Joshua 5:6 Meaning: Why the Men of War Died in the Wilderness
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to Yahweh’s voice. Yahweh swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which Yahweh swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that he would not shew them the land, which the Lord sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah: unto whom Jehovah sware that he would not let them see the land which Jehovah sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
for forty years have the sons of Israel gone in the wilderness, till all the nation of the men of war who are coming out of Egypt, who hearkened not to the voice of Jehovah, to whom Jehovah hath sworn not to show them the land which Jehovah sware to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey, are consumed;
For the children of Israel had walked forty years in the wilderness, till the whole nation of men of war had perished who had come out of Egypt, who had not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah; to whom Jehovah had sworn that he would not show them the land which Jehovah had sworn unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Meaning in one sentence
Joshua 5:6 explains why the Israelites wandered 40 years, the men of war died for not listening to God.
Context
The people have just crossed the Jordan on dry ground, and the Canaanites are terrified. Now God tells Joshua to circumcise the new generation. Verses 4 through 6 explain why: the generation that came out of Egypt, the men eligible for war, had all died in the wilderness because they refused to listen to God's voice. He had sworn they would not see the land He promised to their ancestors. So for forty years they walked until that whole generation was gone. Now their children, who had not been circumcised during the years of wandering, receive the covenant sign again at Gilgal. It is a solemn moment: one generation's failure, another generation's fresh start.
Key Words
Two Hebrew verbs carry the weight of this verse. The first is shama, usually translated as “listened” or “obeyed.” It means more than hearing a sound; it means to hear with attention and let that hearing shape your actions. That generation heard God's voice through Moses at Kadesh, but they did not shama, they refused to trust what He said. The second verb is tamam, rendered here as “consumed.” It carries the sense of being completely finished, used up, brought to an end. The men of war were not simply scattered; they were ended, just as God had sworn. And the phrase “flowing with milk and honey” uses the rare verb zuv, meaning to gush or overflow. That is the land they never saw. The words remind us that listening to God is not a passive act, it is the difference between walking into abundance and walking in circles until nothing is left.
How Christians Read This Verse
Matthew Henry sees this as a clear lesson on judgment: the generation died because they disobeyed, and God is not mocked. Wesley notes that the Hebrew word for “people” in this verse often refers to the Gentiles, suggesting that these Israelites had become unworthy of the name of their fathers. Barnes points out that the forty years is a round number, and the omission of circumcision during the wandering was itself a sign that the nation was under a temporary ban. Keil and Delitzsch frame it as a preparation for the renewal of the covenant at Gilgal. Across these traditions, Christians agree that disobedience carries genuine consequences, but they also see God faithfully preserving the promise for the next generation.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the entire nation of Israel died in the wilderness, leaving only Joshua and Caleb. In fact, the verse specifies “the men of war who came out of Egypt.” Women, children, and Levites were not counted among that group. The chapter immediately shows that their children were alive, uncircumcised, and now receiving the covenant sign at Gilgal. The judgment fell on the adult generation that refused to trust God at Kadesh, not on everyone.
Living This Out
This verse asks a hard question: where am I refusing to listen to God? Maybe it is a command to forgive someone, a step of faith I keep putting off, or a habit I know needs to stop. The forty years of walking show that stubbornness can cost me the best God has. But the good news in this chapter is that God does not give up. He raises up a new generation, gives them the covenant sign, and leads them into the land. This week, you can pick one area where you have been slow to obey and ask God for the grace to listen, and act, today.
Main takeaway: God does not go back on His promises, but our refusal to listen can delay and even deny us the enjoyment of them.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The Israelites walked for a very long time because the grown-ups did not listen to God. But God did not give up. He took care of the children, and when they grew up, they got to go into the good land He promised.
For ages 9, 12
The men who came out of Egypt refused to trust God when He said He would give them the land. So God let them wander until they died. But their children were different. They learned to listen. At Gilgal, Joshua circumcised them as a sign that they belonged to God. It was a fresh start. Sometimes we inherit the consequences of others’ choices, but we can choose to trust and obey God ourselves.
Questions People Ask
Why did the Israelites have to wander for forty years?
Because at Kadesh the adult generation refused to trust God after the spies' bad report. God swore that generation would not enter the land, so they wandered until they all died (Numbers 14:28, 35). The forty years was the time for that generation to be fully consumed.
What does 'flowing with milk and honey' mean?
It is a phrase used throughout the Old Testament to describe the richness of the land of Canaan. Milk from goats and sheep, and honey from wild bees, were everyday foods in a fruitful land. It symbolizes God's generous provision and the abundance He had promised their ancestors.
Did all the Israelites die in the wilderness?
No. The verse specifically says 'the men of war who came out of Egypt' were consumed. Women, children, and the Levites were not included. The chapter immediately shows that their children were alive and uncircumcised, and they were the ones who now received the covenant sign at Gilgal.
Why was circumcision not practiced during the forty years in the wilderness?
Many commentators note that the judgment pronounced at Kadesh placed the whole nation under a temporary ban, so the sign of the covenant was suspended. Once the judgment was complete and the new generation was about to enter the land, they renewed the covenant by circumcising at Gilgal (Joshua 5:2, 9).
What is the connection between this verse and the circumcision at Gilgal?
Joshua 5:6 gives the background: the old generation died for disobedience, and their children had not been circumcised in the wilderness. So Joshua circumcises the new generation as a sign that they are taking up the covenant their parents rejected. It marks a new beginning before the conquest of Canaan.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study