King James Version

What Does Joshua 7:15 Mean?

Joshua 7:15 in the King James Version says “And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: becaus...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Joshua 7:15 · KJV

Context

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:

17

And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

Read Joshua 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Achan is identified through the lot process, demonstrating that nothing is hidden from God. Joshua's address—'My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him'—combines pastoral compassion ('my son') with covenantal urgency. The phrase 'give glory to God' means to acknowledge God's righteousness by confessing sin. Confession glorifies God by admitting He is right to judge. Joshua's approach models confronting sin with both firmness and dignity—he doesn't humiliate Achan but calls him to honor God through truthfulness. The command 'tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me' presses for full disclosure. The semicolon creates urgency—confess now, hide nothing. This reflects biblical principle that genuine confession requires specificity—not vague admission of 'mistakes' but honest acknowledgment of particular sins. The passage shows that even when sin is divinely exposed, human confession still matters—it's the path to whatever restoration is possible.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The public identification of Achan through lots before all Israel served multiple purposes: demonstrating God's omniscience, validating the judgment process, and teaching the entire community about sin's seriousness. Joshua's phrase 'my son' shows leadership marked by relationship, not merely authoritarian command. In ancient Near Eastern culture, confession before execution served both spiritual (reconciling the guilty with deity) and social (validating justice before the community) purposes. The requirement to 'make confession' wasn't for God's information—He already knew—but for Achan's soul and Israel's instruction. Church history shows this pattern: even manifest sin requires personal confession for spiritual health. The Reformers emphasized that confession glorifies God by acknowledging His justice and our dependence on His mercy. Achan's case is complicated because while confession is commanded, no reprieve from judgment follows—some sins bear temporal consequences even when spiritually confessed.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does confession 'give glory to God' even when consequences remain?
  2. What does Joshua's pastoral approach (calling Achan 'my son') teach about confronting sin with both truth and compassion?
  3. Why does God require verbal confession even when He already knows our sin?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וְהָיָה֙1 of 19
H1961

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

הַנִּלְכָּ֣ד2 of 19

“And it shall be that he that is taken”

H3920

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

בַּחֵ֔רֶם3 of 19

“with the accursed thing”

H2764

physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object; abstractly extermination

יִשָּׂרֵ֣ף4 of 19

“shall be burnt”

H8313

to be (causatively, set) on fire

בָּאֵ֔שׁ5 of 19

“with fire”

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

אֹת֖וֹ6 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וְאֶת7 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל8 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁר9 of 19
H834

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

ל֑וֹ10 of 19
H0
כִּ֤י11 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

עָבַר֙12 of 19

“he and all that he hath because he hath transgressed”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

אֶת13 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְּרִ֣ית14 of 19

“the covenant”

H1285

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

יְהוָ֔ה15 of 19

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

וְכִֽי16 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

עָשָׂ֥ה17 of 19

“and because he hath wrought”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

נְבָלָ֖ה18 of 19

“folly”

H5039

foolishness, i.e., (morally) wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃19 of 19

“in Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

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 7:15 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 7:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 34:71 Samuel 14:38-39Judges 20:6Deuteronomy 13:15-16Joshua 7:25-26Joshua 7:11

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