the narrator is recounting the military campaign led by Joshua against several Canaanite cities. The verse highlights the thoroughness of the Israelite victories, mentioning by name the cities and their kings, and stressing that none were left alive. This detail shows the seriousness and totality of the conquest as described in the narrative.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 10:39

  • "Destroyed" — הַחֲרֵם (ḥērem, transliterated as "destroyed" or "devoted to destruction"): This word often means to set something apart for complete destruction, not just defeat. It signals that the conquest was seen as total and final, not leaving anything behind.
  • "Souls" — נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, transliterated as "souls"): In Hebrew, this word refers to living beings or persons, not just the immaterial soul. The verse is emphasizing that all the people in the city were killed.
  • "Edge" — פֶּה (peh, transliterated as "edge"): Literally meaning "mouth," this word is used here as "edge of the sword," a common Hebrew phrase for killing by sword. It paints a vivid picture of the violence of the conquest.

Why Joshua 10:39 matters

  • Joshua 10:39 clarifies that the destruction of Debir was just as complete as that of Hebron and Libnah, showing a consistent pattern in Joshua’s campaign.
  • The verse underscores the seriousness of the Israelite conquest, using strong language to show that nothing was left alive, which can help readers understand the intensity of the events described.
  • By naming the cities and kings, the verse connects this event to the broader narrative of Joshua’s victories in the land, showing the systematic nature of the conquest.