King James Version

What Does Joshua 7:5 Mean?

Joshua 7:5 in the King James Version says “And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, ...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. in: or, in Morad”

Joshua 7:5 · KJV

Context

3

And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. about: Heb. about two thousand men, or, about three thousand men

4

So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

5

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. in: or, in Morad

6

And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

7

And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

Read Joshua 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The men of Ai killed about thirty-six Israelites and chased them from the gate to Shebarim, striking them in the descent. Though numerically small casualties by ancient warfare standards, the defeat's significance was profound. The Hebrew שְׁבָרִים (sheba rim) means 'breaking places' or 'stone quarries'—likely a descent where fleeing troops were vulnerable. The phrase 'smote them in the going down' indicates pursuit casualties—the most dangerous phase of retreat. But the greater casualty was spiritual: 'the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.' This is the exact language used of Canaanites' fear (2:11, 5:1). Israel now experiences the terror they were meant to inspire. This role reversal reveals sin's devastating effect: they who should inspire fear now experience it. The Hebrew מָסַס (masas—to melt, dissolve) indicates complete demoralization. Courage evaporates when God's presence withdraws. This illustrates that spiritual defeat precedes and produces physical defeat. Their problem wasn't military but covenantal—broken fellowship with God.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Thirty-six deaths, while tragic, wasn't militarily catastrophic. Ancient battles commonly produced far higher casualties. The significance lay in the fact that Israel lost at all after Jericho's miraculous victory. Their invincible aura shattered. Canaanite spies observing this defeat would report it throughout the land, reversing the psychological advantage gained by Jericho's fall and the Jordan crossing. The location 'Shebarim' (breaking places) may have been proverbial—a place where formations broke and retreats became routs. Ancient warfare's most dangerous moment came when formation cohesion collapsed and troops fled individually. The phrase 'hearts melted and became as water' uses imagery of wax melting or water dissipating—complete loss of structural integrity. This corporate demoralization threatened Israel's ability to continue the conquest. If faith faltered, the entire campaign could collapse. The crisis was existential, not merely tactical.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does sin's consequence extend beyond personal guilt to affect community morale and effectiveness?
  2. What does the role reversal (Israel fearing instead of being feared) teach about losing God's favor?
  3. When have you experienced the 'melting' of spiritual confidence due to unconfessed sin?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיַּכּ֖וּם1 of 19

“and smote”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

מֵהֶ֜ם2 of 19
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

אַנְשֵׁ֣י3 of 19

“And the men”

H582

properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)

הָעַ֗י4 of 19

“of Ai”

H5857

ai, aja or ajath, a place in palestine

כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים5 of 19

“of them about thirty”

H7970

thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth

וְשִׁשָּׁה֙6 of 19

“and six”

H8337

six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth

אִ֔ישׁ7 of 19

“men”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֞וּם8 of 19

“for they chased”

H7291

to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)

לִפְנֵ֤י9 of 19

“them from before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙10 of 19

“the gate”

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

עַד11 of 19
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

הַשְּׁבָרִ֔ים12 of 19

“even unto Shebarim”

H7671

shebarim, a place in palestine

וַיַּכּ֖וּם13 of 19

“and smote”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

בַּמּוֹרָ֑ד14 of 19

“them in the going down”

H4174

a descent; as architecture, an ornamental appendage, perhaps a festoon

וַיִּמַּ֥ס15 of 19

“melted”

H4549

to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)

לְבַב16 of 19

“wherefore the hearts”

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

הָעָ֖ם17 of 19

“of the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

וַיְהִ֥י18 of 19
H1961

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

לְמָֽיִם׃19 of 19

“and became as water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

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 7:5 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 7:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 2:9Joshua 2:11Leviticus 26:36Isaiah 13:7Joshua 5:1Ezekiel 21:7

Places in This Verse

Ai 1Settlement · Modern: Et Tell · 31.92°N, 35.26°E32 verses across 2 books
ShebarimNatural Area · Modern: western cliff of Wadi Makkuk · 31.91°N, 35.31°E1 verse across 1 book
View all places in Joshua 7 →

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