Joshua 8:35
in Joshua 8There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua failed to read before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners that were among them.
KJV
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
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This verse in Joshua 8
Commentary
9 notes on this verseRead not - Therefore he read not the blessings and curses only, as some think, but the whole law, as the manner was when all Israel, men and women, were assembled together, or the ten commandments.
This site's exposition
Joshua read aloud all the words of the law
on Joshua 8:34-35
Deuteronomy 11:29 and 27:11-26 set this ceremony up, and these verses are the one place Scripture records it carried out. The hearers include “the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them”, the assembly Deuteronomy 31:12 named for the reading.
This site's exposition
There was not a word
John Wesley takes this verse to mean that Joshua read the whole law, more than the blessings and curses alone. Matthew Henry notes Moses had preached Deuteronomy weeks before, and that it is good to hear twice what God has spoken once, from Psalm 62:11. Joshua read it all again.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
But also even "women and infants and proselytes" are joined to the church of the Lord. If we understand women and infants and proselytes separately and consider each of them to be as though a certain follower of the church—because "in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wood and earthen"—we say that to strong men, indeed strong food is delivered.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It was not many weeks since Moses had preached the whole book of Deuteronomy to them, yet Joshua must now read it all over again; it is good to hear twice what God has spoken once ( Ps. lxii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not,....
Note, When we have faithfully put away sin, that accursed thing, which separates between us and God, then, and not till then, we may expect to hear from God to our comfort; and God's directing us how to go on in our Christian work and warfare is a good evidence of his being reconciled to us.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not--It appears that a much larger portion of the law was read on this occasion than the brief summary inscribed on the stones; and this must have been the essence of the law as contained in Deuteronomy (De 4:44; It was not written on the stones, but on the plaster.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
With the women and the little ones - It was necessary that all should know that they were under the same obligations to obey; even the women are brought forward, not only because of their personal responsibility, but because to them was principally intrusted the education of the children. The children also witness this solemn transaction, that a salutary fear of offending God might be early, diligently, and deeply impressed upon their hearts.
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הָיָ֣ה | hayah | it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| דָבָ֔ר | davar | anything | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| מִכֹּ֖ל | mikol | from all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| צִוָּ֣ה | tzivah | he had commanded | H6680 → | 494 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֑ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| קָרָ֜א | kara' | he read aloud | H7121 → | 733 times |
| יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ | yehoshua' | Joshua | H3091 → | 218 times |
| נֶ֣גֶד | neged | before | H5048 → | 151 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| קְהַ֤ל | kehal | [the] assembly of | H6951 → | |
| יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וְהַנָּשִׁ֣ים | vehanashim | and the women | H802 → | 781 times |
| וְהַטַּ֔ף | vehataf | and the little one[s] | H2945 → | |
| וְהַגֵּ֖ר | vehager | and the sojourner[s] | H1616 → | 92 times |
| הַהֹלֵ֥ךְ | haholekh | who went | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃ פ | bekirbam | in midst their | H7130 → | 227 times |
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
הָיָ֣הit was
hayahH1961 →3559 times
דָבָ֔רanything
davarH1697 →1440 times
מִכֹּ֖לfrom all
mikolH3605 →5413 times
אֲשֶׁר־that
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
צִוָּ֣הhe had commanded
tzivahH6680 →494 times
מֹשֶׁ֑הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
קָרָ֜אhe read aloud
kara'H7121 →733 times
יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַJoshua
yehoshua'H3091 →218 times
נֶ֣גֶדbefore
negedH5048 →151 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
קְהַ֤ל[the] assembly of
kehalH6951 →
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וְהַנָּשִׁ֣יםand the women
vehanashimH802 →781 times
וְהַטַּ֔ףand the little one[s]
vehatafH2945 →
וְהַגֵּ֖רand the sojourner[s]
vehagerH1616 →92 times
הַהֹלֵ֥ךְwho went
haholekhH1980 →1546 times
בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃ פin midst their
bekirbamH7130 →227 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
Ezra 10:1While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.
it leads to
- Daniel 9:20
While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—
- Psalms 119:136
My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.
- Romans 9:2
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
- 1 Kings 8:30
Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.
- Daniel 9:20
Through
Nehemiah 8:2On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.
it leads to
- Leviticus 23:24
“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts.
- Leviticus 23:24
Through
Deuteronomy 31:12Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 4:10
The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all…
- Deuteronomy 4:10
Through
Jeremiah 26:2“This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 4:2
You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.
- Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Deuteronomy 4:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
On this verse
About Joshua
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 on the Old Testament; 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; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 9.9.