Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
- BSB Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
- NKJV And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”
- NASB And now behold, we are in your hands; do to us as it seems good and right in your sight to do.”
- NLT Now we are at your mercy—do to us whatever you think is right.”
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
The Gibeonites, exposed for their deception, submit themselves entirely to Joshua's judgment. They throw themselves on Israel's mercy rather than resisting.
Overview
Having tricked Israel into a treaty, the Gibeonites now place their lives wholly in Joshua's hands. Their humble surrender contrasts with the defiance of the surrounding Canaanite kings and shows a measure of fearful reverence toward Israel's God. Their plea for mercy, granted because of the sworn oath, anticipates the way undeserving outsiders are received by grace into the covenant people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gen 16:6But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
- Judg 10:15The children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”
- Jer 26:14But as for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes.
- 2 Sam 24:14David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”
- Judg 8:15He came to the men of Succoth, and said, “See Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’”
- Isa 47:6I was angry with my people. I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy. You laid a very heavy yoke on the aged.
- 1 Sam 3:18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”
- Jer 38:5Zedekiah the king said, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king can’t do anything to oppose you.”
- Matt 11:26Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.
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 9:25 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.