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the First Sunday, December 28th, 2025
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Easy-to-Read Version
Joshua 9:20
This is what we must do. We must let them live. We cannot hurt them or God will be angry with us because we broke the promise we made to them.
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
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.”
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.”
Hebrew Names Version
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
King James Version
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.
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.
Lexham English Bible
This we will do to them: we will let them live so that wrath will not be on us because of the oath we swore to them."
This we will do to them: we will let them live so that wrath will not be on us because of the oath we swore to them."
English Standard Version
This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them."
This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them."
New Century Version
This is what we must do. We must let them live. Otherwise, God's anger will be against us for breaking the oath we swore to them.
This is what we must do. We must let them live. Otherwise, God's anger will be against us for breaking the oath we swore to them.
New English Translation
We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them."
We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them."
Amplified Bible
"This [is what] we will do to them: we will let them live, so that the wrath [of God] does not come upon us for [violating] the oath which we have sworn to them."
"This [is what] we will do to them: we will let them live, so that the wrath [of God] does not come upon us for [violating] the oath which we have sworn to them."
New American Standard Bible
"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."
"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."
Geneva Bible (1587)
But this we wil doe to them, and let them liue, least the wrath be vpon vs because of the othe which we sware vnto them.
But this we wil doe to them, and let them liue, least the wrath be vpon vs because of the othe which we sware vnto them.
Legacy Standard Bible
This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them."
This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them."
Complete Jewish Bible
Here is what we will do to them: we will let them live, so that God's anger will not be on us because of the oath we swore to them.
Here is what we will do to them: we will let them live, so that God's anger will not be on us because of the oath we swore to them.
Darby Translation
This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.
This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.
George Lamsa Translation
This we will do to them: we will let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oaths which we swore to them.
This we will do to them: we will let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oaths which we swore to them.
Good News Translation
We must let them live because of our promise; if we don't, God will punish us.
We must let them live because of our promise; if we don't, God will punish us.
Literal Translation
We shall do this to them, and shall keep them alive, and wrath shall not be on us because of the oath which we have sworn to them.
We shall do this to them, and shall keep them alive, and wrath shall not be on us because of the oath which we have sworn to them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But this wil we do vnto them: Let them lyue, that there come no wrath vpon vs, because of the ooth that we haue made vnto them.
But this wil we do vnto them: Let them lyue, that there come no wrath vpon vs, because of the ooth that we haue made vnto them.
American Standard Version
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
Bible in Basic English
This is what we will do to them: we will not put them to death, for fear that wrath may come on us because of our oath to them.
This is what we will do to them: we will not put them to death, for fear that wrath may come on us because of our oath to them.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But this we wyll do to them, We wyll let them liue, lest wrath be vpon vs because of the othe which we sware vnto them.
But this we wyll do to them, We wyll let them liue, lest wrath be vpon vs because of the othe which we sware vnto them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.'
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.'
King James Version (1611)
This we will doe to them; wee will euen let them liue, lest wrath be vpon vs, because of the oath which wee sware vnto them.
This we will doe to them; wee will euen let them liue, lest wrath be vpon vs, because of the oath which wee sware vnto them.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
This we will do; take them alive, and we will preserve them: so there shall not be wrath against us by reason of the oath which we swore to them.
This we will do; take them alive, and we will preserve them: so there shall not be wrath against us by reason of the oath which we swore to them.
English Revised Version
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
Berean Standard Bible
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."
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."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but we schulen do this thing to hem, sotheli be thei reserued that thei lyue, lest the ire of the Lord be stirid ayens vs, if we forsweren to hem;
but we schulen do this thing to hem, sotheli be thei reserued that thei lyue, lest the ire of the Lord be stirid ayens vs, if we forsweren to hem;
Young's Literal Translation
this we do to them, and have kept them alive, and wrath is not upon us, because of the oath which we have sworn to them.'
this we do to them, and have kept them alive, and wrath is not upon us, because of the oath which we have sworn to them.'
Update Bible Version
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
Webster's Bible Translation
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
World English Bible
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
New King James Version
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."
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."
New Living Translation
This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.
This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.
New Life Bible
This is what we will do to them. We will let them live, or anger would be upon us for the promise we swore to them."
This is what we will do to them. We will let them live, or anger would be upon us for the promise we swore to them."
New Revised Standard
This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath may not come upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them."
This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath may not come upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
This, will we do unto them, even let them live, - lest there come on us wrath, because of the oath which we have sworn unto them.
This, will we do unto them, even let them live, - lest there come on us wrath, because of the oath which we have sworn unto them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But this we will do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn:
But this we will do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn:
Revised Standard Version
This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them."
This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them."
"This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them."
Contextual Overview
15 Joshua agreed to make peace with them. He agreed to let them live. The leaders of Israel agreed with this promise of Joshua. 16 Three days later the Israelites learned that these men lived very near their camp. 17 So the Israelites went to the place where they lived. On the third day the Israelites came to the cities of Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the army of Israel did not try to fight against those cities. They had made a peace agreement with them. They had made a promise to them before the Lord , the God of Israel. All the people complained against the leaders who made the agreement. 19 But the leaders answered, "We have given our promise. We promised before the Lord , the God of Israel. We cannot fight against them now. 20 This is what we must do. We must let them live. We cannot hurt them or God will be angry with us because we broke the promise we made to them. 21 So let them live, but they will be our servants. They will cut wood for us and carry water for all our people." So the leaders did not break their promise of peace to them.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
lest wrath: 2 Samuel 21:1-6, 2 Chronicles 36:13, Proverbs 20:25, Ezekiel 17:12-21, Zechariah 5:3, Zechariah 5:4, Malachi 3:5, Romans 1:31, 1 Timothy 1:10
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:8 - clear Exodus 20:7 - guiltless Joshua 9:19 - We have 1 Samuel 30:15 - Swear 2 Chronicles 16:3 - break Ezekiel 17:16 - whose oath
Cross-References
Genesis 3:23
So the Lord God forced the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he was made from.
So the Lord God forced the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he was made from.
Genesis 4:2
Eve gave birth again to Cain's brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd, and Cain became a farmer.
Eve gave birth again to Cain's brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd, and Cain became a farmer.
Genesis 5:29
Lamech named his son Noah. Lamech said, "We work very hard as farmers because God cursed the ground. But Noah will bring us rest."
Lamech named his son Noah. Lamech said, "We work very hard as farmers because God cursed the ground. But Noah will bring us rest."
Genesis 9:18
Noah's sons came out of the boat with him. Their names were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)
Noah's sons came out of the boat with him. Their names were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)
Genesis 9:19
These three men were Noah's sons. And all the people on earth came from these three sons.
These three men were Noah's sons. And all the people on earth came from these three sons.
Genesis 9:24
Later, Noah woke up. (He was sleeping because of the wine.) When he learned what his youngest son Ham had done to him,
Later, Noah woke up. (He was sleeping because of the wine.) When he learned what his youngest son Ham had done to him,
Genesis 9:26
Noah also said, "May the Lord , the God of Shem, be praised! May Canaan be Shem's slave.
Noah also said, "May the Lord , the God of Shem, be praised! May Canaan be Shem's slave.
Deuteronomy 20:6
Is there any man here who has planted a vineyard but has not yet gathered any of the grapes? That man should go back home. If that man dies in the battle, someone else will enjoy the fruit from his field.
Is there any man here who has planted a vineyard but has not yet gathered any of the grapes? That man should go back home. If that man dies in the battle, someone else will enjoy the fruit from his field.
Deuteronomy 28:30
"You will be engaged to a woman, but another man will have sexual relations with her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not gather anything from it.
"You will be engaged to a woman, but another man will have sexual relations with her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not gather anything from it.
Proverbs 10:11
The words of good people are like a spring of fresh water, but the words of the wicked only hide their violent plans.
The words of good people are like a spring of fresh water, but the words of the wicked only hide their violent plans.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
This we will do to them,.... Either this favour we will show them, preserving their lives, next mentioned, or this punishment we will inflict on them, making them hewers of wood, and drawers of water; which though not mentioned directly, was what was upon their minds, and in their design to propose, only they were extremely desirous of sparing their lives, which they repeat:
we will even let them live; this by all means must be done, their lives must not be taken away as the rest of the Canaanites:
lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them; that is, lest the wrath of God come upon us princes, and upon the whole community, for perjury, a breach of the third command, Exodus 20:7, a sin highly displeasing to God; since an oath is made not only in his presence, and before him as a witness, who is appealed unto, but in his name, and is often severely threatened, and sorely punished; and as even the breach of this oath was several hundreds of years after, in the times of David, 2 Samuel 21:1. The Vulgate Latin version therefore reads the words, "lest the wrath of the Lord come upon us": but Abarbinel observes, that it may be understood of the wrath of Israel; for the words may be rendered, "and there shall not be wrath upon us, because of the oath": there need be none, there is no occasion for it, since this was agreed upon on all hands, that the Gibeonites should be let to live; and since it was an act of kindness and goodness, and especially they would have no reason to be angry and wrathful with them, when they heard them out, what they had further to propose to them, to make them their servants, though they spared their lives.
