Joshua 5:7-9 Meaning: Shame Rolled Away at Gilgal
7Their children, whom he raised up in their place, were circumcised by Joshua, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way.
8When they were done circumcising the whole nation, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed.
9Yahweh said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal to this day.
7And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
8And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
9And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
7And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them did Joshua circumcise: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
8And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the nation, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
9And Jehovah said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, unto this day.
7and their sons He raised up in their stead, them hath Joshua circumcised, for they have been uncircumcised, for they have not circumcised them in the way.
8And it cometh to pass when all the nation have completed to be circumcised, that they abide in their places in the camp till their recovering;
9and Jehovah saith unto Joshua, `To-day I have rolled the reproach of Egypt from off you;' and one calleth the name of that place Gilgal unto this day.
7And their sons [whom] he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way.
8And it came to pass when the whole nation had finished being circumcised, that they abode in their place in the camp, till they were whole.
9And Jehovah said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. And the name of the place was called Gilgal to this day.
Meaning in one sentence
Why was circumcision delayed in the wilderness? In Joshua 5:7-9, God rolls away the reproach of Egypt, marking a new start for His people at Gilgal.
Context
After four decades in the wilderness, the new generation has crossed the Jordan and camped at Gilgal. The men born during those long years have never been circumcised. The older generation, who had been circumcised in Egypt, died in the desert because they did not trust God. Now, before the first Passover in the Promised Land, Joshua obeys God’s command to circumcise the entire nation. It is a vulnerable moment: the whole camp must rest until the wounds heal. But God speaks: He has rolled away the reproach of Egypt from His people. The place is named Gilgal to remember this day, a rolling away of shame and a fresh start.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this passage. The name Gilgal comes from the verb galal (to roll). When God says “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt,” He uses that same verb, galloti. A word full of motion, like a stone rolling free. The reproach brought from Egypt (cherpah) meant more than a taunt; it was the heavy shame of being a slave people, wandering broken and uncircumcised. And the word for uncircumcised (arel) described those who were not marked by God’s covenant. Now that mark is restored. The same God who rolled the waters of the Jordan has rolled away the shame that followed His people. He can do the same for you.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have wondered what “the reproach of Egypt” refers to exactly. Some early Reformed commentators, like Calvin and the Geneva Bible, read it as the disgrace of being uncircumcised, a state that made Israel seem like the pagan Egyptians. Baptist expositor Gill agreed, seeing it as the reproach of being considered of the same religion as Egypt. Others, like Anglican scholar Barnes and the Cambridge Bible, thought it could be the taunts Egyptians actually hurled at Israel for their failed journey and empty wanderings. Methodist Wesley and Matthew Henry emphasized that the renewal of circumcision restored the covenant relationship. All agree on the heart of the moment: a shame was lifted, and God publicly claimed His people again.
A common misunderstanding
Some assume the wilderness generation simply neglected circumcision out of disobedience. In fact, the text says they “had not circumcised them on the way.” The constant traveling and uncertain conditions made the rite impractical. God did not command it during those forty years. The new generation was not being punished; they were being prepared. The circumcision at Gilgal was not a correction of sin but a restoration of covenant, timed by God at the very moment they stepped into His promise.
Living This Out
This week, you may be carrying a reproach from the past, something that labels you as still in the wilderness, still bound. Maybe it is a failure you cannot shake, or a season where you felt you did not measure up. God does not wait until you are perfect to act. At Gilgal, He rolled away the shame of Egypt while the men were still healing. He saw their vulnerability and called them whole. You do not need to earn a fresh start. You need only step into the place where God is already at work, and let Him name the spot after His mercy.
Main takeaway: God rolls away the shame of your past and welcomes you into His promises when you step forward in trust.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Joshua to help the people get ready for a new home. They did something that hurt for a little while, but God said He took away their old shame. Sometimes getting ready for something good can be hard, but God is with us.
For ages 9, 12
The Israelites had wandered for forty years, and the men born in the desert had never been circumcised. But right after crossing the Jordan, Joshua obeyed God and did it. It made them very vulnerable, enemies could have attacked. But God protected them, and He said the old reproach from Egypt was rolled away. This teaches us that obeying God can feel risky, but He uses it to give us a clean start and draw us closer to Him.
Questions People Ask
Why were the children not circumcised during the wilderness wanderings?
The text says they were not circumcised "on the way" (v.7). The constant moving and harsh conditions of the forty-year journey made it impractical and possibly dangerous. God did not command it during that time. The generation that left Egypt had already been circumcised, and their children would be circumcised once they entered the land.
What does the name Gilgal mean?
Gilgal comes from the Hebrew verb galal, meaning "to roll." God said, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you" (v.9). So the place was named Gilgal to remember that God rolled away their shame.
What is the reproach of Egypt?
Christians interpret this in different ways. Some see it as the disgrace of being uncircumcised, which made Israel seem like the pagan Egyptians. Others think it refers to the taunts Egyptians made about Israel's failure to reach the Promised Land. Either way, the circumcision at Gilgal restored the covenant and removed the shame.
Why did God command circumcision at that exact moment, when the camp was vulnerable?
Circumcision was a sign of the covenant (Genesis 17). By performing the rite right after crossing the Jordan, Israel was publicly recommitting to God at the doorstep of the land He promised. God had already caused the Canaanites' hearts to melt (Joshua 5:1), so the camp was protected. The timing showed that obedience and trust come before possession of the promise.
How does this passage connect to the Passover that follows?
Immediately after healing from circumcision, the people kept the Passover at Gilgal (Joshua 5:10). Circumcision was required for foreigners to eat the Passover (Exodus 12:48). So the rite prepared the whole nation to celebrate their deliverance together, in the land God had given them, a new beginning for the new generation.
For pastors & researchers
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