And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

JOSHUA 13:5KJV
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Joshua 13:5 (KJV)

What does Joshua 13:5 mean?

Joshua 13:5 lists specific regions on the northern edge of the land that God told Israel to possess, including the territory of the Giblites and all of Lebanon, stretching from Baalgad at the base of Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. This verse marks out the boundaries of land not yet conquered by Israel at that time.

In this part of the book of Joshua, God is speaking to Joshua, describing the areas that still remain to be claimed by the Israelites after many battles. The verse helps set the geographic limits of Israel’s promised inheritance, mentioning well-known ancient landmarks and peoples to define the northern border.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 13:5

  • גִּבְלִי (Gibli, transliterated "Giblites"): Refers to the people living in the city of Gebal, a coastal city known today as Byblos. Mentioning the Giblites shows the reach of the land, extending to the Phoenician coast.
  • לְבוֹא (lavo, transliterated "entering"): Means "entering" or "entrance," here describing the gateway or approach to Hamath, a significant city north of Israel. This marks a clear northern limit.
  • לְבָנוֹן (Levanon, transliterated "Lebanon"): Refers to the famous mountain range and region north of Israel. Including Lebanon in the boundary shows the extent of the land God intended for Israel.
  • חֶרְמוֹן (Hermon, transliterated "Hermon"): Mount Hermon is a prominent mountain in the north. Naming it as a boundary marker gives a concrete, recognizable point for the ancient audience.

Why Joshua 13:5 matters

  • Joshua 13:5 clarifies that God’s promise to Israel included territories beyond what they had already conquered, reaching well into areas controlled by other peoples.
  • The verse helps modern readers understand the historical and geographic context of ancient Israel, showing the specific boundaries God described.
  • By naming real places and peoples, Joshua 13:5 connects the biblical story to known locations, grounding the narrative in the real world and highlighting the unfinished task facing Israel at this stage.

Where else these words appear

“Giblites” Hebrew H1382 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Kings 5:18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

“Baalgad” Hebrew H1171 · used in 3 verses

  • Joshua 11:17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
  • Joshua 12:7 And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

“Hermon” Hebrew H2768 · used in 13 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:8 And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;
  • Joshua 11:17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.

“Hamath” Hebrew H2574 · used in 35 verses

  • Numbers 13:21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
  • 2 Kings 23:33 And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
  • Isaiah 37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?