Joshua 7 9

Joshua 7:9 kjv

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

Joshua 7:9 nkjv

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?"

Joshua 7:9 niv

The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?"

Joshua 7:9 esv

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?"

Joshua 7:9 nlt

For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?"

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 9 Meaning

Joshua 7:9 presents Joshua's desperate lament to the Lord after Israel's defeat at Ai. He expresses fear that the surrounding pagan nations, specifically the Canaanites, will hear of Israel's weakness, encircle them, and utterly destroy them, wiping out their name from the earth. The core of his appeal is a plea to God, questioning what God will do for His own great name and reputation, implying that Israel's defeat would tarnish God's glory among the nations. It is a prayer that prioritizes God's honor above all else, understanding that God's covenant faithfulness and renown are at stake.

Joshua 7 9 Context

Joshua 7:9 occurs immediately after Israel's unexpected and crushing defeat at Ai, following their miraculous victory at Jericho. Joshua and the elders are in deep distress, prostrated before the ark of the covenant, grieving over this humiliation. Unknown to them at this exact moment, the defeat was a direct result of Achan's sin in violating God's specific command not to take anything devoted to destruction (the herem or ban) from Jericho. Joshua's prayer here reflects his complete disorientation. Up to this point, God had demonstrated immense power and faithfulness in their favor, promising to drive out the inhabitants of the land. This defeat shattered their confidence and exposed them to the vulnerabilities inherent in their foreign position within Canaan. The historical context includes the brutal nature of ancient warfare, where the defeat of one army often signaled the impotence of their god and invited further attacks from triumphant enemies. Joshua's concern for God's great name stems from the covenant understanding that God had bound Himself to Israel and that their fortunes directly reflected on His divine power and faithfulness in the eyes of the nations.

Joshua 7 9 Word analysis

• For the Canaanites (wəhakkaʿanānī): Refers to the various indigenous, non-Israelite peoples inhabiting the land of Canaan. These were idolaters, often engaging in abhorrent religious practices, whom Israel was commanded to dispossess. Their existence here underscores the constant spiritual and physical threat to Israel's nascent presence in the land.
• and all the inhabitants of the land (wəkol yoshvê hāʾāreṣ): This phrase broadens the scope beyond just the Canaanites to include any and all groups within the territory. It emphasizes the collective nature of the threat facing Israel and highlights the perceived widespread nature of the disgrace.
• will hear about it (yishmeʿu): Signifies the rapid spread of news in the ancient Near East, likely through oral reports and messengers. This dissemination would undermine the fear God had previously instilled in the nations (e.g., Rahab's confession in Josh 2) and turn it into contempt or an opportunity for attack. The hearing implies public humiliation.
• and they will surround us (wəsābūʿunā): Suggests a concerted, hostile military action or encirclement. This indicates a perceived complete vulnerability to overwhelming enemy forces. The fear is not just of a single skirmish, but of a total strategic siege leading to annihilation.
• and cut off our name (wəhikhriytū ʾet-shəmēnu): This Hebrew idiom (kārat shēm) means to utterly destroy, exterminate, or wipe out the memory or lineage. It is a terrifying prospect, representing total annihilation—not just the death of individuals but the eradication of Israel as a distinct people and God's covenant nation. This would directly contradict God's promise to Abraham regarding his seed and a great nation.
• from the earth (mēʾereṣ): Reinforces the totality and finality of the intended destruction – a complete disappearance with no remnant remaining. It implies the very physical space they inhabit would no longer bear their name.
• And what will You do (ūmāh taʿaśēh): A rhetorical question that is simultaneously a plea and a challenge. Joshua appeals to God's own agency and responsibility. It suggests that if Israel's existence, so intrinsically tied to God's purpose, is erased, then God Himself would be implicated.
• for Your great name? (ləshimkā haggādōl?): The central appeal of Joshua's prayer. God's "name" (Hebrew: shem) represents His entire character, reputation, authority, and presence. It encompasses all that is known about Him, including His power, holiness, faithfulness, and His covenant promises. A "great name" denotes ultimate renown and sovereignty. Joshua understands that God's own glory is intimately connected with Israel's fate as His chosen people, and if Israel falls, God's great name would be profaned in the eyes of the pagan world. He appeals to God's zeal for His own honor.

Joshua 7 9 Bonus section

• Joshua's appeal in this verse highlights a recurring motif throughout the Bible, where God's ultimate motivation for His actions is the vindication of His own name and glory (e.g., in His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, His bringing them into the Promised Land, and later, His restoration of them from exile).
• This passage demonstrates the severe consequences of corporate sin, even when only one individual transgresses. Achan's hidden sin resulted in the public defeat and humiliation of the entire nation, emphasizing the inter-connectedness within the covenant community.
• The rhetorical question, "what will You do for Your great name?" foreshadows God's response, which focuses on revealing and cleansing the sin that dishonored Him, thus allowing His power and glory to be demonstrated once again.

Joshua 7 9 Commentary

Joshua's anguished cry in Joshua 7:9 reveals a profound theological understanding and spiritual burden. His lament is not merely selfish despair over a military loss but a deeply theological appeal to God's very nature and reputation. He articulates the core truth that Israel's covenant relationship with God meant that their fortunes directly reflected on His power and faithfulness in the eyes of the pagan world. The defeat at Ai, following such overwhelming victories, created an existential crisis, threatening to nullify God's prior displays of might.

Joshua’s fear is rooted in the practical reality of ancient warfare, where a deity’s perceived strength was tied to the military success of their worshipers. For the Canaanites to learn of Israel's weakness would confirm their pagan notions that Israel's God was not supreme or could not protect His people. Joshua's petition, therefore, elevates God's glory above even Israel's survival. He understands that God acts not primarily for Israel's sake, but first and foremost for "His great name" – to preserve His honor, holiness, and reputation among the nations, demonstrating that He is indeed the only true and living God. This is not an attempt to manipulate God but a faithful articulation of God's self-revelation, echoing similar intercessions by Moses. This episode underscores God's corporate covenant with Israel, where one individual's sin (Achan's) impacted the entire nation and subsequently God's perceived power, emphasizing the vital importance of obedience and holiness in the face of a watchful, pagan world.