Deuteronomy 34:9
in Deuteronomy 34Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as Jehovah commanded Moses.
KJV
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 34
Commentary
8 notes on this verseIt is written, "Now Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with the Spirit of wisdom, since Moses had laid his hands upon him." Note the same ceremonial everywhere, both in the Old and the New Testament. In Moses' day the Spirit was given by the imposition of hands; and Peter imparted the Spirit by the imposition of hands. Upon you also, who are to be baptized, the grace will come.
This site's exposition
Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom
At Numbers 27:18-23 Joshua is already a man with the Spirit before Moses lays hands on him. Only part of Moses' authority passes to him.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Wisdom - And other gifts and graces too, but wisdom is mentioned as being most necessary for the government to which he was now called. Upon him - And this was the thing which Moses at that time asked of God for him.
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom,....
God fitted him for it: He was full of the spirit of wisdom; and so he had need who had such a peevish people to rule, and such a politic people to conquer. Conduct is as requisite in a general as courage. Herein Joshua was a type of Christ, in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Joshua . . . was full of the spirit of wisdom--He was appointed to a peculiar and extraordinary office. He was not the successor of Moses, for he was not a prophet or civil ruler, but the general or leader, called to head the people in the war of invasion and the subsequent allocation of the tribes.
Laid his hands upon him - See on Num 27:18-23 (note).
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Spirit of wisdom - The practical wisdom of the ruler is especially meant.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
“[This means] that Moses’ heart was familiar with Him and he spoke with Him whenever he wished, as it is stated, and now I will go up unto the Eternal; 307 Exodus:30. Stay ye, that I may hear what the Eternal will command concerning you.” 308 Numbers:8.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And there has not ever arisen a prophet within Yisroel like Moshe, whom Adonoy knew [ appeared to ] face-to-face.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
22 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ | vihoshua' | and Joshua | H3091 → | 218 times |
| בִּן־ | bin- | [the] son of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| נ֗וּן | nun | Nun | H5126 → | 30 times |
| מָלֵא֙ | male' | he was full | H4392 → | 64 times |
| ר֣וּחַ | ruach | a spirit of | H7307 → | |
| חָכְמָ֔ה | chokhmah | wisdom | H2451 → | |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| סָמַ֥ךְ | samakh | he had laid | H5564 → | |
| מֹשֶׁ֛ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יָדָ֖יו | yadav | hands his | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| עָלָ֑יו | ʾalav | on him | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| וַיִּשְׁמְע֨וּ | vaiyishmeu | and they listened | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| אֵלָ֤יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| בְּנֵֽי־ | benei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ | vaiyaasu | and they did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| צִוָּ֥ה | tzivah | he had commanded | H6680 → | 494 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מֹשֶֽׁה׃ | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַand Joshua
vihoshua'H3091 →218 times
בִּן־[the] son of
bin-H1121 →4930 times
נ֗וּןNun
nunH5126 →30 times
מָלֵא֙he was full
male'H4392 →64 times
ר֣וּחַa spirit of
ruachH7307 →
חָכְמָ֔הwisdom
chokhmahH2451 →
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
סָמַ֥ךְhe had laid
samakhH5564 →
מֹשֶׁ֛הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יָדָ֖יוhands his
yadavH3027 →1618 times
עָלָ֑יוon him
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
וַיִּשְׁמְע֨וּand they listened
vaiyishmeuH8085 →1159 times
אֵלָ֤יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
בְּנֵֽי־[the] people of
benei-H1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּand they did
vaiyaasuH6213 →2628 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
צִוָּ֥הhe had commanded
tzivahH6680 →494 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
מֹשֶֽׁה׃Moses
moshehH4872 →765 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 11:2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
it leads to
- Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…
- John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to…
- Ephesians 1:17–18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
- 2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Isaiah 42:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
- Isaiah 61:1
Through
John 3:34For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
it leads to
- Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
- Matthew 12:18
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
- Acts 10:38
Through
Daniel 6:3Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
it leads to
- Daniel 5:14
I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.
- Daniel 5:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Deuteronomy
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 16.26; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.