Joshua 9:20
Joshua 9:20 in Multiple Translations
This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
This is what we will do to them: we will not put them to death, for fear that wrath may come on us because of our oath to them.
So this is what we're going to do to them. We'll let them live, so that we won't be punished for breaking the oath that we swore to them.”
But this we wil doe to them, and let them liue, least the wrath be vpon vs because of the othe which we sware vnto them.
this we do to them, and have kept them alive, and wrath is not upon us, because of the oath which we have sworn to them.'
We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
But this we mill do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn.
This is what we will do: We will not kill them. If we kill them, God will be very angry with us and punish us because of not doing what we promised to do.
Berean Amplified Bible — Joshua 9:20
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Joshua 9:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Joshua 9:20
Study Notes — Joshua 9:20
Context — The Deceit of the Gibeonites
20This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”
21They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise. 22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malachi 3:5 | “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts. |
| 2 | Proverbs 20:25 | It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows. |
| 3 | 1 Timothy 1:10 | for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching |
| 4 | Ezekiel 17:12–21 | “Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon. He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land, so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant. But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’ ‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Seeing that he gave his hand in pledge yet did all these things, he will not escape!’ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke. I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me. All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’ |
| 5 | 2 Chronicles 36:13 | He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. |
| 6 | Zechariah 5:3–4 | Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed. I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.” |
| 7 | Romans 1:31 | They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. |
| 8 | 2 Samuel 21:1–6 | During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?” The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.” “Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied. And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel, let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” “I will give them to you,” said the king. |
Joshua 9:20 Summary
[This verse, Joshua 9:20, is about the Israelites keeping their promise to the Gibeonites, even when it was hard, because they had sworn an oath to them in the name of the Lord. The Israelites were afraid that if they broke their promise, they would face God's wrath, which is a principle that is taught throughout the Bible, such as in Numbers 30:2 and Deuteronomy 23:21. This verse teaches us that keeping our promises is important, especially when we make them in the name of the Lord, as seen in Psalm 15:4. By keeping their promise, the Israelites demonstrated their commitment to doing what is right, which is a key part of living a life of integrity, as taught in Proverbs 10:9.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the oath sworn to the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:20?
The oath was a promise made to the Gibeonites by the leaders of the congregation, and it was sworn in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, as seen in Joshua 9:18, which makes it a binding agreement that must be kept, as the Bible teaches in Numbers 30:2 and Deuteronomy 23:21.
Why did the Israelites decide to let the Gibeonites live?
The Israelites decided to let the Gibeonites live because they had sworn an oath to them, and they feared that if they broke the oath, they would incur God's wrath, as stated in Joshua 9:20, which is in line with the principle found in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 that it is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
What does this verse teach us about keeping our promises?
This verse teaches us that keeping our promises is important, especially when we make them in the name of the Lord, as seen in Joshua 9:18-20, and it is a principle that is reinforced throughout the Bible, such as in Psalm 15:4, which says that a person who keeps their oath even when it hurts is one who will dwell on God's holy hill.
How does this verse relate to the concept of integrity?
This verse relates to the concept of integrity because it shows that the Israelites were willing to keep their promise to the Gibeonites, even when it was difficult, which demonstrates their commitment to doing what is right, as taught in Proverbs 10:9, which says that the man of integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Reflection Questions
- What are some promises or commitments that I have made to others, and am I keeping them?
- How can I apply the principle of keeping my promises, as seen in Joshua 9:20, to my everyday life?
- What are some potential consequences of breaking a promise or commitment, and how can I avoid them?
- How can I balance the need to keep my promises with the need to be wise and discerning in the promises I make, as seen in Matthew 5:33-37?
Gill's Exposition on Joshua 9:20
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 9:20
Trapp's Commentary on Joshua 9:20
Whedon's Commentary on Joshua 9:20
Sermons on Joshua 9:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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God Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel discusses the need for a revival of faith and a return to God's unchanging truth. He emphasizes that while God and the gospel remain constant, it is o |
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I Am the God That Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of recognizing our accountability to God. He warns that without the blessing of God and the guidance of His Word, we are los |
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A Cry Against Wicked Youth! by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson delivers a powerful sermon titled 'A Cry Against Wicked Youth!' where he draws parallels between the wickedness of Nineveh and the moral decline of modern youth. He |
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Have You Ever Made God a Promise by Bob Phillips | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Jephthah's daughter from the Bible. He argues that Jephthah's daughter was not actually sacrificed as a burnt offering, but rathe |
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Honour the Bishop by Ignatius of Antioch | Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the importance of repentance towards God and the need to honor both God and earthly authorities, highlighting the significance of respecting bishops |
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Sound in the Faith by H.J. Vine | H.J. Vine preaches about the importance of holding fast to sound doctrine, words, speech, mind, and faith, emphasizing the need to reject unwholesome teachings and cling to the tru |
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Mid South Conference 1978-12 Zechariah's Visions by Bob Clark | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of God's preparation conduct in relation to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The sermon emphasizes the need for believers to |






