One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.
Parallel translations
- WEB One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.
- KJV One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
- NKJV One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.
- NASB One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you.
- NLT Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.
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
One Israelite could rout a thousand because Yahweh fought for them. It magnifies God's power on behalf of His people.
Overview
Joshua highlights the lopsided victories God granted, where a single man could chase a thousand. The point is clear: the strength was the Lord's, not Israel's. This assurance of divine help encourages faith and dependence rather than self-reliance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Deut 32:30How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
- Lev 26:8Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
- Deut 3:22Do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God Himself will fight for you.”
- Exod 14:14The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
- Ps 35:1Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.
- Deut 20:4For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Ps 46:7The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Josh 23:3“and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you.
- Ps 44:4–5You are my King, O God, who ordains victories for Jacob.
- 1 Sam 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.”
- Josh 10:42And because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel, Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign.
- Exod 23:27–33I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
- Judg 15:15He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men.
- 2 Sam 23:8These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.
- Judg 7:19–22Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands.
- Judg 3:31After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.
- 1 Sam 14:12–16So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 23:10 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.