And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

JOSHUA 15:8KJV
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Joshua 15:8 (KJV)

What does Joshua 15:8 mean?

Joshua 15:8 describes a section of the boundary line for the tribe of Judah, specifically where it runs up through the Valley of Hinnom on the south side of the area belonging to the Jebusites (which is Jerusalem), then continues to the top of a mountain near the Valley of Hinnom and the Valley of the Giants. This verse is mapping out the borders of Judah’s territory using well-known landmarks.

In context, Joshua is recording how the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes of Israel after they entered the land. The verse gives detailed geographic markers to define Judah’s inheritance, mentioning the Jebusite city (Jerusalem) and valleys that would have been familiar to the original audience. These descriptions helped the people know exactly where their allotted land began and ended.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 15:8

  • "Valley" (גֵּיא, gei): This word refers to a deep, narrow valley or ravine. The Valley of Hinnom (גֵּיא בֶן־הִנֹּם, gei ben-hinnom) became an infamous location later in Israel’s history, but here it is simply a boundary marker.
  • "Jebusite" (יְבוּסִי, yevusi): The Jebusites were the people living in Jerusalem before Israel conquered it. Mentioning them clarifies that Jerusalem was not yet fully in Israelite hands at this point.
  • "Giants" (רְפָאִים, refa’im): This term refers to a group of ancient people known for their great size, often translated as "giants." The "Valley of the Giants" (עֵמֶק רְפָאִים, emek refa’im) was a well-known landmark.

Why Joshua 15:8 matters

  • Joshua 15:8 shows how carefully the land was divided, using real geographic features that people could recognize and verify.
  • The mention of the Jebusites and Jerusalem highlights that not all of the promised land was fully under Israelite control at this point in history.
  • The verse connects to later events, since both the Valley of Hinnom and the Valley of the Giants become significant in later biblical stories and traditions.

Where else these words appear

“Hinnom” Hebrew H2011 · used in 11 verses

  • Joshua 18:16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
  • Jeremiah 7:32 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.

“giants” Hebrew H7497 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 14:5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
  • Joshua 13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.
  • 2 Samuel 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

“Jebusite” Hebrew H2983 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 10:16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
  • Joshua 9:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
  • 2 Samuel 24:18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

“valley” Hebrew H1516 · used in 54 verses

  • Numbers 21:20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.
  • 1 Chronicles 18:12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
  • Jeremiah 2:23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;