The Church Fathers on this verse

Joshua 18:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And Joshua said to them: How long are you indolent and slack, and go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given you?

Douay-Rheims

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַד־אָ֙נָה֙ אַתֶּ֣ם מִתְרַפִּ֔ים לָבוֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ נָתַ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Beda Venerabilis

7th centuryChurch Father

The turbulent, salty waves of the profound waters may symbolize the transgressions that lead the unrighteous to perish in the wickedness of their worldly existence, as well as the depths of their eventual ruin. On the Day of Judgment, they will face eternal damnation along with the adversary. It is important to recognize that when the Tabernacle was established on Mount Sinai, the Red Sea lay to its west, and when it was transported to Shiloh and erected there by Joshua, the Mediterranean Sea was likewise positioned to the west. In the deeper meaning of Scripture, we can infer that the faithful servants of the Lord create a dwelling for Him in their hearts during their earthly lives, setting aside the arrogant self-glorification of the self-righteous as they discern its imminent end.

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The just shall dwell in their eternal home beside the Lord and will witness the everlasting judgment of the wicked without compromising their blessed state. Therefore, our forebears also express their gratitude to the Lord, for they not only experience the blessings granted by Him but also perceive the evil from which He has rescued them.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.