The Meaning of Joshua 10:13 Explained

Joshua 10:13

KJV: And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

YLT: and the sun standeth still, and the moon hath stood -- till the nation taketh vengeance on its enemies; is it not written on the Book of the Upright, 'and the sun standeth in the midst of the heavens, and hath not hasted to go in -- as a perfect day?'

Darby: And the sun stood still, and the moon remained where it was, until the nation had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? And the sun remained standing in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a full day.

ASV: And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the sun  stood still,  and the moon  stayed,  until the people  had avenged  themselves upon their enemies.  [Is] not this  written  in the book  of Jasher?  So the sun  stood still  in the midst  of heaven,  and hasted  not to go down  about a whole  day. 

What does Joshua 10:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 10:1-14 - "the Lord Fought For Israel"
The honor of Israel was implicated in this attack on their confederates, and Joshua went to their assistance. The deception which had been practiced on him did not alienate his help. Before he started he was assured of victory, but this did not make him slothful. See Joshua 10:7. But it was by his faith, courage and obedience that this and other victories were won. What may not one man do when God is with him! Paganini once broke all his strings but one; then, holding up his violin, he said, "One string and Paganini."
A terrific storm burst on the fugitives as they crossed the high ridge of Beth-horon and descended in full flight to the plain. We are not called upon to explain the miracle of the sun and moon. The prolongation of daylight was probably due to some cause like that which yields the after-glow of sunset and the optical refractions seen in high latitudes. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 10

1  Five kings war against Gibeon
6  Joshua rescues it
10  God fights against them with hailstones
12  The sun and moon stand still at the word of Joshua
16  The five kings are murdered in a cave
22  They are brought forth
24  scornfully used
26  and hanged
28  Seven kings more are conquered
43  Joshua returns to Gilgal

What do the individual words in Joshua 10:13 mean?

So stood still the sun and the moon stopped Till had revenge the people Upon their enemies [Is] not it written in the Scroll of the Upright one so stood still the sun in the midst of heaven and not did hasten to go [down] for about a day whole
וַיִּדֹּ֨ם הַשֶּׁ֜מֶשׁ וְיָרֵ֣חַ עָמָ֗ד עַד־ יִקֹּ֥ם גּוֹי֙ אֹֽיְבָ֔יו הֲלֹא־ הִ֥יא כְתוּבָ֖ה עַל־ סֵ֣פֶר ؟ הַיָּשָׁ֑ר וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ בַּחֲצִ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְלֹא־ אָ֥ץ לָב֖וֹא כְּי֥וֹם תָּמִֽים

וַיִּדֹּ֨ם  So  stood  still 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּמַם 
Sense: to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb.
הַשֶּׁ֜מֶשׁ  the  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
וְיָרֵ֣חַ  and  the  moon 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵחַ  
Sense: moon.
עָמָ֗ד  stopped 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
עַד־  Till 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
יִקֹּ֥ם  had  revenge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָקַם  
Sense: to avenge, take vengeance, revenge, avenge oneself, be avenged, be punished.
גּוֹי֙  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
אֹֽיְבָ֔יו  Upon  their  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
הֲלֹא־  [Is]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
כְתוּבָ֖ה  written 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
סֵ֣פֶר  the  Scroll 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
؟ הַיָּשָׁ֑ר  of  the  Upright  one 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.
וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד  so  stood  still 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙  the  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
בַּחֲצִ֣י  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֲצִי 
Sense: half.
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם  of  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אָ֥ץ  did  hasten 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אוּץ  
Sense: to press, be pressed, make haste, urge, be narrow.
לָב֖וֹא  to  go  [down] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
כְּי֥וֹם  for  about  a  day 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
תָּמִֽים  whole 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תָּמִים  
Sense: complete, whole, entire, sound.