Joshua 13:18 — Word Study
WLCוְיַ֥הְצָה וּקְדֵמֹ֖ת וּמֵפָֽעַת׃
BSAJahazYahats [a place of triumph, east of the Jordan] KedemothQᵉdêmôwth [eastern, a city of Levites] MephaathMôwphaʻath [a city near Moab, a place of judgment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְיַ֥הְצָה | and Jahaz | Conjunction, noun proper, suffix |
| וּקְדֵמֹ֖ת | and Kedemoth | Conjunction, noun proper |
| וּמֵפָֽעַת׃ | and Mephaath | Conjunction, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, |
| KJV | And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, |
| ASV | and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, |
| YLT | and Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, |
| WEB | Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, |
| BBE | And Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath; |
Where they part company is in the identification of the cities, but all translations agree on the names listed here.
The verse consists of a simple list of cities, emphasizing their importance in the context of the land distribution.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Joshua 13:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Cities of Reubengenerated
Joshua 13:18 lists three cities in the territory of Reuben, part of the land allocated to the tribes of Israel. These cities were significant for the Levites, who were given cities to dwell in throughout the land. The mention of these locations highlights the organization and distribution of land among the tribes, as seen in the broader context of Joshua 13:15 and Joshua 21:36-37.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 21:36–37 | From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer, Jahaz, |
| 2 | Numbers 21:23 | But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 6:78–79 | From the tribe of Reuben east of the Jordan opposite Jericho they were given Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַ֫הַץ, Yahazgenerated
The word יַ֫הַץ (yahats) refers specifically to Jahaz, a location associated with Israel's victory over Sihon, the Amorite king. Its exact site remains uncertain, but it is a notable place mentioned in the context of Israel's conquests.
The name Jahaz may derive from a root meaning to stamp, possibly relating to a threshing-floor, indicating its agricultural significance. This city is a reminder of Israel's triumph and the divine assistance they received.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which lists the cities as Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, listing three noun phrases: וְיַ֥הְצָה, וּקְדֵמֹ֖ת, and וּמֵפָֽעַת. Each city is connected by conjunctions, demonstrating a simple enumeration.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the cities themselves, with the conjunctions linking them smoothly, indicating a list of significant locations in the territory of Reuben.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יַ֫הַץ as ιασσα, קְדֵמֹת as κεδημωθ, and מֵיפַעַת as μεφααθ. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew names, preserving their significance.
The Greek terms maintain the geographical and cultural context of these cities, showing the translators' intent to convey the same locations known to the Hebrew audience.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 13:18 mentions three cities: Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath. Jahaz was a place of triumph, Kedemoth was a city of Levites, and Mephaath was a city near Moab, associated with judgment. These cities were part of the land allocated to the tribe of Reuben.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jahaz is noted as a place where Israel achieved victory over Sihon, the Amorite king, making it a significant historical site.
These cities were allocated to the Levites as part of their inheritance, allowing them to live among the tribes of Israel and serve in their religious duties.
Jahaz means a place of triumph, Kedemoth means eastern, and Mephaath can mean splendour or height, reflecting their geographical and cultural significance.
These cities illustrate the distribution of land among the tribes of Israel and the fulfillment of God's promises in giving them the land.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the significance of the cities allocated to the Levites?
- How does the history of Jahaz reflect God's faithfulness to Israel?
- In what ways do the meanings of these city names enhance our understanding of their importance?
- How does the allocation of land in Joshua relate to God's promises to His people?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 13:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Jahazah,.... Called Jahaz, Numbers 21:23, where the battle was fought between Sihon and Israel: and Kedemoth; near to which was a wilderness, which took its name from it, from whence Moses sent
Read John Gill on Joshua 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, Jahaza - or Jahaz, or Jahzah - (see the note at Numbers 21:23; Deuteronomy 2:32; Joshua 13:18; Judges 11:20; 1 Chronicles 6:78; Isaiah 15:4; Jeremiah 48:21;
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 13 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJoshua 13:18 And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, Ver. 18. The cities and coasts of each tribe are thus particularly set down, to prevent discord and division, that mother of dissolution.
Read John Trapp on Joshua 13 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersOF THE BY MOSES ON THE EAST OF JORDAN (Joshua 13:15-33). (15) Reuben.—See also Numbers 32:33-42 and Deuteronomy 3:16, &c.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Joshua 13 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. Jahaza] A city near Medeba and Dibon. It was given to the Levites, 1 Chronicles 6:78. Kedemoth] Mentioned Deuteronomy 2:26; supposed to have been situated beyond the river Arnon. Mephaath] Situated on the frontiers of Moab, on the eastern part of the desert. It was given to the Levites, Joshua 21:37.
Read AdamClarke on Joshua 13 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. and Jahazah] Also called Jahaz and Jahaza and Jahzah, in the Hebrew Yahats and Yahtsah. Here the decisive battle was fought between the Israelites and Sihon king of the Amorites (Numbers 21:23). and Kedemoth] Given to the Merarite Levites (Joshua 21:37). Mephaath] Lying in the district of the Mishor (see Jeremiah 48:21).
Read Cambridge on Joshua 13 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible18. Jahaza — Written also Jahaz. It was the place of the decisive battle of the Israelites with Sihon, (Numbers 21:23,) and seems to have been on the confines of the desert, to the southeast of
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 13 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
Tyndale line
And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath;
And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
And Iahazah, and Kedemoth and Mephaath:
Strictly literal
And Jahzah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
and Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
and Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
And Yahzah, and Kedemoth, and Mepha'ath,
and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
From the Latin
And Jassa, and Cidimoth, and Mephaath,
Simplified
Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
And Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the listing of the cities: וְיַ֥הְצָה, וּקְדֵמֹ֖ת, and וּמֵפָֽעַת. This consistency across witnesses reinforces the importance of these locations in the biblical narrative.
וְיַ֥הְצָה וּקְדֵמֹ֖ת וּמֵפָֽעַת׃
3 of the 3 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Joshua 13:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יַ֫הַץ (yahats) refers to a location, specifically Jahaz, which is described as a place in Moab, though its exact site is uncertain. The name may derive from a root meaning to stamp, possibly relating to a threshing-floor. It is noted in the context of Israel's victory over Sihon, king of the Amorites.
יַ֫הַץ, יַ֫הְצָה n.pr.loc. in Moab, site unknown
base
H3096 יַ֫הַץ, יַ֫הְצָה in Moab, site unknown
3096 Yahats yah'-hats
or Yahtsah {yah'-tsaw}; or (feminine) Yahtsah {yah-tsaw'};
from an unused root meaning to stamp; perhaps threshing-floor;
Jahats or Jahtsah, a place East of the Jordan:--Jahaz,
Jahazah, Jahzah.
יַ֫הַץה (ya.hats) — Jahaz.
§ Jahaz or Jahazah or Jahzah = "trodden down"
a place in Reuben east of the Dead Sea where Israel defeated Sihon king of the Amorites; site uncertain
Conj | N-proper | Suff — Conjunction · noun proper · suffixHC/Npl/Sd
ja'-haz (yahats, Isa 16:4; Jer 48:34, yahatsah, or yahtsah, Nu 21:23; De 2:32; Jos 13:18; 21:36, the King James Version "Jahazah"; Jud 11:20; Jer 48:21; 1Ch 6:78, "Jahzah"): This is the place where in a great battle Israel overwhelmed Sihon king of the Amorites, and then took possession of all his territory (Nu 21:23, etc.). It is named along with Beth-baal-meon and Kedemoth (
Jahaz
Trodden down (called also Jahaza, Josh. 13:18; Jahazah, 21:36; Jahzah, 1 Chr. 6:78), a town where Sihon was defeated, in the borders of Moab and in the land of the Ammonites beyond Jordan, and north of the river Arnon (Num. 21:23; Deut. 2:32). It was situated in the tribe of Reuben, and was assigned to the Merarite Levites (Josh. 13:18; 21:36). Here was fought the decisive battle in which Sihon (q.v.) was completely routed, and his territory (the modern Belka) came into the possession of Israel. This town is mentioned in the denunciations of the prophets against Moab (
Jahazah, quarrel; dispute
קְדֵמֹת (Qdemowth) refers to a location, specifically a town in eastern Palestine associated with the tribe of Reuben. It is derived from the root meaning 'beginnings' and is noted in the context of the Merarite Levites. The entries consistently identify it as a geographical name without significant disagreement.
קְדֵמֹת n.pr.loc. in Reuben (Moab)
base
H6932 קְדֵמֹת in Reuben (Moab)
6932 Qdemowth ked-ay-mothe'
from 6923; beginnings; Kedemoth, a place in eastern
Palestine:--Kedemoth.
see HEBREW for 06923
קְדֵמוֹת (qe.de.mot) — Kedemoth.
§ Kedemoth = "eastern"
one of the towns in the district east of the Dead Sea allotted to the tribe of Reuben and given to the Merarite Levites
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
See JAHAZ.
Kedemoth
Beginnings; easternmost, a city of Reuben, assigned to the Levites of the family of Merari (Josh. 13:18). It lay not far north-east of Dibon-gad, east of the Dead Sea.
(beginnings), one of the towns in the district east of the Dead Sea allotted to the tribe of Reuben, (Joshua 13:18) given by the Merarite Levites. (Joshua 21:37; 1 Chronicles 6:79) It possibly conferred its name on the "wilderness," or uncultivated pasture land, "of Kedemoth." (Numbers 21:33; 2:26,27) etc.
מֵיפַ֫עַת (Mowpha`ath) refers to a location, specifically a Levitical city in the territory of Reuben. It is associated with meanings like 'splendour' or 'height' and is mentioned in Jeremiah 48:21. The word is derived from a root meaning 'illuminative,' indicating its significance in the region.
מֵיפַ֫עַת n.pr.loc.—Levitical city in Reuben
base
H4158 מֵיפַ֫עַת, מוֹפַעַת
4158 Mowpha`ath mo-fah'-ath
(Jer. 48:21 or meyphaath {may-fah'-ath}; or mephaath
{may-fah'-ath; from 3313; illuminative; Mophaath or Mephaath,
a place in Palestine:--Mephaath.
see HEBREW for 03313
מֵיפַ֫עַת (mo.pha.at) — Mephaath.
§ Mephaath = "splendour" or "height"
a city of Reuben allotted to the Merarite Levites lying in the district of the Mishor, near Moab
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
mef'-a-ath, me-fa'-ath (mepha`ath and meypha`ath, mopha`ath; Codex Vaticanus, Maiphaath, Mephaath): A city of the Amorites in the territory allotted to Reuben, named with Kedemoth and Kiriathaim (Jos 13:18), and given to the Merarite Levites (Jos 21:37; 1Ch 6:79). It appears again as a Moabite town in Jer 48:21. It was known to Eusebius and Jerome (Onom) as occupied by a Roman garrison, but the site has been lost.
Mephaath
Splendour, a Levitical city (Josh. 21:37) of the tribe of Reuben (13:18).
(splendor height), city of the Reubenites, one of the towns independently an Heshhon, (Joshua 13:18) lying in the district of the Mishor comp. ver. (Joshua 13:17) and Jere 48:21 Authorized Version "plain," which probably answered to the modern Belka . It was one of the cities allotted with their suburbs to the Merarite Levites. (Joshua 21:37; 1 Chronicles 6:79) Its site is uncertain.
appearance, or force, of waters