The Meaning of Joshua 8:34 Explained

Joshua 8:34

KJV: And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

YLT: And afterwards he hath proclaimed all the words of the law, the blessing and the reviling, according to all that is written in the book of the law;

Darby: And afterwards he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

ASV: And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And afterward  he read  all the words  of the law,  the blessings  and cursings,  according to all that is written  in the book  of the law. 

What does Joshua 8:34 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 8:30-35 - Recording And Reading The Law
After the fall of Ai the war was suspended for a time. The divine hand restrained the Canaanites from interfering with Israel's obedience to the Mosaic code. The whole nation was marshaled in the valley between Ebal and Gerizim, to hear the Law recited and to respond with the thunder of their "Amen," Deuteronomy 27:15. Ebal was for the curse. It was appropriate that the altar should be there, Galatians 3:13.
Remember that even when we enter the land of rest, through faith in Jesus, we cannot get away from God's holy Law; nay, it is even more perfectly fulfilled as we walk after the Spirit, Romans 8:1-4. Let us go further and ask that, as the Law was written on those mighty stones, so it may be engraven on the tablets of our hearts, Hebrews 8:10.
In the hour of completest triumph we need to stand before the Lord! It was in this spot that the incident of John 4:1-54 took place. Jesus transformed it into a valley of blessing! [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 8

1  God encourages Joshua
3  The plan whereby Ai was taken
29  The king thereof is hanged
30  Joshua builds an altar
32  writes the law on stones
33  and pronounces the blessings and curses

What do the individual words in Joshua 8:34 mean?

and afterward he read - all the words of the law the blessings and the cursings according to all that is written in the Book of the Law
וְאַֽחֲרֵי־ כֵ֗ן קָרָא֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ דִּבְרֵ֣י הַתּוֹרָ֔ה הַבְּרָכָ֖ה וְהַקְּלָלָ֑ה כְּכָל־ הַכָּת֖וּב בְּסֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה

כֵ֗ן  afterward 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
קָרָא֙  he  read 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דִּבְרֵ֣י  the  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַתּוֹרָ֔ה  of  the  law 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
הַבְּרָכָ֖ה  the  blessings 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּרָכָה  
Sense: blessing.
וְהַקְּלָלָ֑ה  and  the  cursings 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: קְלָלָה  
Sense: curse, vilification, execration.
כְּכָל־  according  to  all 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַכָּת֖וּב  that  is  written 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
בְּסֵ֥פֶר  in  the  Book 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
הַתּוֹרָֽה  of  the  Law 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.