And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.

JOSHUA 11:14KJV
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Joshua 11:14 (KJV)

What does Joshua 11:14 mean?

Joshua 11:14 describes how the Israelites took all the goods and livestock from the conquered cities for themselves, but killed every person in those cities, leaving no survivors. The verse shows the complete destruction of the enemy populations while allowing the Israelites to keep material possessions.

This verse comes during the account of Joshua leading the Israelites in battle against various Canaanite cities. Joshua and the Israelites are carrying out what they believe are God’s instructions for taking the land. The verse highlights the thoroughness of their conquest: while they spared the spoil (valuables and animals), they did not spare the people.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 11:14

  • "spoil" (שָׁלָל, shalal): This word refers to the goods, valuables, and property taken from a defeated enemy. The use of this word emphasizes that the Israelites were allowed to keep the material wealth of the cities.
  • "prey" (בַּז, baz): This word is often used for plunder or loot taken in war. Its use here underlines that the Israelites viewed the captured goods as their rightful reward from the conquest.
  • "smote" (נָכָה, nakah): This verb means to strike or kill. It shows that the Israelites actively killed the inhabitants, not just passively letting them die.
  • "edge" (פֶּה, peh): Literally "mouth," but here it means the "edge" or "mouth" of the sword, a Hebrew way of saying the sharp part used for killing.
  • "breathe" (נְשָׁמָה, neshamah): This word means "breath" or "living being." The phrase "neither left they any to breathe" means that no living person was left alive.

Why Joshua 11:14 matters

  • Joshua 11:14 makes clear that the Israelites did not destroy the cities’ material goods, only the people, which contrasts with other battles (like Jericho) where even the goods were destroyed.
  • The verse emphasizes the severity and totality of the conquest, showing that the Israelites followed specific instructions about whom and what to destroy or spare.
  • Understanding the original words for "spoil," "prey," and "breathe" helps clarify that the destruction was focused on people, not possessions, which is important for understanding the pattern of warfare described in Joshua.

Where else these words appear

“breathe” Hebrew H5397 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
  • 1 Kings 17:17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
  • Psalms 18:15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

“prey” Hebrew H962 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
  • 2 Chronicles 14:14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
  • Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

“spoil” Hebrew H7998 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 49:27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
  • 1 Samuel 30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
  • Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

“destroyed” Hebrew H8045 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 31:3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
  • Esther 7:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.