And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

JOSHUA 17:15KJV
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Joshua 17:15 (KJV)

What does Joshua 17:15 mean?

Joshua 17:15 records Joshua telling the descendants of Joseph that if they are such a large and important group, they should go clear land for themselves in the forested hill country, especially if the territory of Mount Ephraim is too small for them. Joshua points them toward the land of the Perizzites and the "giants" as an area they can claim by their own effort.

In this verse, Joshua is responding to the tribe of Joseph (which includes Ephraim and Manasseh) after they complained that their allotted land was too limited for their numbers. Joshua, as the leader, challenges them to take initiative and expand into the wooded areas that are still inhabited by other peoples. The verse highlights both the practical challenge of settling the land and Joshua’s expectation that a "great people" should be able to overcome obstacles.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 17:15

  • "Great" — רַב (rav): This word, translated "great," means numerous or significant in size or importance. Joshua uses it to echo the tribe's own claim about their strength, turning their words back to them as a challenge.
  • "Wood" — יַעַר (ya'ar): This refers to forested or wooded country. Joshua is not offering them easy farmland but rather land that will require hard work to clear and settle.
  • "Giants" — רְפָאִים (refa'im): This term often refers to a group of ancient people known for their great size or strength. Joshua is pointing out that the land available is not uninhabited or easy to take, but comes with real challenges.

Why Joshua 17:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Joshua expects the tribes to take responsibility for their own expansion rather than simply asking for more land to be given to them.
  • It highlights the ongoing presence of other peoples in Canaan, showing that settling the land involved both hard labor and facing formidable opponents.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme in Joshua of faith and courage being required to fully possess what God had promised, rather than expecting it to come without effort.

Where else these words appear

“narrow” Hebrew H213 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
  • Proverbs 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
  • Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

“Perizzites” Hebrew H6522 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
  • Exodus 34:11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
  • Joshua 24:11 And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.

“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.

“down” Hebrew H1254 · used in 46 verses

  • Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
  • Psalms 89:47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
  • Isaiah 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.