The Meaning of Joshua 8:3 Explained

Joshua 8:3

KJV: So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.

YLT: And Joshua riseth, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai, and Joshua chooseth thirty thousand men, mighty ones of valour, and sendeth them away by night,

Darby: And Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose thirty thousand valiant men, and sent them away by night.

ASV: So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So Joshua  arose,  and all the people  of war,  to go up  against Ai:  and Joshua  chose out  thirty  thousand  mighty  men  of valour,  and sent them away  by night. 

What does Joshua 8:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 8:1-17 - Ai Again Attacked
Now that the evil was put away, the people were assured of victory. "I have given," etc. But the assurance of faith is not inconsistent with the call for action: "Arise, go up." Though he was thus secure of victory, Joshua adopted such measures as his soldier-training suggested. Notice the place which our preparations should occupy. Not to shut God out, but to make the pathway along which His help may travel.
The restrictions as to the spoil which had been in force and which had led to Achan's undoing were now removed. God often tests us before allowing us to enjoy. Certain injunctions or prohibitions may be given to prove us; but are removed when our lesson is learned, Deuteronomy 8:2.
Up the long, desolate pass Israel marched. There they could see Achan's tent, and there the scenes of their recent defeat. Their hearts were chastened. In all humility and faith they marched forward, and they were not ashamed, Joel 2:26. [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 8:3 mean?

So arose Joshua and all the people of war to go up against Ai and chose Joshua thirty thousand men mighty of valor and sent them away by night
וַיָּ֧קָם יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ וְכָל־ עַ֥ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה לַעֲל֣וֹת הָעָ֑י וַיִּבְחַ֣ר יְ֠הוֹשֻׁעַ שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים אֶ֤לֶף אִישׁ֙ גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י הַחַ֔יִל וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֖ם לָֽיְלָה

וַיָּ֧קָם  So  arose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ  Joshua 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ  
Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עַ֥ם  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה  of  war 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
לַעֲל֣וֹת  to  go  up  against 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הָעָ֑י  Ai 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַי 
Sense: a city lying east of Bethel and beside Bethaven near Jericho and the 2nd city taken on the invasion of Canaan.
וַיִּבְחַ֣ר  and  chose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
יְ֠הוֹשֻׁעַ  Joshua 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ  
Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים  thirty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: שְׁלֹשִׁים  
Sense: thirty, thirtieth.
אֶ֤לֶף  thousand 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
אִישׁ֙  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י  mighty 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
הַחַ֔יִל  of  valor 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֖ם  and  sent  them  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
לָֽיְלָה  by  night 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.