Verse MeaningJoshuaEasy to understand
Joshua 9:27: Meaning Explained
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the...
Joshua 9:27
“Joshua did not allow the Israelites to kill the Gibeonites. But Joshua made the Gibeonites slaves. They cut wood and carried water for the people of Israel. They did this to serve at the altar of the Lord. The Lord chose the place where his altar would be. It continues this way today.”
What Does This Verse Mean?
Joshua spared the Gibeonites' lives but made them permanent servants of Israel and God's altar.
What’s Happening Here
The arrangement was fixed. Gibeonites would serve forever at the place where God's altar was built.
Key Words
slavesServants
altarA place for making offerings to God
serveWork for
Why It Matters
Mercy doesn't erase consequences, but it does preserve life.
Did You Know?
The Gibeonites continued serving at the temple for centuries, even serving King David.
Word Study
H5414
madeוַיִּתְּנֵ֨ם
H3091
And Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ
H3117
even unto this dayהַיּ֣וֹם
H2404
hewersחֹֽטְבֵ֥י
H6086
of woodעֵצִ֛ים
H7579
and drawersוְשֹׁ֥אֲבֵי
H4325
of waterמַ֖יִם
H5712
for the congregationלָֽעֵדָ֑ה
H4196
and for the altarוּלְמִזְבַּ֤ח
H3068
of the LORDיְהוָה֙
H4725
in the placeהַמָּק֖וֹם
H977
which he should chooseיִבְחָֽר׃
Cross References
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Read Joshua 9:27 in the Bible reader, or explore the full chapter summary.