Library
All Collections Home

Apocryphon of Joshua

The Apocryphon of Joshua is a parabiblical text from Qumran that expands the biblical book of Joshua with additional speeches, prayers, and traditions.|||Multiple manuscripts from Qumran Cave 4 (4Q378–4Q379). Written in Hebrew.|||Composed in the 2nd or 1st century BCE.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||Expands the book of Joshua with speeches and prayers not found in the Hebrew Bible. Illuminates how biblical traditions we're interpreted and expanded in the Second Temple period.|||Newson, C. A. "4Q378 and 4Q379: An Apocryphon of Joshua." In Qumranstudien. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1996.|||Vermes, G. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English. Penguin, 1997.|||Feldman, A. " The Apocryphon of Joshua." In The Dead Sea Scrolls: Texts and Context. Brill, 2010.|||Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library|https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/|View 4Q378–4Q379 fragments.;; Wikipedia — Apocryphon of Joshua|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocryphon_of_Joshua|Background and discussion.|||" And Joshua said to the children of Israel: 'Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will go before you.'" — Apocryphon of Joshua (paraphrase)

Collection: Dead Sea Scrolls (Qumran) Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

Composed in the 2nd or 1st century BCE.

Language & Manuscripts

Multiple manuscripts from Qumran Cave 4 (4Q378–4Q379). Written in Hebrew.

Why It Matters for Study

Expands the book of Joshua with speeches and prayers not found in the Hebrew Bible. Illuminates how biblical traditions we're interpreted and expanded in the Second Temple period.

" And Joshua said to the children of Israel: 'Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will go before you.'" — Apocryphon of Joshua (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Newson, C. A. "4Q378 and 4Q379: An Apocryphon of Joshua." In Qumranstudien. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1996.
Vermes, G. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English. Penguin, 1997.
Feldman, A. " The Apocryphon of Joshua." In The Dead Sea Scrolls: Texts and Context. Brill, 2010.