Bible Strands
Joshua 5:14
“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The unnamed heavenly figure responds to Joshua’s inquiry near Jericho, declaring His divine commission before Joshua prostrates himself and asks for instructions.
The words — The Hebrew phrase שַׂר־צְבָא־יְהוָה (sar-tseva’-Yahweh) translates literally as “commander of Yahweh’s army,” anchoring the speaker’s authority in the divine host.
The thread — Joshua 5:15 records the same figure commanding Joshua to remove his sandals because the ground is holy, while Isaiah 55:4 uses different Hebrew terms to describe a Davidic leader as a witness and commander to the nations, and Genesis 17:3 notes Abram’s physical response of falling facedown when God speaks.
Why it lands — The text states that divine presence requires immediate physical submission and halts human initiative, requiring the reader to cease self-directed questioning and await direct instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
Cross-references
- Isaiah 55:4 Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.
- Genesis 17:3 Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
- Exodus 23:20 Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
- Revelation 19:10 So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
- Acts 10:25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
- Daniel 10:13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
- Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
- Luke 20:42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand
- Numbers 16:45 “Get away from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.” And Moses and Aaron fell facedown.
- Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”