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Question #265

What is the “booty” in Joshua 8:2?

I was reading Joshua 8 verse 2. What does it mean when the verse uses the word “booty”? I can’t figure it out but it was used twice between Leviticus and Joshua around or dealing with war. Thanks.

The Answer:

This question is a good illustration of the advisability of having more than one translation. The word “booty” (NKJV, RSV) is translated as “prey” (KJV, ASV), and “plunder” (NASV, ESV). It is translated from a Hebrew word meaning: “1) to spoil, plunder, prey upon, seize 1a) (Qal) to spoil, plunder, despoil 1b) (Niphal) to be spoiled, plundered 1c) (Pual) to be taken as spoil.” Strong’s. In the KJV it occurs 43 times and is translated as “spoil 9, prey 9, spoiled 6, rob 6, take 6, take away 2, caught 1, gathering 1, robbers 1, took 1, utterly 1. Strong’s.

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