Lexical Summary sarad: To escape, to survive, to remain Original Word: שָׂרַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance remain A primitive root; properly, to puncture (compare sered), i.e. (figuratively through the idea of slipping out) to escape or survive -- remain. see HEBREW sered NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to escape NASB Translation remained (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [שָׂרַד] verb escape (Arabic  take fright, shy (of camel or horse), run away; Aramaic  be terrified,  survivor); — Qal Perfect3plural שָֽׂרְדוּ Joshua 10:20 (J E; with מִן person), Benn strike out as dittograph Topical Lexicon Overview The verb שָׂרַד (Strong’s Hebrew 8277) expresses the idea of surviving or remaining after a decisive event, usually a destructive judgment or battle. Though it appears only once, its lone occurrence in Joshua 10:20 anchors it to the broader, recurring biblical theme of a spared remnant—those left alive by the providence of God for His unfolding purposes. Scriptural Occurrence Joshua 10:20 is the single attestation: “So it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had finished striking them with a very great slaughter until they were destroyed, and the survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities,” (Berean Standard Bible). The term translated “survivors” (“the survivors who remained”) encapsulates both noun and verb forms built on the root שָׂרַד, underscoring the concept of a small group escaping total annihilation. Historical Setting in Joshua The battle at Gibeon was part of the southern campaign led by Joshua against the Amorite coalition. Divine intervention through hailstones and an extended day (Joshua 10:11–14) signified that the victory belonged to the Lord. The narrative pauses to note a handful of enemy combatants who “survived” by fleeing into fortified cities. Their temporary escape highlights both the completeness of Israel’s triumph and the inescapability of God’s judgment, for the campaign soon continued until “Joshua took all the land” (Joshua 10:42). Theology of the Remnant 1. Instrument of Judgment and Mercy Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility The fugitives of Joshua 10:20 illustrate the tension between divine decree and human agency. They ran to strongholds, demonstrating human instinct for self-preservation, yet their survival rested ultimately on the boundaries set by God (Job 14:5). Scripture repeatedly affirms that “no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can prevail against the LORD” (Proverbs 21:30), reminding believers that every escape is either permitted or prevented by His sovereign will. Ministry Implications 1. Evangelistic Urgency Christological and Eschatological Connections Jesus Christ embodies the ultimate “Survivor” who passes through death and emerges victorious, guaranteeing life to those united with Him (Revelation 1:18). Eschatologically, a remnant from every tribe and nation will worship the Lamb (Revelation 7:9-14), fulfilling the pattern hinted at in Joshua’s day: survival unto worship, not mere self-preservation. Practical Application for Believers Today • Cultivate a remnant mindset—value faithfulness over popularity. Forms and Transliterations שָׂרְד֣וּ שרדו śā·rə·ḏū sareDu śārəḏūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 10:20 HEB: תֻּמָּ֑ם וְהַשְּׂרִידִים֙ שָׂרְד֣וּ מֵהֶ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ NAS: and the survivors [who] remained of them had entered KJV: that the rest [which] remained of them entered INT: were destroyed and the survivors remained of them had entered 1 Occurrence |
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