The Meaning of Joshua 9:20 Explained

Joshua 9:20

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.'

Darby: This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.

ASV: This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Joshua 9:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 9:16-27 - "hewers Of Wood And Drawers Of Water"
The faith of these people was so far rewarded that, while their deception was punished by their reduction to the most menial tasks, yet their lives were spared; and, to a certain degree, they were incorporated with Israel and associated with the service of God's house. This position made them as unlikely as possible to seduce Israel from loyalty to Jehovah.
The Gibeonites were afterward known as Nethinim-that is, given. See 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 2:43; Ezra 8:20. If in the earlier part of your life you have made some great mistake which threatens to limit your influence for good, do not sit down in despair, but get service out of it. Let it hew your wood and draw your water! [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 9

1  The kings combine against Israel
3  The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league
22  They are condemned to perpetual bondage

What do the individual words in Joshua 9:20 mean?

This we will do to them and we will let live them and lest be upon us wrath because of the oath which we swore to them
זֹ֛את נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם וְהַחֲיֵ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־ יִֽהְיֶ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ קֶ֔צֶף עַל־ הַשְּׁבוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־ נִשְׁבַּ֥עְנוּ לָהֶֽם

זֹ֛את  This 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה  we  will  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לָהֶ֖ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
וְהַחֲיֵ֣ה  and  we  will  let  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
וְלֹֽא־  and  lest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙  upon  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
קֶ֔צֶף  wrath 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶצֶף 
Sense: wrath, anger.
עַל־  because 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַשְּׁבוּעָ֖ה  of  the  oath 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: oath, curse.
נִשְׁבַּ֥עְנוּ  we  swore 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לָהֶֽם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural