“WERE THE 1611 KING JAMES TRANSLATORS
INCOMPETENT, DIM-WITTED DILLS?” 
aka “Their supposed 1611 failure to
correctly translate Jesus as Joshua
in Hebrews 4:8”

“For if Jesus had given them rest …”
(Hebrews 4:8 King James Bible)

“For if Joshus had given them rest …”
(Hebrews 4:8 … every Bible version)

Dear Reader, failure to grasp the To whom? For what reason? When it is was written? and Why it was written? of Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews, will see anybody … especially the learned Theological Scholars and Doctors of any clime and standard, as something akin to Smiler Grogan, played by Jimmy Durante, in the opening scene of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” … sailing off the Biblical cliff into theological and irrelevant oblivion … double revving with the pedal to the metal!

They may as well run around with a placard on their head saying “I am a Bible illiterate!” 

To wit, we refer to the apparent mistranslation of the Greek performed by the 1611 Translators, with “Jesus” instead of “Joshua”.

Yes Dear Reader, there is a gross blasphemy in having Joshua lead Israel into Canaan … instead of Jesus.

“But! But! But! But!” the Peanut Gallery interject “he did lead Israel into Canaan!”

“Duh! We know that! It’s an historical fact!”

So how come the 1611 Translators wanted to change this to Jesus?

Or were they just dimwits?

Is there another explanation?

Paul is NOT writing to back-slidden Christians as is commonly and mistakenly supposed … but to the Messiah believing Jews … that were YET to make the decision to get saved by the Saviour … the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Messianics … as the saying goes … were caught between the Rock (Jesus) and a hard place (Moses). 

They were torn between going back to Moses or moving forward to Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

Paul, in writing to the Hebrews, is making the connection that Jesus Christ is God himself, the Almighty God and JEHOVAH … the same yesterday, today and for ever.

Why?

Believing in the Christ Jesus as the Messiah, the Messianic Hebrews had left Moses, but were yet to take that final step … having him as Saviour.

So with that in mind, Paul is stating, that it is JEHOVAH, The mighty God, The everlasting Father that is leading them through the desert … and yes … they were well aware of that … with the cloud by day and the fire by night, the manna, the quails and so on

But they did not know that it was actually Jesus … not Joshus … the latter being the hired hand to do the dirty work.

Can you see that Dear Reader, Jesus is the old testament shadow … to be manifestly revealed in the new testament. 

In the old testament Jesus is the leader that follows … and the follower that leads.

He was both.

To wit:

We have the following scriptures …

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his

shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The

everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” (Hebrews 11:26)

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) .

Conclusion:

“For if Jesus (not Joshua) had given them rest …” (Hebrews 4:8 King James Bible) … is the correct translation.

Yes, Joshua did lead Israel into the promised land, but missing the fact that it was Jesus, means you do not understand Paul’s intent with his Epistle to the Hebrews.

Harley Hitchcock
February 2025

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