Joshua

Joshua 17:12–18

12But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.

14Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”

15Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

16“The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.”

17So Joshua said to the house of Joseph — to Ephraim and Manasseh — “You have many people and great strength. You shall not have just one allotment, 18because the hill country will be yours as well. It is a forest; clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours. Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Read all of Joshua 17

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Joshua 17:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But the descendantsבְּנֵ֣יbə·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֔הmə·naš·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4519 Manasseh
were unableיָכְלוּ֙yā·ḵə·lūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to occupyלְהוֹרִ֖ישׁlə·hō·w·rîšPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess
theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
citiesהֶֽעָרִ֣יםhe·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH5892 excitement
because the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יhak·kə·na·‘ă·nîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3669 trader, merchant
were determinedוַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙way·yō·w·’elConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2974 shew willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake
to stayלָשֶׁ֖בֶתlā·še·ḇeṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH3427 sit, remain, dwell
in thisהַזֹּֽאת׃haz·zōṯArticle; Pronoun - feminine singularH2063 this
landבָּאָ֥רֶץbā·’ā·reṣPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land

Joshua 17:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Howeverוַֽיְהִ֗יway·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
whenכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
grew strongerחָֽזְקוּ֙ḥā·zə·qūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
they putוַיִּתְּנ֥וּway·yit·tə·nūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5414 give, put, set
the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖יhak·kə·na·‘ă·nîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3669 trader, merchant
to forced laborלָמַ֑סlā·masPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH4522 body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour-band or gang
but they failedלֹ֥אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
to drive them outוְהוֹרֵ֖שׁwə·hō·w·rêšConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteH3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess
completelyהוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃סhō·w·rî·šōwVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess

Joshua 17:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbə·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
of Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyō·w·sêp̄Noun - proper - masculine singularH3130 Joseph
saidוַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙way·ḏab·bə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1696 speak
toאֶת־’eṯ-PrepositionH854 with
Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַyə·hō·wō·šu·a‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH3091 Jehoshua
Whyמַדּוּעַ֩mad·dū·a‘InterrogativeH4069 wherefore?
have you givenנָתַ֨תָּהnā·ṯat·tāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
usלִּ֜יlîPreposition; first person common singular
oneאֶחָ֔ד’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
portionגּוֹרָ֤לgō·w·rālNoun - masculine singularH1486 lot
as an inheritanceנַחֲלָ֗הna·ḥă·lāhNoun - feminine singularH5159 possession, property, inheritance
Weוַֽאֲנִ֣יwa·’ă·nîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
have manyרָ֔בrāḇAdjective - masculine singularH7227 much, many, great
peopleעַם־‘am-Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
becauseעַ֥ד‘aḏPrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has blessed us abundantlyבֵּֽרְכַ֥נִיbê·rə·ḵa·nîVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singularH1288 kneel, bless

Joshua 17:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַyə·hō·wō·šu·a‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH3091 Jehoshua
answeredוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
themאֲלֵיהֶ֜ם’ă·lê·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH413 motion to
Ifאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
youאַתָּה֙’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
have so manyרַ֤בraḇAdjective - masculine singularH7227 much, many, great
peopleעַם־‘am-Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
thatכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the hill countryהַר־har-Noun - masculine singular constructH2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
of Ephraimאֶפְרָֽיִם׃’ep̄·rā·yimNoun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
is too smallאָ֥ץ’āṣVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH213 press, be pressed, make haste
for youלְךָ֖lə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
goעֲלֵ֣ה‘ă·lêhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH5927 go up, ascend, climb
toלְךָ֣lə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
the forestהַיַּ֔עְרָהhay·ya‘·rāhArticle; Noun - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH3293 wood, forest, thicket
and clearוּבֵרֵאתָ֤ū·ḇê·rê·ṯāConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH1254 shape, create
for yourselfלְךָ֙lə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
an areaשָׁ֔םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither
in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbə·’e·reṣPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH776 earth, land
of the Perizzitesהַפְּרִזִּ֖יhap·pə·riz·zîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH6522 Perizzite
and the Rephaimוְהָֽרְפָאִ֑יםwə·hā·rə·p̄ā·’îmConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH7497 giant

Joshua 17:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The hill countryהָהָ֑רhā·hārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
is notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
enoughיִמָּ֥צֵאyim·mā·ṣêVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH4672 attain to, find
for usלָ֖נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
repliedוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙way·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
and allבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙hak·kə·na·‘ă·nîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3669 trader, merchant
who liveהַיֹּשֵׁ֣בhay·yō·šêḇArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
in the valleyהָעֵ֔מֶקhā·‘ê·meqArticle; Noun - masculine singularH6010 vale
have ironבַּרְזֶ֗לbar·zelNoun - masculine singularH1270 iron
chariotsוְרֶ֣כֶבwə·re·ḵeḇConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH7393 chariotry, chariot, mill-stone
both in Beth-sheanשְׁאָן֙šə·’ānPreposition; Noun - proper - feminine singularH1052 Beth-Shean, Beth-Shan
with its townsוּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָū·ḇə·nō·w·ṯe·hāConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singularH1323 daughter
and in the Valleyבְּעֵ֥מֶקbə·‘ê·meqPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH6010 vale
of Jezreelיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃yiz·rə·‘elNoun - proper - feminine singularH3157 Jizreel

Joshua 17:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH3091 Jehoshua
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyō·w·sêp̄Noun - proper - masculine singularH3130 Joseph
to Ephraimלְאֶפְרַ֥יִםlə·’ep̄·ra·yimPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
and Manassehוְלִמְנַשֶּׁ֖הwə·lim·naš·šehConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH4519 Manasseh
You have manyרַ֣בraḇAdjective - masculine singularH7227 much, many, great
peopleעַם־‘am-Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
and greatגָּדוֹל֙gā·ḏō·wlAdjective - masculine singularH1419 great
strengthוְכֹ֤חַwə·ḵō·aḥConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH3581 strength, power
You shall notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
haveיִהְיֶ֥הyih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
just oneאֶחָֽד׃’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
allotmentגּוֹרָ֥לgō·w·rālNoun - masculine singularH1486 lot

Joshua 17:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
becauseכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the hill countryהַ֤רharNoun - masculine singularH2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
will beיִֽהְיֶה־yih·yeh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
yours as wellלָּךְ֙lāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
Itה֔וּאhūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
is a forestיַ֣עַרya·‘arNoun - masculine singularH3293 wood, forest, thicket
clear itוּבֵ֣רֵאת֔וֹū·ḇê·rê·ṯōwConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH1254 shape, create
and its farthest limitsתֹּֽצְאֹתָ֑יוtō·ṣə·’ō·ṯāwNoun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singularH8444 outgoing, extremity, source (?), escape
will beוְהָיָ֥הwə·hā·yāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
yoursלְךָ֖lə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
Althoughכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
have ironבַּרְזֶל֙bar·zelNoun - masculine singularH1270 iron
chariotsרֶ֤כֶבre·ḵeḇNoun - masculine singular constructH7393 chariotry, chariot, mill-stone
and althoughכִּ֥יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they are strongחָזָ֖קḥā·zāqAdjective - masculine singularH2389 strong, stout, mighty
you canהֽוּא׃פhūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
driveתוֹרִ֣ישׁṯō·w·rîšVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Joshua 17:12 Exodus 23:29–33 · Judges 1:27–28

Joshua 17:13 Joshua 16:10 · Philippians 4:13

Joshua 17:14 Genesis 48:19 · Genesis 48:22 · Numbers 26:34–37

Joshua 17:16 1 Kings 4:12 · Judges 4:3 · Judges 1:19 · Judges 6:33 · Joshua 17:18

Joshua 17:18 Hebrews 13:6 · Romans 8:31 · Deuteronomy 20:1–4 · Isaiah 41:10–16 · Numbers 14:6–9 · Romans 8:37 · Joshua 17:15–16 · Joshua 15:9 · Psalm 27:1–2 · Isaiah 51:12–13

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.