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.
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.”
- BSB 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.”
- 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 17:12–21Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
- Mal 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Prov 20:25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
- Zech 5:3–4Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
- 1 Tim 1:10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
- Rom 1:31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
- 2 Sam 21:1–6Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
- 2 Chr 36:13And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.
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 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.