Joshua 10:12
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Original Language Analysis
אָ֣ז
H227
יְדַבֵּ֤ר
Then spake
H1696
יְדַבֵּ֤ר
Then spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
2 of 21
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יְהוָה֙
to the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
to the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּי֗וֹם
in the day
H3117
בְּי֗וֹם
in the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
5 of 21
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
תֵּ֤ת
delivered up
H5414
תֵּ֤ת
delivered up
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
6 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יְהוָה֙
to the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
to the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לִפְנֵ֖י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֖י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
10 of 21
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בְּנֵ֣י
the children
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
11 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
12 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לְעֵינֵ֣י
in the sight
H5869
לְעֵינֵ֣י
in the sight
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
14 of 21
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
15 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שֶׁ֚מֶשׁ
Sun
H8121
שֶׁ֚מֶשׁ
Sun
Strong's:
H8121
Word #:
16 of 21
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement
דּ֔וֹם
stand thou still
H1826
דּ֔וֹם
stand thou still
Strong's:
H1826
Word #:
18 of 21
to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish
Cross References
Habakkuk 3:11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.Isaiah 38:8Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.Isaiah 60:20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.Isaiah 28:21For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.Psalms 148:3Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.Psalms 19:4Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,Deuteronomy 4:19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.Joshua 10:13And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.Job 9:7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.Zechariah 2:13Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Historical Context
This miracle occurred during the defense of Gibeon against five Amorite kings (verses 1-5). The extended daylight enabled complete victory. The statement 'there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man' (verse 14) emphasizes its unique character. Various scientific explanations attempt to harmonize this with astronomy, but the account primarily testifies to God's sovereign control over His creation, able to suspend natural laws for His purposes.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Joshua's bold prayer challenge your conception of what you can ask God?
- What impossible requests might God want you to bring before Him in faith?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Joshua's prayer—'Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon'—requests nature's suspension to complete battle. The boldness of commanding celestial bodies demonstrates prayer confidence grounded in God's promise. The text's testimony—'And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies' (verse 13)—affirms the miracle's reality. Whether through earth's rotation stopping or light refraction, God answered Joshua's audacious prayer, demonstrating His sovereignty over creation.