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.

JOSHUA 7:15KJV
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Joshua 7:15 (KJV)

What does Joshua 7:15 mean?

Joshua 7:15 announces the punishment for the person found responsible for taking what had been set apart for destruction at Jericho. The punishment extends to that person and all he has. The verse calls the act a breach of Israel’s agreement with the LORD and a disgraceful deed among the people.

The LORD is speaking to Joshua as Joshua prepares to identify the guilty person. After the selection described in verse 14, verse 15 states what is to happen to the one found responsible. The command to burn “he and all that he hath” gives the judgment a reach beyond the stolen objects themselves.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 7:15

  • “accursed thing” — חֵרֶם (ḥerem): This word refers to something placed under a ban or set apart for destruction. At Jericho, some things were to be destroyed, while certain metals were to go into the LORD’s treasury rather than be kept as personal property (Joshua 6:17–19).
  • “folly” — נְבָלָה (nevalah): This word can describe a shameful or outrageous act. Here, the LORD treats the taking as more than a mistake: it is a serious offense within Israel.
  • “covenant” — בְּרִית (berit): This means an agreement or binding commitment. The phrase “transgressed the covenant” places the act within Israel’s relationship and obligations to the LORD.

Why Joshua 7:15 matters

  • The person was to be identified before the punishment was carried out. Joshua 7:14 describes a narrowing selection by tribe, family, household, and individual.
  • The stolen goods were not ordinary spoils that an Israelite was free to claim. Achan later admits taking a garment, silver, and gold and hiding them in his tent (Joshua 7:20–21).
  • The act affected the community, not just Achan’s household. Israel had been defeated at Ai, and the LORD said that Israel had taken what was forbidden (Joshua 7:4–5, 11).

Where else these words appear

“folly” Hebrew H5039 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 34:7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
  • Judges 20:6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
  • Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

“thing” Hebrew H2764 · used in 31 verses

  • Leviticus 27:21 But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's.
  • Joshua 7:12 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.
  • Ezekiel 26:14 And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

“burnt” Hebrew H8313 · used in 107 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
  • Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

“taken” Hebrew H3920 · used in 112 verses

  • Numbers 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
  • Judges 9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
  • Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.