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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>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?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/5-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/06_Jos_05_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 5:14 - The Commander of the LORD's Army" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Neither, He replied. I have now come as Commander of the LORD's army. 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Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” <a href="/bsb/joshua/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “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?” <a href="/kjv/joshua/5.htm">King James Bible</a> 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? <a href="/nkjv/joshua/5.htm">New King James Version</a> So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” <a href="/nasb_/joshua/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> He said, “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” <a href="/nasb/joshua/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> He said, &#8220No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.&#8221 And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, &#8220What has my lord to say to his servant?&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/joshua/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And he said, “No, rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” <a href="/lsb/joshua/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> He said, “No! Rather I indeed come now as commander of the host of Yahweh.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and bowed down and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his slave?” <a href="/amp/joshua/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> He said, “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the LORD.” Then Joshua fell with his face toward the earth and bowed down, and said to him, “What does my lord have to say to his servant?” <a href="/csb/joshua/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in homage and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant? ” <a href="/hcsb/joshua/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Neither,&#8221 He replied. &#8220I have now come as commander of the LORD&#8217s army.&#8221 Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, &#8220What does my Lord want to say to His servant?&#8221 <a href="/asv/joshua/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> And he said, Nay; but as prince of the host of Jehovah 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? <a href="/cev/joshua/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> "Neither," he answered. "I am here because I am the commander of the LORD's army." Joshua fell to his knees and bowed down to the ground. "I am your servant," he said. "Tell me what to do." <a href="/erv/joshua/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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? <a href="/gwt/joshua/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> He answered, "Neither one! I am here as the commander of the LORD's army." Immediately, Joshua bowed with his face touching the ground and worshiped. He asked, "Sir, what do you want to tell me?" <a href="/gnt/joshua/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Neither," the man answered. "I am here as the commander of the LORD's army." Joshua threw himself on the ground in worship and said, "I am your servant, sir. What do you want me to do?" <a href="/isv/joshua/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> "Neither," he answered. "I have come as commander of the LORD's Army." Joshua immediately fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, saying to him, "Lord, what do you have for your servant by way of command?" <a href="/msb/joshua/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> “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?” <a href="/net/joshua/5.htm">NET Bible</a> He answered, "Truly I am the commander of the LORD's army. Now I have arrived!" Joshua bowed down with his face to the ground and asked, "What does my master want to say to his servant?" <a href="/nheb/joshua/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And he said to him, "Truly I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell facedown to the ground and worshipped, and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" <a href="/wbt/joshua/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And he said, No; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and said to him, What saith my lord to his servant? <a href="/web/joshua/5.htm">World English Bible</a> He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of Yahweh’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and asked him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/joshua/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And He says, “No, for I [am] Prince of YHWH’s host; now I have come”; and Joshua falls on his face to the earth, and pays respect, and says to Him, “What is my Lord speaking to His servant?” <a href="/ylt/joshua/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And He saith, 'No, for I am Prince of Jehovah's host; now I have come;' and Joshua falleth on his face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith to Him, 'What is my Lord speaking unto His servant?' <a href="/slt/joshua/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he will say, No; but I chief of the army of Jehovah come now. And Joshua will fall on his face to the earth and will worship him, and will say to him, What speaks my lord to his servant?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/joshua/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he answered: No: but I am prince of the host of the Lord, and now I am come. Josue fell on his face to the ground. And worshipping, add: What saith my lord to his servant? <a href="/cpdv/joshua/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he responded: “Not at all. Instead, I am a prince of the host of the Lord, and now I have arrived.” <V 5:15>Joshua fell prone on the ground. And reverencing, he said, “What does my lord say to his servant?” <a href="/nabre/joshua/5.htm">New American Bible</a> He replied, “Neither. I am the commander of the army of the LORD: now I have come.” Then Joshua fell down to the ground in worship, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” <a href="/nrsvce/joshua/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He replied, “Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, “What do you command your servant, my lord?”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/joshua/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he said to him, I am the commander of the host of the LORD, and now I have come here. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said. What hath my LORD to say to his servant? <a href="/hpbt/joshua/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> He said to him: “I am Commander of the armies of LORD JEHOVAH, and now I have come.” And Yeshua fell on his face on the ground and he worshiped and he said: “What says my Lord to his Servant?”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/joshua/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And he said: 'Nay, but I am captain of the host of the LORD; I am now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said unto him: 'What saith my lord unto his servant?' <a href="/sep/joshua/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And he said to him, I am now come, the chief captain of the host of the Lord. And Joshua fell on his face upon the earth, and said to him, Lord, what commandest thou thy servant? <a href="/parallel/joshua/5-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=1004" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/joshua/5.htm">The Commander of the LORD's Army</a> 13Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” 14<a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">“Neither,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">He replied.</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: ’ă·nî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">“I</a> <a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: ‘at·tāh (Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">have now</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: ḇā·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">come</a> <a href="/hebrew/8269.htm" title="8269: śar- (N-msc) -- Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince. From sarar; a head person.">as Commander</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/6635.htm" title="6635: ṣə·ḇā- (N-csc) -- Or tsbadah; from tsaba'; a mass of persons, especially reg. Organized for war; by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively.">army.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">Then Joshua</a> <a href="/hebrew/5307.htm" title="5307: way·yip·pōl (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall, lie. A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications.">fell</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">facedown</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pā·nāw (N-cpc:: 3ms) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’ar·ṣāh (N-fs:: 3fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7812.htm" title="7812: way·yiš·tā·ḥū (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To bow down. A primitive root; to depress, i.e. Prostrate.">in reverence</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and asked</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">Him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: māh (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/113.htm" title="113: ’ă·ḏō·nî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Lord. Or adon; from an unused root; sovereign, i.e. Controller.">does my Lord</a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: mə·ḏab·bêr (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">have to say</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘aḇ·dōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">His servant?”</a> 15The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/3-5.htm">Exodus 3:5</a> “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” <a href="/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20-23</a> Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. / Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him. / But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. ... <a href="/numbers/22-31.htm">Numbers 22:31</a> Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown. <a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a> Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. <a href="/daniel/10-5.htm">Daniel 10:5-6</a> I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. / His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. <a href="/zechariah/1-8.htm">Zechariah 1:8-11</a> I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. / “What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.” / Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” ... <a href="/zechariah/3-1.htm">Zechariah 3:1-2</a> Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. / And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?” <a href="/zechariah/14-3.htm">Zechariah 14:3-4</a> Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. / On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south. <a href="/matthew/28-18.htm">Matthew 28:18</a> Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. <a href="/luke/2-13.htm">Luke 2:13-14</a> And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!” <a href="/john/1-51.htm">John 1:51</a> Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” <a href="/acts/7-30.htm">Acts 7:30-32</a> After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. / When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him: / ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. <a href="/acts/9-3.htm">Acts 9:3-5</a> As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. / He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” / “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-4.htm">1 Corinthians 10:4</a> and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. <a href="/ephesians/6-12.htm">Ephesians 6:12</a> For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And he said, No; 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 to him, What said my Lord to his servant?but as captain.<a href="/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20-22</a> Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared… <a href="/isaiah/55-4.htm">Isaiah 55:4</a> Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.<a href="/daniel/10-13.htm">Daniel 10:13,21</a> But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia… fell on his<a href="/genesis/17-3.htm">Genesis 17:3,17</a> And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, … <a href="/leviticus/9-24.htm">Leviticus 9:24</a> And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.<a href="/numbers/16-22.htm">Numbers 16:22,45</a> And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? … What saith<a href="/1_samuel/3-9.htm">1 Samuel 3:9,10</a> Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place… <a href="/psalms/110-1.htm">Psalm 110:1</a> A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.<a href="/matthew/22-44.htm">Matthew 22:44</a> The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/20-9.htm">Armies</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-5.htm">Army</a> <a href="/numbers/22-35.htm">Bid</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/30-17.htm">Bowed</a> <a href="/numbers/14-4.htm">Captain</a> <a href="/genesis/26-26.htm">Commander</a> <a href="/joshua/4-24.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/joshua/4-13.htm">Host</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-3.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/joshua/2-14.htm">Jehovah's</a> <a href="/joshua/5-13.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/2-3.htm">Message</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-16.htm">Prince</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-20.htm">Rather</a> <a href="/joshua/4-14.htm">Reverence</a> <a href="/joshua/1-15.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-21.htm">Worship</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-26.htm">Worshiped</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-26.htm">Worshipped</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/10-5.htm">Armies</a> <a href="/joshua/5-15.htm">Army</a> <a href="/joshua/6-10.htm">Bid</a> <a href="/joshua/23-16.htm">Bowed</a> <a href="/joshua/5-15.htm">Captain</a> <a href="/joshua/5-15.htm">Commander</a> <a href="/joshua/7-6.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/joshua/5-15.htm">Host</a> <a href="/joshua/7-20.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/joshua/5-15.htm">Jehovah's</a> <a href="/joshua/5-15.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/judges/3-19.htm">Message</a> <a href="/joshua/5-15.htm">Prince</a> <a href="/joshua/22-24.htm">Rather</a> <a href="/judges/6-10.htm">Reverence</a> <a href="/joshua/8-31.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/joshua/22-25.htm">Worship</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Worshiped</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Worshipped</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 5</div>1. <a href="/joshua/5-1.htm">The Canaanites are afraid</a> 2. <a href="/joshua/5-2.htm">Joshua renews circumcision</a> 10. <a href="/joshua/5-10.htm">The Passover is kept at Gilgal</a> 12. <a href="/joshua/5-12.htm">manna ceases</a> 13. <a href="/joshua/5-13.htm">An angel appears to Joshua</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/joshua/5.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>Neither, He replied The response "Neither" is significant in its neutrality. The Hebrew word used here is "לֹא" (lo), which simply means "no" or "neither." This indicates that the divine figure is not aligning with human factions but stands apart, representing God's sovereign purposes. This neutrality emphasizes that God's plans transcend human conflicts and allegiances, reminding us that His ways are higher than ours (<a href="/isaiah/55-8.htm">Isaiah 55:8-9</a>).But as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come The title "Commander of the army of the LORD" is profound. The Hebrew word for "Commander" is "שַׂר" (sar), meaning prince, leader, or chief. This title suggests a high-ranking celestial being, possibly a theophany or Christophany, indicating the pre-incarnate Christ. The "army of the LORD" refers to the heavenly hosts, underscoring God's omnipotence and the spiritual reality beyond the physical realm. This appearance reassures Joshua of divine support and guidance as Israel embarks on the conquest of Canaan.Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence Joshua's reaction of falling "facedown in reverence" is a gesture of worship and submission. The Hebrew word for "fell" is "נָפַל" (naphal), which conveys a sudden and complete prostration. This act signifies Joshua's recognition of the divine presence and authority before him. It reflects the appropriate response to God's holiness and majesty, as seen throughout Scripture when individuals encounter the divine (e.g., <a href="/isaiah/6-5.htm">Isaiah 6:5</a>, <a href="/revelation/1-17.htm">Revelation 1:17</a>).and asked Him, 'What does my Lord have to say to His servant?' Joshua's question, "What does my Lord have to say to His servant?" demonstrates humility and readiness to obey. The term "my Lord" (אֲדֹנִי, Adoni) is a respectful address, acknowledging the authority of the divine figure. By referring to himself as "His servant," Joshua positions himself as a willing and obedient follower, eager to receive divine instruction. This attitude is essential for leaders and believers, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's guidance and submitting to His will in all endeavors.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 14. - And he said, Nay. Many MSS. which are followed by the LXX. and Syriac versions, have לו for לאֹ here. The Chaldee and Vulgate read לאֹ, and the Masorites do not reckon this among the 15 passages in which לו is read for לאֹ (Keil). But when Keil adds that a comparison of this passage with <a href="/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21</a> decides the point, he is going too far, since כִּי often stands, like the Greek ὅτι, before a quotation, in the place of our inverted commas (see, for instance, <a href="/genesis/29-33.htm">Genesis 29:33</a>; <a href="/exodus/3-12.htm">Exodus 3:12</a>, etc.). The various reading has no doubt arisen from the ambiguity of the passage, for it appears grammatically doubtful to which part of Joshua's question the particle of negation applies. Yet it is obvious enough practically that it is in answer to the last portion of it. But as captain of the Lord's host am I now come. Literally, "for (or but) I, the captain of the Lord's host, have now come." As though he would say, "the struggle is now imminent; the conflict is all but begun; and now, at the critical moment when my help is needed, I, the captain of the hosts of the Lord, the leader of all that vast army of unseen confederates, who are destined to marshal the forces of nature, the elements of supernatural terror and dismay, on the side of the Israelites, am come to help you." That the Lord's host must mean the angels is clear from such passages as <a href="/genesis/32-2.htm">Genesis 32:2</a>; <a href="/1_kings/22-19.htm">1 Kings 22:19</a>; <a href="/psalms/103-20.htm">Psalm 103:20, 21</a>; <a href="/psalms/148-2.htm">Psalm 148:2</a>; St. <a href="/luke/2-13.htm">Luke 2:13</a> (aft <a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a>). Hengstenberg, in his 'Christology,' illustrates by <a href="/matthew/26-53.htm">Matthew 26:53</a>. Two opinions have been held by the early Church concerning this manifestation. The first regards it as the appearance of the Son of God in a visible form; the second supposes it to have been a created being - an angel - through whom Jehovah was pleased to manifest Himself. The former opinion was general in the earliest ages of the Church. The appearance of the Arian heresy, however, brought this interpretation into discredit. It was felt to be dangerous to admit it, lest it should lead to the notion that the Logos, however great and glorious a being he might be, however superior to all other created beings, was nevertheless removed by an infinite interval from the Supreme God Himself. The Jewish interpreters differ on the point. Maimonides and others (see next note) do not regard the appearance as a real one. The majority seem to have supposed it to have been the Archangel Michael. We will proceed to examine the scriptural and patristic evidence on the subject. That appearances, believed to be manifestations of God Himself in a visible form, are recorded in Scripture, is a fact which cannot be denied. Thus we have the voice of God (קול יְהֹוָה) walking in the garden (<a href="/genesis/3-8.htm">Genesis 3:8</a>). Again, in ch. 15, though first God appears to Abraham in a vision, the nature of the manifestation would seem to have changed in some respects afterwards, for we read" he brought him forth abroad" (ver. 5). Again, in ch. 18, we find that Jehovah "appeared" to Abraham as he dwelt by the oaks of Mature (ver. 1), and the narrative would suggest that Jehovah Himself appeared, and two attendant angels. This is further corroborated by the fact that Abraham remains in conference with Jehovah, while the two angels who arrived in the evening at Sodom do not appear to have been spoken of as Jehovah, or to have received Divine honours from Lot. The "man" who (<a href="/genesis/32-24.htm">Genesis 32:24</a>) wrestled with Jacob is described afterwards (ver. 30) as "God." The "angel of the Lord" who (<a href="/exodus/3-2.htm">Exodus 3:2</a>) "appeared" unto Moses "in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bush," is immediately afterwards described as Jehovah and Elohim (ver. 4), and, as in the present passage, Moses is instructed to remove his shoe from his foot in consequence of the holiness of the place in which so great a Being appeared. And here we are led to investigate the nature of that mysterious being who is described as "the angel of the Lord," the "angel," or, as the word is sometimes translated, "messenger of the covenant." He appears to Hagar (<a href="/genesis/16-7.htm">Genesis 16:7</a>), and she immediately proceeds (ver. 13) to express her belief that it is God whom she has seen. The angel who appears to Abraham at the sacrifice of Isaac (<a href="/genesis/22-11.htm">Genesis 22:11, 12, 18</a>) speaks of Himself as God. The voice of the angel, again, is regarded by Leah and Rachel as the voice of God (<a href="/genesis/31-11.htm">Genesis 31:11, 16</a>), and He calls Himself so (ver. 13). Jacob speaks of the angel as having "redeemed him from all evil" (<a href="/genesis/48-16.htm">Genesis 48:16</a>), but here the term Goel, though it means a ransomer, is not necessarily connected with moral evil. After His appearance to Hoses in the bush He becomes the special guide of the children of Israel. His divinity is again asserted in <a href="/exodus/13-21.htm">Exodus 13:21</a>, for the Being there spoken of as Jehovah is described in Joshua 14:19 as His angel. The solemn terms in which the God of Israel refers to him in <a href="/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20, 21</a> must not be passed over. He is the "Angel of Jehovah." He is sent to "keep" Israel "in the way." They were to take heed and not rebel against Him (so LXX.); for, adds Jehovah, "My name is in His inward parts" (not בּו but בְּקִרְבּו denoting close and intimate union). Cf. ver. 93 and <a href="/exodus/32-34.htm">Exodus 32:34</a>; <a href="/exodus/33-2.htm">Exodus 33:2</a>. This angel is called the Face, or Faces, of the Lord (<a href="/exodus/33-14.htm">Exodus 33:14</a>; cf. <a href="/isaiah/63-9.htm">Isaiah 63:9</a>), and is thus specially identified with the revelation of Him, like the term εἰκών in the New Testament. The angel that withstood Balaam assumes a tone of authority in harmony with this view (<a href="/numbers/22-22.htm">Numbers 22:22-35</a>). Whether the angel at Bochim (<a href="/judges/2-1.htm">Judges 2:1</a>) were a Divine or human messenger does not appear from the narrative, and the word is occasionally, as in <a href="/haggai/1-13.htm">Haggai 1:13</a>, used of a prophet. But the appearance to Gideon and Manoah has a Divine character (<a href="/judges/6-11.htm">Judges 6:11-22</a>; <a href="/judges/13-8.htm">Judges 13:8-22</a>). And the special reference to Jehovah, the angel of the covenant, in <a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Malachi 3:1</a> seems to point in a special manner to the Second Person in the Blessed Trinity. This view, as has been stated, is the view of the earlier Fathers, nor does there seem any reasonable ground for its rejection by those of later date. The idea that the Logos, always the medium of the Father's revelation and impartation of Himself, in creation as in redemption, frequently took a visible form under the old dispensation in order to communicate the Divine will to mankind, does not in the least militate against the doctrine of His consubstantiality with the Father. On the contrary, it rather emphasises the fact which the New Testament teaches us throughout, that the Logos was ever the manifestation, the ἐξήγησις (<a href="/john/1.htm">John 1</a>.) of the Father, the eternal medium whereby He communicates Himself beyond Himself. This was in the main the view of the earliest Fathers. They might use an incautious expression now and then, but they ever intended to be true to the doctrine of the Consubstantial Son of the Father, who took a visible shape to convey the Father's mind to man. Thus Justin Martyr ('Dial. cum Tryphone,' 56) cites <a href="/genesis/18-1.htm">Genesis 18:1, 2</a> to prove that, as he says, "there is another God under (ὑπὸ) the the Creator of all things, who is called an angel because he announces (ἀγγέλειν) whatever the Creator of all things desires him to announce." This being, he adds, "was also God before the creation of the world." He was another God than the Creator of the world in number (ἀριθμῷ), not in mind (γνώμῃ). And from the expression "the Lord rained down fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven" (<a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Genesis 19:24</a>), he deduces the belief that this Being was "Lord from beside (παρά) the Lord who is in heaven." He proceeds to cite the passages from the Old Testament which have just been mentioned, and to draw from them the conclusion which has just been drawn, that this Being was one who ministered (ὑπηρέτοῦντα) to God who is above; the word, the ἀρχή whom He begat before all creation (see. 60, 61). Similarly Theophilus ('Ad Autolycum, 2:22) says that the Word of God held a colloquy with Adam in the person (or representation, προσώπῳ) of God. Irenaeus ('Adv. Haer.,' 4:7, 4) speaks of the Being who spake to Abraham at Mamre and Moses in the bush as superior to all created angels, and as, in fact, the Word of God; though afterwards (Joshua 20:11) he modifies this statement into a manifestation of "claritatem et dispositiones patris," "secundum dispositionum ejus causas sive efficaciam." It is to be remembered that we unfortunately chiefly possess Irenaeus in a very unsatisfactory Latin dress. Similar passages may be found in Clem., 'Alex. Paed.,' 1:7; and Tertullian, 'Adv. Prax.,' 14. The latter says that God was "invisible as the Father, but visible as the Son," the latter being the means whereby the former was revealed. The passage from Clement is embodied and improved upon in a passage in the 'Apostolic Constitutions,' which presents the primitive doctrine on this point in clearer language than any other. "To Him (Christ) did Moses bear witness, and said, 'The Lord received fire from the Lord, and rained it down.' Him did Jacob see as a man, and said, 'I have seen God face to face, and my soul is preserved.' Him did Abraham entertain, and acknowledge to be the Judge and his Lord. Him did Moses see in the bush. Him did Joshua the son of Nun see, as captain of the Lord's host, for assistance against Jericho" ('Apost. Const.,' 5:20). One passage more will be cited on this point. "Who else," says Origen, in his Homily on this passage, "is the prince of the host of the virtues of the Lord, save our Lord Jesus Christ? .... Joshua would not have adored," he adds, "unless he had recognised God." The fact that the later Fathers (St. Augustine, for instance, and Theodoret, who holds that it was Michael the Archangel who appeared to Joshua) rejected this interpretation would not be sufficient to outweigh primitive testimony at once so explicit and so general, unless it were supported by the strongest arguments. The fact that it was rejected rather from prudential motives, and that such prudence was, in point of fact, entirely unnecessary, robs the later interpretation of much of its weight. Thus much at least is certain, that we may adopt the earlier one without fear of prejudicing thereby the doctrine of the divinity of Christ. Further information on this point will be found in Hengstenberg's 'Christology,' in Liddon's 'Bampton Lectures' (Lect. it.), in Bull ('Defens. Fid. Nicen.,' 1:1), and in Keil's Commentaries upon the various passages of the Old Testament, cited above. "He here appeared as a soldier, with His sword drawn in His hand. To Abraham in his tent He appeared as a traveller; to Joshua in the field, as a man of war. Christ will be to His people what their faith expects and desires" (Matthew Henry). And Joshua fell on his face. The apparition had no doubt taken Joshua by surprise. He believed himself to be alone, when suddenly he found himself confronted by a warrior, with his sword drawn. Uncertain, in those days when Divine interposition was more common than it is now, whether what he saw was a proof that he was watched by enemies, who had resolved to cut him off by surprise, or whether God had vouchsafed to appear to him, but evidently quite prepared to expect the latter, he addresses a question to the apparition, which of itself implies at least a half belief that what he saw was something above nature. He needs but the simple reply just recorded to lead him to prostrate himself in simple faith before the Mighty One who now stood before him to be the defence and shield of His people from all their adversaries. Maimonides, in his 'Moreh Nevochim,' and others (as, for instance, Hengstenberg, 'Geschichte des Reiches Gottes,' p. 209) have regarded this as a vision seen by Joshua when he was alone, plunged in deep meditation on the difficult task before him. But without denying that many of the. Divine interpositions recorded in Scripture (as, for instance, that in <a href="/genesis/22-1.htm">Genesis 22:1</a>) took place through the inner workings of the mind as the medium of their action, yet here, as in <a href="/genesis/32.htm">Genesis 32</a>, and most probably in <a href="/exodus/3.htm">Exodus 3</a>, we have visible appearances of God to men in deep anxiety of heart, pondering "great matters" which were "too high for them." Whether we choose to accept or reject the historical narrative as a whole, there can be no rational ground for doubting that the Hebrew historians wrote under the full persuasion that they and their forefathers lived under a dispensation of continual Divine interpositions, sometimes taking place by secret inward intimations, sometimes through the Urim and Thummim; sometimes, at a crisis in the history of the nation or of an individual, by actual external appearances of God in a visible form, and that we have here an account of one of these. The purport of the appearance is, however, obscured by our present division of chapters. The narrative proceeds without a break as far as <a href="/joshua/6-5.htm">Joshua 6:5</a>. <a href="/joshua/6-1.htm">Joshua 6:1</a> is simply parenthetical and explanatory. Thus we gather that Joshua was meditating the plan of his future campaign, and deliberating on the best mode of capturing the strong walled city close by which (ver. 13) he stood, when God appeared to him in the form of a warrior, and solved all his doubts by commanding him to prepare for a miraculous intervention of His Providence, and in the place of warlike expedients to resort to a religious ceremony, which should be the external token to all the surrounding nations that the invading host was under the protection of the Lord of heaven and earth; a fact of which they were more than half convinced by the supernatural passage of the Red Sea and the Jordan (see <a href="/joshua/2-10.htm">Joshua 2:10</a>; <a href="/joshua/6-1.htm">Joshua 6:1</a>). <a href="/commentaries/joshua/5-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>“Neither,” לֹ֗א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no He replied. וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “I אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> I have now עַתָּ֣ה (‘at·tāh) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> At this time come בָ֑אתִי (ḇā·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go as commander שַׂר־ (śar-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8269.htm">Strong's 8269: </a> Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince of the LORD’s יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel army.” צְבָֽא־ (ṣə·ḇā-) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6635.htm">Strong's 6635: </a> A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign Then Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites fell facedown אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to in reverence וַיִּשְׁתָּ֔חוּ (way·yiš·tā·ḥū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7812.htm">Strong's 7812: </a> To depress, prostrate and asked וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say Him, ל֔וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> “What מָ֥ה (māh) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what does my Lord אֲדֹנִ֖י (’ă·ḏō·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_136.htm">Strong's 136: </a> The Lord have to say מְדַבֵּ֥ר (mə·ḏab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> To arrange, to speak, to subdue to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to His servant?” עַבְדּֽוֹ׃ (‘aḇ·dōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> Slave, servant <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/joshua/5-14.htm">Joshua 5:14 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/joshua/5-14.htm">OT History: Joshua 5:14 He said No (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/5-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 5:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 5:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/5-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 5:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 5:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>