Joshua 12:13 — Word Study
WLCמֶ֤לֶךְ דְּבִר֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ גֶּ֖דֶר אֶחָֽד׃
BSAthe kingmelek [ruler, monarch] of DebirDᵉbîyr [an Amoritish king, a town in Manasseh] oneʼechâd [a single, unique ruler] the kingmelek [sovereign, royal person] of GederGeder△ [a captured town, a place of enclosure] oneʼechâd [a solitary, individual monarch]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מֶ֤לֶךְ | [the] king of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| דְּבִר֙ | Debir | Noun proper |
| אֶחָ֔ד | one | Adj |
| מֶ֥לֶךְ | [the] king of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| גֶּ֖דֶר | Geder | Noun proper |
| אֶחָֽד׃ | one | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; |
| KJV | The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; |
| ASV | the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; |
| YLT | The king of Debir, one; The king of Geder, one; |
| WEB | the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; |
| BBE | The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; |
Where they part company is in the rendering of the kings' titles — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses list the kings, each followed by a note on their singularity.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, AdamClarke, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֶחָד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Joshua 12:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Kings Defeated by Israelgenerated
Joshua 12:13 lists the kings of the cities conquered by the Israelites, emphasizing the singular rule of each king. This passage is part of a larger account detailing the victories of Israel as they entered the Promised Land, showcasing God's faithfulness to His people in fulfilling His promises. The context illustrates the systematic defeat of Canaanite kings, as seen in the preceding and following verses, which collectively document Israel's military successes.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 10:3–38 | Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, |
| 2 | Joshua 15:36 | Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen cities, along with their villages. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מֶלֶךְ, Me.lekhgenerated
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king' and is derived from a root that suggests royalty. It is used to describe a sovereign or royal person, often in contexts relating to governance and authority, such as the kings of Israel.
In this verse, it specifically refers to the rulers of Debir and Geder, highlighting their individual reigns. The parsing indicates that it is a masculine singular noun in construct form, linking it directly to the towns mentioned.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs are implied in the structure, with each phrase describing a king and his unique status. The sentence lists two main clauses, each connected by a semicolon, indicating the parallel nature of the kings mentioned.
The word order emphasizes the kings' titles and their singularity, with each king's name followed by the number one, reinforcing their individual authority.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מֶ֫לֶךְ as βασιλέα, which also means 'king.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the emphasis on royal authority.
The Greek term suggests a consistent understanding of kingship in both texts, though the Septuagint's word order may differ from the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 12:13 lists two kings defeated by the Israelites: the king of Debir and the king of Geder, each noted as a single ruler. This verse is part of a broader account of the kings conquered during Israel's conquest of Canaan.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In this context, 'king' refers to a ruler of a city conquered by the Israelites, indicating their authority over that territory.
The listing emphasizes the completeness of Israel's conquests and the unique rule of each king, demonstrating God's power in delivering the land to His people.
The number one indicates that each king was singular in their rule, highlighting their individual authority over their respective cities.
This verse connects to the overall narrative by summarizing the victories of Israel and showcasing God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to give them the land.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the concept of kingship in this verse teach us about authority and leadership?
- How can we see God's faithfulness in our own lives, similar to how He was faithful to Israel?
- What does it mean for a leader to be singular in authority, and how does that apply to our understanding of leadership today?
- In what ways can we apply the lessons of conquest and victory from Joshua to our own challenges and battles?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 12:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe king of Debir, one,.... The same with Kirjathsepher, of which place, [See comments on Joshua 10:38]; the king of Geder, one: Jerom (h) seems to confound this with the tower of Eder, beyond which
Read John Gill on Joshua 12 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. The king of Geder] Probably the same with Gedor, Joshua 15:58; it was situated in the tribe of Judah.
Read AdamClarke on Joshua 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. the king of Debir] See Joshua 10:39. the king of Geder] Somewhere in the lowland of Judah. Possibly the same place as the Gedor mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:39.
Read Cambridge on Joshua 12 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible7-13. For Baal-gad and Halak see Joshua 11:17. For the Canaanitish tribes see Joshua 3:10. Jericho — See Joshua 2:1. Ai and Bethel — See Joshua 7:2. Jerusalem — See Joshua 10:1.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 12 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
the king of Debir (one), the king of Geder (one),
Tyndale line
The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
The King of Debir, one: the King of Geder, one:
Strictly literal
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
The king of Debir, one; The king of Geder, one;
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
the king of Debir, the king of Geder,
From the Latin
The king of Dabir one, the king of Gader one,
Simplified
The king of Debir. The king of Geder.
The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the essential wording of the kings mentioned, although the Septuagint presents the information in a different order. The correspondence shows that the key terms are preserved across these ancient texts.
מֶ֤לֶךְ דְּבִר֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ גֶּ֖דֶר אֶחָֽד׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Joshua 12:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
דְּבִיר (deb-eer) refers to both a king of Eglon and a geographical location in ancient Palestine, specifically a town in the mountains of Judah and another in Gilead east of the Jordan. The term is associated with meanings like 'sanctuary' and 'not a pasture.' There is some overlap in naming, as it is also linked to Kiriath-sannah and Lo-debar.
דְּבִיר
n. pr. m. king of Eglon
n. pr. loc.
N. border of Judah
town of the Gadites
a royal city of Canaanites
base
לִדְבִר n.pr.loc. only in Jos 13:26; E. of Jordan, in tribe of Gad
ref
H1688a דְּבִיר . n. pr. m. king of Eglon
. n. pr. loc. N. border of Judah
H1688b לִדְבִר E. of Jordan, in tribe of Gad
1688 Dbiyr deb-eer'
or (shortened) Dbir (Josh. 13:26 (but see 3810)) {deb-eer'};
the same as 1687; Debir, the name of an Amoritish king and of
two places in Palestine:--Debir.
see HEBREW for 03810
see HEBREW for 01687
דְּבִיר (de.vir) — Debir.
Debir = "sanctuary"
a town in the mountains of Judah west of Hebron and given to the priests and a city of refuge
Also named: qir.yat san.nah (קִרְיַת־סֵ֫פֶר "Kiriath-sannah" H7158)
לִדְבִר (lid.vir) — Debir.
Lo-debar = "not a pasture"
a town in Manasseh in Gilead east of the Jordan
Another name of lo de.var (לֹא דְבָר "Lo-debar" H3810)
דְּבִיר (de.vir) — Debir.
Lo-debar = "not a pasture"
a town in Manasseh in Gilead east of the Jordan
דְּבִיר (de.vir) — Debir.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at Jos.10.3
§ Lo-debar = "not a pasture"
a town in Manasseh in Gilead east of the Jordan
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Debir
Oracle town; sanctuary. (1.) One of the eleven cities to the west of Hebron, in the highlands of Judah (Josh. 15:49; Judg. 1:11-15). It was originally one of the towns of the Anakim (Josh. 15:15), and was also called Kirjath-sepher (q.v.) and Kirjath-sannah (49). Caleb, who had conquered and taken possession of the town and district of Hebron (Josh. 14:6-15), offered the hand of his daughter to any one who would successfully lead a party against Debir. Othniel, his younger brother (Judg. 1:13; 3:9), achieved the conquest, and gained Achsah as his wife. She was not satisfied with the portion her father gave her, and…
king of Eglon; one of the five kings hanged by Joshua. (Joshua 10:3,23) (B.C. 1440.)
A word, an oracle, Jud 1:11, a place called also KIRJATH-SEPHER, a city of books; and KIRJATH-SANNAH, a city of literature, Jos 5:15,15. Judging from the names, it appears to have been some sacred place among the Canaanites, and a repository of their records. It was a city in the south-west part of Judea, conquered from the Anakim by Joshua, but recaptured by the Canaanites, and resubdued by Othniel, and afterwards given to the priests, Jos 10:38,39 15:15-17 21:15. Its site is wholly lost. There was another Debir in Gad, and a third on the border of Benjamin, Jos 13:26 15:7.
an orator; a word
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
גֶּ֫דֶר (geder) refers to a Canaanite city mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in Joshua 12:13. It is linked to the meaning of 'wall' and is associated with another location, גְּדוֹר (Gedor). The entries indicate that it is a proper noun and a geographical location.
גֶּ֫דֶר n.pr.loc. Canaanitish city Jos 12:13.
ref
H1445 גֶּ֫דֶר
1445 Geder gheh'-der
: the same as 1444; Geder, a place in Palestine:--Geder.
see HEBREW for 01444
גֶּ֫דֶר (ge.der) — Geder.
Geder = "wall"
one of the Canaanite towns captured in the Promised Land by Joshua and the Israelites
Another name of ge.dor (גְּדוֹר "Gedor" H1446G)
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Geder
A walled place, (Josh. 12:13), perhaps the same as Gederah or Gedor (15:58).
(a wall). The king of Geder was one of the thirty-one kings who were overcome by Joshua on the west of the Jordan. (Joshua 12:13) (B.C. 1445.) It is possible that it may be the same place as the Geder named in (1 Chronicles 4:39)
The word signifies a wall, inclosure, fortified place; as do also the two names following, which are derived from it. Geder itself was an ancient Canaanitish place, in the plain of Judah, Jos 12:13, and was probably the same with the following Gederah.
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.