For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

JOSHUA 5:6KJV
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Joshua 5:6 (KJV)

What does Joshua 5:6 mean?

Joshua 5:6 explains that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all the fighting men who left Egypt had died, because they did not obey God’s voice. God had sworn that these men would not see the promised land, a land described as flowing with milk and honey, which He had promised to their ancestors.

In this verse, the narrative is looking back on the events after the Exodus, as the new generation of Israelites stands on the edge of entering Canaan. The verse highlights the consequence of disobedience to God (the LORD) and reminds the reader of God’s faithfulness to His promises, even when fulfillment is delayed by human actions. Joshua is speaking to the people, recounting why only their children, not the original generation, would inherit the promised land.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 5:6

  • "Wilderness" (מִדְבָּר, midbar): This word often refers to a dry, uninhabited land, not just a desert but a place of testing and dependence on God. It emphasizes the harshness and challenge of Israel’s journey.
  • "Consumed" (תָּמַם, tamam): This word means to be finished or brought to an end. It stresses that the previous generation was completely gone before the new generation could enter the land.
  • "Obeyed" (שָׁמַע, shama): This verb means to listen or hear, but also carries the sense of responding or obeying. The failure was not just hearing God’s voice but failing to act on it.
  • "Land flowing with milk and honey" (אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ, erets zavat chalav udevash): This phrase paints a picture of abundance and fertility, showing the contrast between the wilderness and the richness of what God had promised.

Why Joshua 5:6 matters

  • Joshua 5:6 clarifies that the delay in entering the promised land was not due to God’s unwillingness, but because of the people’s disobedience, which resulted in a whole generation missing out.
  • The verse connects the current generation’s hope to the faithfulness of God’s promise, showing that God’s word to their ancestors still stands, even after forty years.
  • By recalling the past, Joshua 5:6 sets the stage for the new generation to appreciate the significance of finally entering the land, underscoring the importance of listening to and trusting God.