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Joshua 5:9

in Joshua 5

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Jehovah said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, unto this day.

KJV

And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

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This verse in Joshua 5

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 5.6 · Written before 253.

All persons, even if they come from the law, even if they have learned through Moses, still have the reproach of Egypt in them, the reproach of sins. Who will be like Paul even according to the observance of the law? Just hear him saying, "According to the righteousness based upon the law, I lived without blame." Nevertheless, he himself publicly announces and says, "For we were even ourselves at some time foolish, unbelieving, wandering, enslaved to desires and various forms of pleasure, in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another."

This site's exposition

after all the nation had been circumcised

on Joshua 5:8-9

They abide in the camp till they are whole, which leaves an entire army unable to fight, a few miles from a walled city. Genesis 34:25 records what happened the last time men were caught in that condition.

This site's exposition

Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you

Commentators differ over the reproach of Egypt. Barnes takes it as the Egyptians' taunt that Israel's God could not bring them into the land, the charge Moses feared at Exodus 32:12. Clarke takes it as the uncircumcised state itself, which in his reading made Israel like the Egyptians.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 5.6 · Written before 253.

proposed

The Lord also signifies this in the gospel when he says, "Your sins are forgiven you," but "sin no longer, so nothing worse may happen to you." For if, after the remission of sins you no longer sin, truly the reproach of Egypt has been taken away from you. But if you sin again, the old reproaches return again to you, and so much the more because it is a much greater charge "to tread underfoot the Son of God and to consider the blood of the covenant defiled" than to neglect the law of Moses. For indeed, the person who commits fornication after the gospel merits a much greater reproach than the one still under the law, because that one, "taking away the members of Christ, makes them the members of a prostitute." You see, therefore, that more serious and more abundant reproaches are returned to you if you have neglected them. Then, indeed, no one proves you responsible for defilement but condemns you for the crime of sacrilege, because it is said to you, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of God?" "If anyone dishonors the temple of God, God will destroy that person."

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Or 3. because many of them lay under this reproach in Egypt, having wickedly neglected this duty there for worldly reasons; and others of them continued in the same shameful condition for many years in the wilderness. Gilgal - That is, rolling.
And the Lord said unto Joshua,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

What was afterwards said to another Joshua might truly be said to this, Hear now, O Joshua! thou and thy fellows that sit before thee are men wondered at ( Zech. iii. 8 ), and yet indeed he took the right method. That is likely to end well which begins with God.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

The reproach of Egypt - i. e. “reproach proceeding from Egypt.” The expression probably refers to taunts actually uttered by the Egyptians against Israel, because of their long wanderings in the desert and failures to acquire a settlement in Canaan (compare Exo 32:12; Num 14:13-16; Deu 9:28; Deu 32:27). These reproaches were now to end, for they had actually entered Canaan, and the restoration of the covenant was a pledge from God to accomplish what was begun for them.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Gilgal--No trace either of the name or site is now to be found; but it was about two miles from Jericho [JOSEPHUS], and well suited for an encampment by the advantages of shade and water. It was the first place pronounced "holy" in the Holy Land (Jos 5:15).

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

The reproach of Egypt - Their being uncircumcised made them like the uncircumcised Egyptians; and the Hebrews ever considered all those who were uncircumcised as being in a state of the grossest impurity. Being now circumcised, the reproach of uncircumcision was rolled away. This is another proof that the Israelites did not receive circumcision from the Egyptians; for they could not have considered those in a state of abomination, from whom they received that rite by which they conceived themselves to be made pure. The Israelites had this rite from Abraham; and Abraham had it from the express order of God himself. See Gen 17:10 (note), and the note there. The place is called Gilgal - A rolling away or rolling off. See the note on Jos 4:19, where the word is largely explained.

The words behind it

18 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • יְהוָה֙Yahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַJoshua

    yehoshua'H3091 →218 times

  • הַיּ֗וֹםthis day

    haiyomH3117 →2304 times

  • גַּלּ֛וֹתִיI have rolled away

    galotiH1556 →

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • חֶרְפַּ֥ת[the] reproach of

    cherpatH2781 →

  • מִצְרַ֖יִםEgypt

    mitzrayimH4714 →641 times

  • מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֑םfrom on <the> you

    mealeikhemH5921 →5755 times

  • וַיִּקְרָ֞אand he called

    vaiyikra'H7121 →733 times

  • שֵׁ֣ם[the] name of

    shemH8034 →864 times

  • הַמָּק֤וֹםthe place

    hamakomH4725 →401 times

  • הַהוּא֙<the> that

    hahu'H1931 →1879 times

  • גִּלְגָּ֔לGilgal

    gilgalH1537 →41 times

  • עַ֖דuntil

    ʾadH5704 →1261 times

  • הַיּ֥וֹםthe day

    haiyomH3117 →2304 times

  • הַזֶּֽה׃<the> this

    hazehH2088 →1180 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Joshua 4:19On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.7 works1 Samuel 17:26David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”7 worksGenesis 34:14“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us.5 worksLeviticus 24:14“Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.4 worksJeremiah 9:25“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised yet uncircumcised:4 worksJoshua 24:14Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Samuel 19:15So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.4 worksPsalms 119:39Turn away the disgrace I dread, for Your judgments are good.3 worksEphesians 2:11–12Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—3 worksEzekiel 23:8She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her.3 works1 Samuel 17:36Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”3 worksEzekiel 20:7–8And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’3 works1 Samuel 14:6Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”3 worksEzekiel 23:3and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.3 works2 Kings 2:1Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal,3 works1 Samuel 13:4And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.2 worksDeuteronomy 11:30Are not these mountains across the Jordan, west of the road toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah opposite Gilgal near the Oak of Moreh?2 worksNehemiah 12:29from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    1 Samuel 17:26

    David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he…

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 5:26

      For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived?

    • 1 Samuel 11:2

      But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”

    • 1 Samuel 17:10

      Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”

    • 1 Samuel 14:6

      Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD…

  • Through

    Jeremiah 9:25

    “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised yet uncircumcised:

    it leads to

    • Romans 2:8–9

      But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

    • Galatians 5:2–6

      Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

    • Romans 2:25–26

      Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

  • Through

    Leviticus 24:14

    “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 17:7

      The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Where this verse is studied

About Joshua

Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon, John Martin, 1816, National Gallery of Art. Public domain.
Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon, John Martin, 1816, National Gallery of Art. Public domain.
Joshua: the study guide →Read Joshua 5 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 5.6.

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