Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
JOSHUA 7:11KJVWhat does Joshua 7:11 mean?
Joshua 7:11 says that the people of Israel have sinned by breaking God’s command: they took things that were supposed to be set apart and destroyed, stole them, lied about it, and hid them among their own belongings. This verse lists out the specific wrongs that led to Israel’s trouble after their defeat at Ai.
God is speaking to Joshua after Israel’s unexpected loss in battle. God explains that the defeat happened because someone in Israel disobeyed the command about the “accursed thing”—items from Jericho that were supposed to be destroyed. The verse names the offenses: taking what was forbidden, stealing, lying, and hiding the stolen goods, showing how the whole community is affected by one person’s actions.
The Hebrew behind Joshua 7:11
- “Sinned” (חָטָא, ḥāṭā’): This word means to miss the mark or fall short, not just to break a rule, but to fail in loyalty or relationship. It highlights that Israel’s failure was both moral and relational with God.
- “Transgressed” (עָבַר, ʿāvar): This word means to cross over or pass beyond a boundary. Here, it shows that Israel didn’t just make a mistake—they knowingly crossed a clear line God had set.
- “Covenant” (בְּרִית, bərît): This is a binding agreement or promise. The verse stresses that the wrongdoing was not just about objects, but about breaking a special relationship with God.
- “Thing” (חֵרֶם, ḥērem): This refers to something devoted to destruction, set apart for God and not to be kept. The seriousness of taking the ḥērem is that it was meant for God alone, not for personal gain.
- “Dissembled” (כָּחַשׁ, kāḥaš): This word means to lie or deceive. It shows that the wrongdoing included not just the act itself, but also covering it up.
Why Joshua 7:11 matters
- Joshua 7:11 makes clear that God sees both the actions and the hidden motives or cover-ups; nothing is truly secret from Him, even if it is hidden from others.
- The verse shows that in Israel’s community, one person’s sin could bring consequences for everyone, stressing the seriousness of shared responsibility.
- By listing each wrong—taking, stealing, deceiving, and hiding—Joshua 7:11 helps readers understand why the punishment was so severe and why confession and correction were needed before Israel could move forward.