Joshua 7 19

Joshua 7:19 kjv

And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

Joshua 7:19 nkjv

Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

Joshua 7:19 niv

Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."

Joshua 7:19 esv

Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

Joshua 7:19 nlt

Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don't hide it from me."

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 19 Meaning

Joshua 7:19 serves as a solemn injunction for Achan to confess his transgression openly before God and man. It is a demand for a full and truthful acknowledgment of his sin in taking the devoted things, framed as giving glory to the Lord, the God of Israel. This act of confession is essential not only for Achan's own reconciliation with the divine truth but also for the spiritual cleansing and restoration of the entire Israelite community, which had been defiled by his hidden sin. It underscores God's omniscient knowledge of all things and His requirement for truth and transparency from His people, especially in matters concerning His holiness and covenant.

Joshua 7 19 Context

Joshua 7:19 takes place immediately following Israel's unexpected and demoralizing defeat at Ai, after their miraculous victory at Jericho. The entire community was thrown into confusion and dismay, questioning God's presence and covenant fidelity. Joshua himself was prostrate before the Lord, seeking an explanation for the setback. God revealed that Israel had sinned by violating the herem, the strict prohibition against taking any devoted spoils from Jericho. The identity of the perpetrator was pinpointed through a divinely guided process involving tribal, clan, and household selection by lot, ultimately leading to Achan. This verse captures Joshua's direct confrontation with Achan, providing him a final opportunity to acknowledge his transgression and glorify God through confession before the communal judgment. The context highlights the grave seriousness of sin within the covenant community, the immediate impact it has on others, and God's unwavering requirement for holiness and truth among His people as they possess the promised land.

Joshua 7 19 Word analysis

• Then Joshua said to Achan:

  • Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - Yehoshua): Means "The Lord is salvation." He acts here as God's representative and Israel's spiritual leader, mediating between divine command and human responsibility. His role is to maintain the holiness of the covenant people.
  • Achan (עָכָן - Akhan): His name, often associated with the Hebrew root akar (to trouble or bring disaster), is a direct play on his action in troubling Israel (Josh 7:25). He personifies the problem that brought judgment upon the community.

• "My son," (בְּנִי - b'ni):

  • This address carries multiple layers. It signifies pastoral concern, acknowledging a personal relationship or a plea for a fatherly obedience to a spiritual leader. It softens the stern accusation, indicating a final chance for personal reconciliation through confession, not merely a legal interrogation. It may also imply Achan is young or acknowledge his lineage/position within the community.

• "give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel," (שִׂים כָּבוֹד לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - sim kavod l'Yahweh Elohei Yisrael):

  • "give glory" (שִׂים כָּבוֹד - sim kavod): Literally, "set honor" or "attribute weight/heavy truth." This is not merely praise or adoration in a general sense, but specifically a call to acknowledge God's truth, justice, and absolute knowledge in a forensic context. It functions similarly to taking an oath or swearing to tell the truth. It signifies submitting to God's all-knowing nature. (Compare with Jn 9:24, 1 Sam 6:5).
  • "Lord" (יְהוָה - Yahweh): God's covenant name, emphasizing His personal relationship and faithfulness to Israel, highlighting that Achan's sin was against this specific, covenant-keeping God.
  • "the God of Israel": Reinforces the unique relationship between Yahweh and His chosen people, whose purity and integrity Achan had violated. The act of giving glory to Him meant confirming His verdict and restoring Him to His rightful place as sovereign in Israel.

• "and make confession to him." (וְתֵן תוֹדָה לוֹ - v'ten todah lo):

  • "make confession" (וְתֵן תוֹדָה - v'ten todah): Literally "give thanks" or "give praise." In certain contexts, especially legal ones like this, todah evolves to mean acknowledgment or admission of facts, particularly of guilt. It implies a truthful admission that gives rightful credit to God for knowing the hidden deed, thereby praising His omniscience and justice. It is an honest self-incrimination before the divine witness.

• "Tell me now what you have done; (וְהַגֵּד נָא לִי מַה עָשִׂיתָ - v'haged na li mah asita):

  • A direct command, "tell me please." It signifies Joshua's pastoral yet firm demand for the explicit details of the sin. It moves from general acknowledgment of God's truth to specific revelation of the act.

• "do not hide it from me." (אַל תְּכַחֵד מִמֶּנִּי - al t'khaḥed mimeni):

  • "do not hide" (אַל תְּכַחֵד - al t'khaḥed): A strong negative prohibition against concealing or denying. This emphasizes the critical importance of full disclosure. Secrecy in sin is a continued affront to God's omnipotence and a danger to the community.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "give glory to the Lord... and make confession to him": This coupling explicitly links true glory to God with truthful confession of sin. One cannot honor God while simultaneously concealing sin, especially when confronted with His knowledge. It reveals that the highest form of glory one can give God in such a situation is acknowledging His truth and one's own failure honestly.
  • "Lord, the God of Israel": This title grounds the demand for confession within the specific covenant relationship. Achan’s sin was not merely a personal ethical lapse but a direct violation against the very God who delivered Israel and established them as His holy people. It calls for loyalty and accountability unique to their sacred covenant.
  • "My son, give glory... do not hide it from me": This combination highlights Joshua's multi-faceted approach. The tender "My son" juxtaposed with the stern command "do not hide" indicates a desire for genuine repentance and an urgent need for the truth for the sake of the entire nation's spiritual well-being. It is a pastoral plea wrapped in a legal imperative.

Joshua 7 19 Bonus section

• Theocratic Justice: This verse and the surrounding narrative illustrate God's direct involvement in the justice system of Israel. He identifies the sin, mandates confession, and prescribes the judgment, emphasizing His direct rule as King over Israel.
• Corporate Solidarity: Achan’s sin directly affected the entire community, leading to their defeat at Ai. This concept of corporate solidarity (or corporate responsibility) is key to understanding this chapter: the actions of one individual can impact the welfare and spiritual standing of the whole group, demanding a collective response to maintain holiness.
• Significance of the Valley of Achor: After Achan's confession and punishment, the place where it happened was named the Valley of Achor, meaning "Valley of Trouble." However, centuries later, the prophet Hosea speaks of the "Valley of Achor as a door of hope" (Hos 2:15). This poetic prophecy reinterprets a place of judgment for sin as a future gateway to divine restoration and new beginnings for Israel, showing God's ultimate plan of grace even out of judgment.
• Prevention vs. Reaction: God allowed the defeat at Ai to reveal the hidden sin. This shows that God prioritizes the purity of His covenant relationship over immediate military victory. The spiritual health of His people was paramount.

Joshua 7 19 Commentary

Joshua 7:19 is a profound articulation of the nature of true confession in the face of divine knowledge. It underscores that confessing one's sin is not merely an act of admitting wrongdoing, but a direct way of glorifying God. To "give glory to the Lord" in this context means to acknowledge His absolute knowledge, His unblemished holiness, and His righteous judgment. By confessing, Achan would validate God's perfect perception and sovereign authority, rather than challenging it through denial or concealment. Joshua’s empathetic but firm approach, calling Achan “My son,” provided a final opportunity for genuine remorse and repentance, however dire the earthly consequences might be. This call to transparent confession serves to cleanse the community from the defilement of hidden sin, allowing God's blessing and presence to return fully to His people. It illustrates the corporate reality of sin, where one individual’s transgression can impede the entire community’s progress until dealt with righteously. This demand for truth reflects God's unchanging nature and His requirement for honesty from His people in all generations.