This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”
Parallel translations
- WEB We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
- KJV This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
- NKJV This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”
- NASB This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be on us because of the oath which we swore to them.”
- NLT This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.
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
They resolve to let the Gibeonites live, fearing God's wrath if they break their oath. Honoring the vow takes precedence to avoid divine judgment.
Overview
The leaders recognize that violating an oath sworn by Yahweh would bring his wrath upon the nation. Their decision shows reverence for God's name above their resentment at being deceived. The fear of breaking faith with God shapes their conduct, illustrating that keeping covenant is itself an act of honoring the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Ezek 17:12–21“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.
- Mal 3:5“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Prov 20:25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
- Zech 5:3–4Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed.
- 1 Tim 1:10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
- Rom 1:31They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.
- 2 Sam 21:1–6During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
- 2 Chr 36:13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God 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 9:20 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.