I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.

JOSHUA 24:5KJV
Know the Bible

Joshua 24:5 (KJV)

What does Joshua 24:5 mean?

Joshua 24:5 recounts how God sent Moses and Aaron to lead the Israelites, brought plagues upon Egypt, and then delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. The verse highlights God’s direct action in freeing His people from slavery, reminding the listeners of His power and involvement in their history.

In this verse, Joshua is speaking to the gathered tribes of Israel, reminding them of their past as part of his farewell address. He summarizes God’s intervention through Moses and Aaron, the plagues that struck Egypt, and the eventual escape from slavery. This sets the stage for Joshua’s call to serve God faithfully, grounding it in the memory of God’s saving acts.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 24:5

  • The word "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) emphasizes that Moses and Aaron were not acting on their own, but were specifically commissioned by God for this task.
  • "Plagued" (נָגַף, nagaph) means to strike or afflict, underlining the severity of the actions God took against Egypt to secure Israel’s release.
  • "Out" (יָצָא, yatsa) is the verb for bringing out or leading out, focusing on the act of deliverance and movement from one place (Egypt) to another (freedom).

Why Joshua 24:5 matters

  • Joshua 24:5 reminds the Israelites that their freedom was not achieved by their own strength, but by God’s intervention, reinforcing their dependence on Him.
  • The verse connects the people’s identity and faith to real historical events, grounding their trust in God’s proven actions.
  • By summarizing these key moments, Joshua prepares the people to consider their response to God’s faithfulness as he urges them to renew their commitment.

Where else these words appear

“plagued” Hebrew H5062 · used in 46 verses

  • Exodus 8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
  • 1 Samuel 4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;

“which” Hebrew H834 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
  • Genesis 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
  • Deuteronomy 11:8 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;