Joshua 15:63
in Joshua 15But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
KJV
As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
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This verse in Joshua 15
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThe Jebusites dwell - at Jerusalem unto this day - The whole history of Jerusalem, previously to the time of David, is encumbered with many difficulties. Sometimes it is attributed to Judah, sometimes to Benjamin, and it is probable that, being on the frontiers of both those tribes, each possessed a part of it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
But let us understand these verses spiritually, claiming the parable of the Gospel, which says concerning the weeds, "Let them grow up together, lest perhaps when you wish to pluck up the weeds, you also pluck up the wheat with them." Therefore, as the weeds are permitted in the Gospel to grow up together with the wheat, in the same manner even here in Jerusalem—that is, in the church—there are certain Jebusites who lead an ignoble and degenerate life, and who are perverse not only in their faith but in their actions and in every manner of living. For while the church is on earth, it is not possible to cleanse it to such purity that neither an ungodly person nor any sinner seems to reside in it, where everyone is holy and blessed and no blot of sin is found in them. But just as it is said concerning the weeds, "lest perhaps plucking up the weeds, at the same time you may also pluck up the wheat with them," so it can also be said of those in whom there are either doubtful or secret sins. For we are not saying that those who are clearly and plainly sinful should not be expelled from the church.
Concerning Jerusalem, we have frequently said that it means "a vision of peace."
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Could not drive them out - Namely, because of their unbelief, as Christ could do no mighty work, because of the peoples unbelief, Mark vi, 5, 6 Matt. xiii, 58, and because of their sloth, and cowardice, and wickedness, whereby they forfeited God's help. The children of Judah - The same things which are here said of the children of Judah, are said of the Benjamites, Judg. i, 21.
19 ); it led the dance in idolatry ( Mic. i. 13 ); it was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion. Giloh, Ahithophel's town, is here mentioned, and Tekoa, of which the prophet Amos was, and near which Jehoshaphat obtained that glorious victory, 2 Chron. xx.
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And when this was done there was a more equal dividend (either in quantity or quality) of the remainder among the seven tribes. And this, probably, was intended in that general rule which was given concerning this partition ( Num. xxxiii.
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1 more voice on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem,.... From whom the city was called Jebus, Jdg 19:
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H854 → | 929 times |
| הַיְבוּסִי֙ | hayvusi | the Jebusite[s] | H2983 → | 41 times |
| יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י | yoshevei | [the] inhabitants of | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם | yerushalim | Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָכְל֥וּ | yukhelu | they were able | H3201 → | 194 times |
| בְנֵֽי־ | venei- | [the] descendants of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יְהוּדָ֖ה | yehudah | Judah | H3063 → | 819 times |
| לְהֽוֹרִישָׁ֑ם | lehorisham | to dispossess them | H3423 → | 231 times |
| וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב | vaiyeshev | and he has dwelt | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| הַיְבוּסִ֜י | hayvusi | the Jebusite[s] | H2983 → | 41 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H854 → | 929 times |
| בְּנֵ֤י | benei | [the] descendants of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יְהוּדָה֙ | yehudah | Judah | H3063 → | 819 times |
| בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם | birushalim | in Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| עַ֖ד | ʾad | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| הַיּ֥וֹם | haiyom | the day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הַזֶּֽה׃ פ | hazeh | <the> this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH854 →929 times
הַיְבוּסִי֙the Jebusite[s]
hayvusiH2983 →41 times
יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י[the] inhabitants of
yosheveiH3427 →1079 times
יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔םJerusalem
yerushalimH3389 →643 times
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
יָכְל֥וּthey were able
yukheluH3201 →194 times
בְנֵֽי־[the] descendants of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
יְהוּדָ֖הJudah
yehudahH3063 →819 times
לְהֽוֹרִישָׁ֑םto dispossess them
lehorishamH3423 →231 times
וַיֵּ֨שֶׁבand he has dwelt
vaiyeshevH3427 →1079 times
הַיְבוּסִ֜יthe Jebusite[s]
hayvusiH2983 →41 times
אֶת־with
ʾet-H854 →929 times
בְּנֵ֤י[the] descendants of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יְהוּדָה֙Judah
yehudahH3063 →819 times
בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םin Jerusalem
birushalimH3389 →643 times
עַ֖דuntil
ʾadH5704 →1261 times
הַיּ֥וֹםthe day
haiyomH3117 →2304 times
הַזֶּֽה׃ פ<the> this
hazehH2088 →1180 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Judges 1:8Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
it leads to
- Judges 1:21
The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
- Judges 1:21
Through
Judges 1:21The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
it leads to
- Judges 1:8
Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
- Judges 19:10–12
But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
- Joshua 18:11–28
The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:
- 2 Samuel 5:6–9
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel…
- Judges 1:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Joshua

Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsJudahJacob's fourth son who pledges himself for Benjamin; the tribe that carries the scepter to Shiloh (49:10) and the line to Christ (…
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 21.1 and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 21.2.
