Joshua 7:3

KJV1611 – Modern English

And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, Do not let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai; and do not make all the people labor there; for they are but few.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not everyone needs to go up. About two or three thousand men are enough to attack Ai. Do not make all the people toil there, for the population is small."

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    And they returned to hua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    they came agayne to Iosua, and sayde vnto him: Let not all the people go vp, but vpon a two or thre thousande, that they maye go vp and smyte Hai, lest all the people weerye them selues there, for they are but fewe.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    And returned to Ioshua, and saide vnto him, Let not al the people go vp, but let as it were two or three thousand men go vp, and smite Ai, and make not al the people to labour thither, for they are fewe.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    And returned to Iosuah, and sayde vnto him, Let not all the people go vp: but let as it were two or three thousande men go vp, and smyte Ai: and make not all the people to labour thyther, for they are but fewe.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; [and] make not all the people to labour thither; for they [are but] few.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    They returned to Joshua, and said to him, Don't let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai; don't make all the people to toil there; for they are but few.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    and they turn back unto Joshua, and say unto him, `Let not all the people go up; let about two thousand men, or about three thousand men, go up, and they smite Ai; cause not all the people to labour thither; for they `are' few.'

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Then they came back to Joshua and said to him, Do not send all the people up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and make an attack on Ai; there is no need for all the people to be tired with the journey there, for it is only a small town.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    They returned to Joshua, and said to him, "Don't let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Don't make all the people to toil there, for there are only a few of them."

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    They returned and reported to Joshua,“Don’t send the whole army. About two or three thousand men are adequate to defeat Ai. Don’t tire out the whole army, for Ai is small.”

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 13:4 : 4 The soul of the sluggard desires and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
  • Prov 21:25 : 25 The desire of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
  • Luke 13:24 : 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
  • Heb 4:11 : 11 Let us therefore labor to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief.
  • Heb 6:11-12 : 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 That you not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
  • 2 Pet 1:5 : 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
  • 2 Pet 1:10 : 10 Therefore, brethren, be diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you shall never fall:

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Josh 7:4-5
    2 verses
    90%

    4So about three thousand men went up there from the people: and they fled before the men of Ai.

    5And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men: for they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent: so the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

  • Josh 8:1-4
    4 verses
    80%

    1And the LORD said to Joshua, Do not fear or be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.

    2And you shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king, only the spoil and the cattle shall you take for a prey for yourselves; lay an ambush for the city behind it.

    3So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night.

    4And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city; do not go very far from the city, but be all ready.

  • Josh 7:1-2
    2 verses
    80%

    1But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

    2And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

  • Josh 8:9-27
    19 verses
    75%

    9Joshua therefore sent them forth, and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

    10And Joshua rose early in the morning, and numbered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.

    11And all the people, even the people of war who were with him, went up and drew near, and came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai; now there was a valley between them and Ai.

    12And he took about five thousand men and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.

    13And when they had set the people, even all the army that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.

    14And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he did not know that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.

    15And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.

    16And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them; and they pursued after Joshua and were drawn away from the city.

    17And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel; and they left the city open and pursued after Israel.

    18And the LORD said to Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.

    19And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand; and they entered into the city and took it and hastened and set the city on fire.

    20And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way; and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

    21And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again and slew the men of Ai.

    22And the others issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side; and they struck them so that none of them remained or escaped.

    23And the king of Ai they took alive and brought him to Joshua.

    24And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they chased them, and when they were all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword.

    25And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, all the men of Ai.

    26For Joshua did not draw his hand back, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

    27Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.

  • Judg 7:2-3
    2 verses
    73%

    2And the LORD said to Gideon, The people with you are too many for me to hand the Midianites over to you, lest Israel boast against me, saying, My own hand has saved me.

    3Now therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead. And twenty-two thousand of the people returned; and ten thousand remained.

  • Josh 9:3
    71%

    3And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

  • Josh 4:13
    69%

    13About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for battle.

  • Josh 2:22-23
    2 verses
    69%

    22And they went, and came unto the mountain, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

    23So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:

  • Judg 7:7-8
    2 verses
    69%

    7And the LORD said to Gideon, By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand; let all the other people go every man to his place.

    8So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets, and he sent all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men; and the Midianite army was below him in the valley.

  • Josh 6:7
    69%

    7And he said to the people, Proceed, and surround the city, and let him who is armed go on before the ark of the LORD.

  • Josh 18:4
    69%

    4Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them. They shall rise and go through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance, and return to me.

  • Neh 7:32
    68%

    32The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty-three.

  • Josh 3:2
    68%

    2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the camp;

  • Ezra 2:28
    67%

    28The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.

  • Josh 10:7-8
    2 verses
    67%

    7So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.

    8And the LORD said to Joshua, Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.

  • Josh 18:9
    67%

    9So the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and returned to Joshua at Shiloh.

  • Josh 6:3
    67%

    3And you shall surround the city, all you men of war, and go around the city once. You shall do this for six days.

  • Josh 11:6-7
    2 verses
    67%

    6And the LORD said to Joshua, Do not be afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them all slain before Israel: you shall hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

    7So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they attacked them.

  • Num 13:31
    66%

    31But the men who went up with him said, We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.