And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.

JOSHUA 11:21KJV
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Joshua 11:21 (KJV)

What does Joshua 11:21 mean?

Joshua 11:21 describes how Joshua led the Israelites to remove the Anakim, a group of people known for their great size, from the hill country regions, including Hebron, Debir, Anab, and all the mountains of Judah and Israel, destroying them and their cities completely. This verse highlights a decisive military action where Joshua eliminated these groups from key areas during the conquest of Canaan.

In this part of the book of Joshua, the narrative is recounting the military campaigns led by Joshua after the Israelites entered the land of Canaan. The Anakim were seen as formidable opponents, often associated with giants, and their removal would have been significant for the Israelites. The verse lists specific locations to show the thoroughness of Joshua’s campaign and to mark the fulfillment of earlier promises that these powerful groups would be driven out.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 11:21

  • "Anakims" (עֲנָקִים, ʿanaqim): This term refers to a group of people known for their great height and strength, often causing fear among the Israelites. Their mention here emphasizes the significance of their defeat.
  • "Cut off" (כָּרַת, karat): This word means to cut off or remove completely, highlighting the total nature of Joshua’s actions against the Anakim.
  • "Utterly destroyed" (חָרַם, charam): This word means to devote to destruction or to completely destroy, often with the sense of leaving nothing remaining. It shows the completeness of the conquest in these regions.

Why Joshua 11:21 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, were able to overcome even the most intimidating inhabitants of the land, fulfilling earlier fears and challenges described in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy.
  • The specific mention of places like Hebron and the mountains of Judah and Israel shows the strategic and symbolic importance of these victories for the Israelite settlement in Canaan.
  • By stating that Joshua destroyed the Anakim and their cities, the verse connects to the broader theme of God’s promises being fulfilled through Israel’s conquest, and it sets up later references to the remaining Anakim in other regions.

Where else these words appear

“Anab” Hebrew H6024 · used in 2 verses

“Anakims” Hebrew H6062 · used in 9 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
  • Deuteronomy 2:11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.
  • Joshua 11:22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.

“Debir” Hebrew H1688 · used in 12 verses

  • Joshua 10:3 Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
  • Joshua 12:13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
  • Joshua 15:49 And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,

“utterly” Hebrew H2763 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
  • Joshua 10:1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
  • 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.