Joshua 7:8 kjv
O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
Joshua 7:8 nkjv
O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies?
Joshua 7:8 niv
Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?
Joshua 7:8 esv
O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!
Joshua 7:8 nlt
Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies?
Joshua 7 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 44:9-10 | But you have rejected us and disgraced us... turned back. | Lamenting defeat and feeling abandoned by God |
| Isa 48:11 | For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how shall My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. | God acts to protect His own name and glory |
| Num 14:15-16 | If You put this people to death, then the nations who have heard Your fame will speak... | Moses interceding for God's reputation |
| Exo 32:11-12 | Moses pleaded with the Lord his God... "Why should the Egyptians speak...?" | Moses pleading for God's honor to nations |
| Joel 2:17 | ...O Lord, spare Your people; and do not make Your inheritance a reproach, a byword among the nations. | A prayer against Israel becoming a disgrace |
| Ezek 36:32 | Therefore, say to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord God, 'I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake...'" | God acts for the sake of His holy name |
| Lam 2:11 | My eyes fail from weeping; My heart is grieved... | Expressions of deep sorrow and anguish |
| Job 7:11 | "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit..." | Speaking out in spiritual agony |
| Ps 69:19-20 | You know my reproach, my shame and my dishonor... Reproach has broken my heart... | Feeling the personal sting of public shame |
| Jer 14:19-21 | Have You completely rejected Judah...? Why have You struck us... for Your name's sake do not dishonor the throne of Your glory... | Prophetic lament concerning national disgrace |
| Deut 28:25 | The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies... you shall be an object of terror. | Consequence of disobedience (defeat) |
| Lev 26:17 | I will set My face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. | Covenant consequences for disobedience |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart... And He shall direct your paths. | Importance of trusting God completely |
| 1 Sam 7:5-8 | And Samuel said... "I will pray for you to the Lord"... and cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. | Leadership in intercession during distress |
| 2 Chron 7:14 | if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear... | Condition for restoration and divine hearing |
| Neh 9:28 | But when they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven; And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies... | God's repeated pattern of hearing distress |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. | Contrasting human reliance with divine trust |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | Trusting God's power and faithfulness |
| Rom 9:33 | ...Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. | Hope against shame through faith |
| 1 Pet 4:16 | Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed... | Dealing with shame for the sake of God |
| Ps 42:3 | My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, "Where is your God?" | Questions challenging God's presence/power |
| Ps 79:10 | Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" | Prayer for God's reputation among nations |
| Hab 1:2-3 | How long, O Lord, will I call for help, And You will not hear...? Why do You make me see iniquity...? | Prophet's lament questioning God's ways |
Joshua 7 verses
Joshua 7 8 Meaning
Joshua 7:8 expresses a cry of profound bewilderment, despair, and spiritual crisis from Joshua to the Lord. It encapsulates his anguish over Israel's unexpected defeat at Ai, following their triumphant capture of Jericho. Joshua is questioning God's purpose and expressing his deepest concern regarding the resulting shame upon God's name and the chosen people in the eyes of the surrounding nations, indicating a fear that the covenant promises might be undermined.
Joshua 7 8 Context
Joshua chapter 7 records a pivotal and distressing moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan. After the miraculous and unconditional victory at Jericho (Josh 6), Israel faced an unexpected and humiliating defeat at Ai. This setback occurs despite God's clear instruction for Israel to destroy everything in Jericho as an act of devotion (herem) and for a leader not to take anything for himself. Unknown to Joshua, Achan, from the tribe of Judah, disobediently took devoted things, leading to corporate sin. Consequently, the Lord withheld His favor, and a small Israelite contingent of 3,000 men was routed by the men of Ai, with 36 men killed, and Israel fled in disgrace.
Joshua 7:8 comes after Joshua's personal act of lament and repentance (falling on his face before the ark of the Lord with the elders of Israel, putting dust on their heads). His words articulate not only his personal dismay but also reflect the spiritual shock and the theological implications of this defeat for the entire nation and, critically, for the honor of God among the surrounding pagan nations.
Joshua 7 8 Word analysis
- O Lord: (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai) This form of address signifies a relationship of authority and submission, often used in prayer to emphasize God's absolute sovereignty and Joshua's position as a servant. It indicates a deeply reverent and earnest plea from a dependent.
- what shall I say: (מָה אֹמַר, mah omar) This is a rhetorical question expressing profound confusion, utter helplessness, and bewilderment. Joshua is at a loss for words, meaning he has no explanation, no comfort, and no logical answer for the devastating turn of events. It underscores a state of intense perplexity and crisis of faith regarding God's apparent reversal of support.
- after that: (אַחֲרֵי, acharey) This preposition signifies "after" or "following," indicating a sequential relationship. It emphasizes the direct consequence of what has just transpired – the humiliating defeat at Ai – and suggests that this defeat makes previous triumphs seem hollow or future actions impossible.
- Israel: (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisrael) Refers to the chosen nation, the covenant people of God. The defeat is not just a military loss, but a national, spiritual humiliation. The reputation and destiny of God's chosen people are seen to be at stake.
- hath turned their backs: (הִפֵּךְ עֹרֶף, hippekh oref) Literally "turned neck/nape." This is a Hebrew idiom meaning "to turn and flee," or "to retreat." It conveys the ultimate act of cowardice and defeat in battle. It’s the antithesis of standing firm or charging the enemy, denoting absolute submission to the foe and complete routing.
- before their enemies: (לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיהֶם, lifnei oyeveihem) Signifies "in the presence of their adversaries" or "in full view of those who hate them." This highlights the public nature of the disgrace. The shame is not just internal but witnessed by those who oppose Israel, bringing potential mockery and questions about the power and faithfulness of Israel's God.
Words-group Analysis:
- "O Lord, what shall I say": This phrase combines humble reverence with extreme existential despair. It reflects a leader who has exhausted his understanding and now looks solely to divine wisdom for an explanation and a path forward, implicitly seeking reassurance or intervention.
- "after that Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies!": This entire clause is Joshua's anguished statement of the unacceptable reality. It conveys the immense shame, dishonor, and the perceived mockery from hostile nations, which for Joshua, reflected directly on the honor of God and the viability of His promises. It contrasts sharply with God's promise to put the dread and fear of Israel upon the people of Canaan (Deut 11:25).
Joshua 7 8 Bonus section
Joshua's question in this verse is highly rhetorical. He doesn't expect God to give him a script to recite; rather, it serves as a powerful expression of his inner turmoil and his inability to reconcile God's stated purposes (victory, possession of the land) with the immediate, devastating reality of defeat and public shame. It's an act of lament, pushing past conventional prayers into a wrestling with God over the unfolding divine narrative. This moment also implicitly highlights Joshua's burden as a leader: not only to lead in battle but also to uphold the spiritual and national morale, which was severely fractured by this defeat. His words pave the way for God's immediate response (Joshua 7:10), redirecting Joshua from his lament to the hidden sin within the camp, signifying that Israel's problems were not God's inability, but their own disobedience.
Joshua 7 8 Commentary
Joshua 7:8 encapsulates the shock and spiritual confusion following Israel's unexpected defeat. Joshua's anguished question, "What shall I say?" is a cri de cœur, a leader's deeply personal and raw expression of desperation. It signifies a complete lack of understanding and a profound sense of humiliation. This defeat, especially after the dramatic victory at Jericho, shattered the illusion of an invincible conquest. Joshua's primary concern extends beyond the military loss or the loss of lives; it is fundamentally about the name and honor of God. He understands that Israel's defeats would be interpreted by the pagan nations as a weakness of Yahweh, their God. The integrity of God's covenant promises and the testimony of His power to the nations hung in the balance. Joshua’s lament shows a deep understanding that Israel's success was not based on their own might, but entirely on God's favor and their obedience to His commands. This verse underscores that even great leaders face moments of intense questioning and doubt, bringing their concerns directly before the Lord, particularly when God's reputation is perceived to be at stake due to human failure.