And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

JOSHUA 5:11KJV
Know the Bible

Joshua 5:11 (KJV)

What does Joshua 5:11 mean?

Joshua 5:11 describes how, the day after celebrating the Passover, the Israelites ate food grown in the land of Canaan—specifically, unleavened bread and roasted grain—on that very same day. This marks their first meal from the produce of the Promised Land, rather than manna.

The verse takes place as Joshua leads the Israelites into Canaan after their long journey in the wilderness. The people have just observed Passover, a key festival remembering their escape from Egypt. Eating the "old corn of the land" shows they are now living off the land God promised them, which is a turning point in their story.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 5:11

  • "corn" (עָבּוּר, ʿavur): This word often means stored or old grain, not fresh or green crops. It highlights that the Israelites were eating from the previous year’s harvest, showing the land was already fruitful and inhabited.
  • "cakes" (מַצּוֹת, matzot): This refers to unleavened bread, the same kind eaten during Passover, linking their new life in Canaan to their deliverance from Egypt.
  • "parched" (קָלוּי, qalui): This means roasted or toasted grain, a common food in ancient Israel, showing they used what was available in the land right away.
  • "selfsame" (עֶצֶם, etsem): This word emphasizes that all these events—eating the grain, the unleavened bread, and the roasted grain—happened on the very same day, underlining the significance of the moment.

Why Joshua 5:11 matters

  • Joshua 5:11 marks the end of Israel’s dependence on manna and the beginning of living from the land God had promised, showing a major transition in their journey.
  • The verse connects the Passover celebration directly to entering and enjoying the Promised Land, tying together God’s past deliverance and present provision.
  • By mentioning unleavened bread and roasted grain, the verse shows the Israelites immediately honoring their traditions and adapting to their new home, blending old customs with new experiences.

Where else these words appear

“corn” Hebrew H5669 · used in 2 verses

  • Joshua 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

“parched” Hebrew H7033 · used in 4 verses

  • Leviticus 2:14 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.
  • Psalms 38:7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
  • Jeremiah 29:22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

“morrow” Hebrew H4283 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
  • Numbers 11:32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
  • 1 Samuel 11:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

“cakes” Hebrew H4682 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
  • Leviticus 2:4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
  • Deuteronomy 16:8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.