Joshua 6:27
So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֥י
H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 8
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
יְהוָ֖ה
So the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
So the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 8
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ
was with Joshua
H3091
יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ
was with Joshua
Strong's:
H3091
Word #:
4 of 8
jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader
וַיְהִ֥י
H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
5 of 8
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Cross References
Joshua 1:5There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.Joshua 9:3And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,Joshua 9:1And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;Matthew 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.Matthew 28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Matthew 4:24And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.2 Corinthians 13:14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.Genesis 39:21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.Joshua 9:9And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,2 Timothy 4:22The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Historical Context
This summary statement concludes the Jericho account (Joshua 6) and transitions to the Ai campaign. News traveled rapidly in ancient Canaan through trade routes and diplomatic networks. City-states monitored threats closely. Joshua's fame circa 1406 BC echoed Moses' earlier reputation (Exodus 15:14-16), proving God's promises transferred seamlessly to the new generation's leadership.
Questions for Reflection
- How can Christian leaders today ensure their 'fame' points people to God's power rather than personal achievement?
- What difference does it make whether we attribute success to divine presence or human capability?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
So the LORD was with Joshua—This covenant formula (Genesis 26:28; 39:2) signals divine approval and empowerment. God's presence, not military genius, explained Israel's victory. The phrase brackets Joshua's career (Joshua 1:5, 9; 6:27), emphasizing that every conquest testified to Yahweh's faithfulness, not Israel's strength.
His fame was noised throughout all the country (שִׁמְעוֹ, shim'o, 'his report/reputation')—News of Jericho's miraculous fall spread like wildfire, fulfilling Moses' prophecy (Deuteronomy 2:25). Yet this fame was dangerous: it would invite both fearful submission (Gibeonites, Joshua 9) and desperate coalition warfare (Joshua 10-11). Joshua's reputation ultimately pointed beyond himself to God's greatness, just as Christian witness should magnify Christ rather than human instruments (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).