Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.
- BSB However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.
- NKJV And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.
- NASB And it came about when the sons of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.
- NLT Later, however, when the Israelites became strong enough, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves. But they did not drive them out of the land.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When Israel grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor rather than driving them out entirely. They chose convenience over full obedience.
Overview
Israel had the power to enslave the Canaanites but not the resolve to obey God's command to dispossess them. This compromise prioritized economic benefit over covenant faithfulness, leaving a spiritual snare in the land. The pattern warns that partial obedience tolerates what God commanded to be removed, and it highlights humanity's need for the decisive deliverance from sin accomplished in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Josh 16:10And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
- Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
- 2 Sam 3:1Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
- Judg 1:28And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
- Judg 1:35But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
- Deut 20:11–18And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
- 2 Pet 3:18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
- 2 Chr 8:7–8As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,
- Judg 1:33Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
- Eph 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- Judg 1:30Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 17:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.