Joshua 7 18

Joshua 7:18 kjv

And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

Joshua 7:18 nkjv

Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

Joshua 7:18 niv

Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.

Joshua 7:18 esv

And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

Joshua 7:18 nlt

Every member of Zimri's family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 18 Meaning

Joshua chapter 7 verse 18 describes the moment Achan was precisely identified as the one who transgressed against the Lord's command regarding the devoted things after the fall of Jericho. Through a divinely guided process of elimination, moving from tribe to clan, family, household, and finally individual, Achan's specific identity was revealed, confirming him as the cause of Israel's recent defeat and trouble.

Joshua 7 18 Context

Joshua chapter 7 immediately follows Israel's miraculous victory at Jericho, where God commanded that all plunder, except certain items for the treasury, be devoted to Him and destroyed—the "cherem" or "accursed thing." Achan, defying this clear command, took some items for himself. Consequently, when Israel next faced a small town called Ai, they were defeated, suffering losses and national shame. God revealed to Joshua that sin was in the camp, indicating that someone had violated the "cherem." The entire nation was held responsible for this individual's sin, highlighting a concept of corporate solidarity. Chapters 7:16-18 details the systematic, divinely guided process (using lots) through which Joshua identifies the guilty party, progressing from the tribal level (Judah chosen), to the clan (Zerahites), to the family (Zabdi's household), and finally, to Achan himself within his specific household, confirming his culpability before the whole assembly. This verse marks the end of this identification process.

Joshua 7 18 Word analysis

• And he brought (וַיַּקְרֵב - vayyaqrev): From the root "qarab" (קרב), meaning to draw near, approach, or present. Here, it signifies Joshua causing them to come forward, implying a formal presentation for examination or judgment. This was not a casual gathering but a structured summoning under divine guidance.
• his household (בֵיתוֹ - beito): Refers not just to immediate family (wife, children) but often includes an extended family unit, servants, and all within the patriarchal dwelling. This emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the divine search, isolating the sin within its precise origin.
• man by man (גְבָרִים לִגְבָרִים - gevarim li'gvarim): Literally "men by men," indicating individual presentation. This final step underscores that while corporate guilt was initially applied, the ultimate responsibility and penalty fell on the individual transgressor after precise identification. It signifies the individual's inescapable accountability before God.
• and Achan (עָכָן - Akhan): His name, often pointed out by scholars, sounds like and is closely associated with the Hebrew word "akar" (עכר), meaning "to trouble, disturb, stir up." This linguistic connection forms a deliberate wordplay within the narrative (Josh 7:25), highlighting that Achan was literally the "troubler" of Israel.
• the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah: This detailed genealogy specifies Achan's direct lineage. This thorough identification process emphasizes divine justice and the unmistakable pinpointing of the transgressor, ensuring there was no doubt or mistaken identity. It connects Achan specifically to the branch of Zerah within Judah, whose ancestry is notably recorded in Gen 38.
• of the tribe of Judah (מִמַּטֵּה יְהוּדָה - mimmat'teh Yehudah): Judah was a preeminent tribe, known for leadership and strength. Achan's sin coming from such a significant tribe makes his transgression particularly striking and underscores that no part of the covenant community, no matter how prominent, is exempt from God's scrutiny or the consequences of disobedience.
• was taken (וַיִּלָּכֵד - vayyilakhed): This is a passive verb, meaning "he was caught," "he was seized," or "he was captured." The passive voice suggests that this identification was not merely by human investigation or chance, but was sovereignly orchestrated and revealed by God Himself. It implies a divine capture, where Achan could not evade detection.

• "brought his household man by man": This phrase describes the precise, granular level of examination that the divine discernment process necessitated. It shows that after the larger units (tribe, clan, family) were identified, the selection narrowed down to individuals within the final familial group. This systematic approach speaks to God's thoroughness in uncovering hidden sin.
• "Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah": This genealogical precision serves multiple purposes. It publicly authenticates Achan's identity, preventing any doubt or dispute. It emphasizes that this judgment was highly specific to one individual. Furthermore, listing his ancestry highlights that despite coming from a known and documented lineage (a Zerahite, a significant line in Judah), he still harbored sin, making it a powerful warning that spiritual heritage does not exempt one from personal accountability.
• "of the tribe of Judah, was taken": The combination of a leading tribe and the divine capture ('was taken') reinforces the profound impact of Achan's sin. Even from the lineage blessed by Jacob, one could be found to be a "troubler" of Israel. The term "was taken" strongly conveys the outcome of the divine lottery process, showing God's direct intervention in revealing the hidden transgression.

Joshua 7 18 Bonus section

The narrative of Achan's sin and identification (Joshua 7) is sometimes interpreted by scholars as containing a chiasm (A-B-C-B'-A' structure), which draws attention to the central message. In this case, the specific verses of Achan being "taken" stand at a crucial point in the identification process, serving as the climax of God's revelation and human discovery. The detailed mention of Achan's lineage, reaching back to Zerah, links back to Genesis 38, where Zerah's birth is marked by a scarlet thread, perhaps subtly contrasting the promise associated with Judah's line with the deep trouble brought by Achan from that same line. This incident in Joshua is not merely a historical account but also a powerful lesson on corporate solidarity—how the sin of one can defile or weaken the whole community—and the essential requirement of confession and removal of sin for restoration of divine favor and purity within God's people.

Joshua 7 18 Commentary

Joshua 7:18 marks the pivotal conclusion of a divinely orchestrated identification process. Following Israel's inexplicable defeat at Ai, God revealed to Joshua that His holy command concerning the "devoted things" had been violated. This verse confirms that, step-by-step through the sacred casting of lots, God meticulously pinpointed the exact individual, Achan, from within a prominent tribe of Israel. This thorough method demonstrates God's perfect justice and omnipresent knowledge; no sin remains hidden from Him. The emphasis on "man by man" highlights individual accountability, even though the nation collectively suffered for one person's disobedience. Achan's precise genealogical identification serves as an undeniable public revelation of his transgression. The narrative powerfully underscores the severity of disobedience to God's specific commands and how one individual's secret sin can profoundly trouble the entire covenant community, demanding immediate and drastic removal for purification.