King James Version

What Does Joshua 7:14 Mean?

Joshua 7:14 in the King James Version says “In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD ta... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.

Joshua 7:14 · KJV


Context

12

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

13

Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

14

In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.

15

And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. folly: or, wickedness

16

So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God prescribes the process for identifying the guilty party: 'ye shall be brought according to your tribes...families...households...man by man.' This methodical narrowing from tribe to individual demonstrates God's precision—nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). The phrase 'he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire' specifies the penalty—capital punishment by fire, the most severe form reflecting the gravity of the offense. Fire symbolizes God's holiness consuming sin utterly. The expanded punishment—'he, and all that he hath'—extends to possessions and possibly family, illustrating sin's ripple effects. The rationale: 'he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and...wrought folly in Israel.' Covenant violation isn't merely breaking rules but betraying relationship with God. 'Folly' (nebalah, נְבָלָה) means senseless wickedness, moral outrage—not simple mistake but deliberate defiance. This process combines divine revelation (God identifies) and human responsibility (Israel executes judgment), modeling how God's people address sin.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The tribal system provided Israel's organizational structure. Moving from tribe to clan to household to individual showed the integration of corporate and individual identity—you were part of concentric circles of relationship and responsibility. The use of lots (implied in 'taken') was standard Israelite practice for discerning God's will (Proverbs 16:33). This wasn't magic but reliance on God's sovereign control over apparently random processes. Archaeological evidence from ancient Israel confirms the household structure—extended families living in compounds. Achan's sin affected his entire household because they either knew and concealed it or benefited from the stolen items. Capital punishment for covenant violation reinforces that covenant relationship with God was Israel's foundational reality—violating it threatened community survival. The specification 'burnt with fire' distinguished this from typical capital punishment (stoning), emphasizing total consumption and purification.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the progression from tribe to individual teach about balancing corporate and personal responsibility?
  2. How should churches today identify and address sin while maintaining both grace and accountability?
  3. What makes covenant violation 'folly' rather than mere rule-breaking?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
יִקְרַ֖ב1 of 22

shall come

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

בַּבֹּ֖קֶר2 of 22

In the morning

H1242

properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning

הַשֵּׁבֶט֩3 of 22

according to your tribes

H7626

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

וְהָיָ֡ה4 of 22
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

הַשֵּׁבֶט֩5 of 22

according to your tribes

H7626

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

אֲשֶׁר6 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יִלְכְּדֶ֣נּוּ7 of 22

shall take

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

יְהוָ֔ה8 of 22

which the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

יִקְרַ֖ב9 of 22

shall come

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

וְהַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֞ה10 of 22

according to the families

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

וְהַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֞ה11 of 22

according to the families

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

אֲשֶֽׁר12 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יִלְכְּדֶ֣נּוּ13 of 22

shall take

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

יְהוָ֔ה14 of 22

which the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

יִקְרַ֖ב15 of 22

shall come

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

וְהַבַּ֙יִת֙16 of 22

and the household

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

וְהַבַּ֙יִת֙17 of 22

and the household

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר18 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יִלְכְּדֶ֣נּוּ19 of 22

shall take

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

יְהוָ֔ה20 of 22

which the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

יִקְרַ֖ב21 of 22

shall come

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

לַגְּבָרִֽים׃22 of 22

by man

H1397

properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 7:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 7:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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