The Meaning of Joshua 14:12 Explained

Joshua 14:12

KJV: Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

YLT: And now, give to me this hill-country, of which Jehovah spake in that day, for thou didst hear in that day, for Anakim are there, and cities, great, fenced; if so be Jehovah is with me, then I have dispossessed them, as Jehovah hath spoken.'

Darby: And now give me this mountain, of which Jehovah spoke in that day; for thou heardest in that day that Anakim are there, and great fortified cities. If so be Jehovah shall be with me, then I shall dispossess them, as Jehovah said.

ASV: Now therefore give me this hill-country, whereof Jehovah spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fortified: it may be that Jehovah will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Jehovah spake.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore give  me this mountain,  whereof the LORD  spake  in that day;  for thou heardest  in that day  how the Anakims  [were] there, and [that] the cities  [were] great  [and] fenced:  if so be  the LORD  [will be] with  me, then I shall be able to drive them out,  as the LORD  said. 

What does Joshua 14:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 14:1-15 - The Man Who Wholly Followed His God
The lot was doubtless adopted to obviate cause for jealousy or charges of favoritism. It denoted God's choice, Proverbs 16:33; Proverbs 18:18. It could be used only with very evident reliance on Him, and in our day has been superseded by the sending of the Comforter to teach us all things, John 16:13.
It was long since Caleb had cut down the bunch of grapes near the spot of his choice, but he had never forgotten it; and now God, who had read his purpose, arranged that what his heart loved best his hand should hold and keep: "Him will I bring into the land whereinto he went," Numbers 14:24.
Out of entire surrender to God springs a faith that dares to claim the realization of an olden promise, Joshua 14:12. The fact that the Anakim held Hebron did not stagger the old veteran. It was enough that God had promised! How strong and vigorous, even to hoar hairs, are those who walk with God, Isaiah 40:31! [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 14

1  The nine tribes and a half are to have their inheritance by lot
6  Caleb by privilege obtains Hebron

What do the individual words in Joshua 14:12 mean?

Now therefore give me - mountain this of which spoke Yahweh in day that for you heard in day that how the Anakim [were] there and [that] the cities [were] great [and] fortified it may be that Yahweh [will be] with me and I shall be able to drive them out as said Yahweh
וְעַתָּ֗ה תְּנָה־ לִּי֙ אֶת־ הָהָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י אַתָּֽה־ שָׁמַעְתָּ֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא כִּֽי־ עֲנָקִ֣ים שָׁ֗ם וְעָרִים֙ גְּדֹל֣וֹת בְּצֻר֔וֹת אוּלַ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙ וְה֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה

וְעַתָּ֗ה  Now  therefore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
תְּנָה־  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִּי֙  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
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.
הָהָ֣ר  mountain 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אֲשֶׁר־  of  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
דִּבֶּ֥ר  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בַּיּ֣וֹם  in  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַה֑וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
שָׁמַעְתָּ֩  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בַיּ֨וֹם  in  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַה֜וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
כִּֽי־  how 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עֲנָקִ֣ים  the  Anakim  [were] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֲנָק  
Sense: a race of giants, descendants of Anak, which dwelled in southern Canaan.
וְעָרִים֙  and  [that]  the  cities  [were] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
גְּדֹל֣וֹת  great 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
בְּצֻר֔וֹת  [and]  fortified 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: בָּצַר 
Sense: to gather, restrain, fence, fortify, make inaccessible, enclose.
אוּלַ֨י  it  may  be  that 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh  [will  be] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אוֹתִי֙  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וְה֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔ים  and  I  shall  be  able  to  drive  them  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרַשׁ  
Sense: to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir.
דִּבֶּ֥ר  said 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.