Joshua 7:1 Meaning and Explanation
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel is held guilty as a body when Achan secretly takes what had been devoted to destruction at Jericho, and the LORD's anger burns against the nation.
What Does Joshua 7:1 Mean?
After the triumph of Jericho, the narrative turns abruptly. One man, Achan of Judah, has taken from the spoil that God had set apart as His own, and the chapter names his lineage as carefully as it will later name his sin. The 'accursed thing' was the devoted plunder of Jericho, which Israel had been commanded to leave wholly to the LORD.
Notice how a single hidden act is counted against 'the children of Israel.' Sin is rarely as private as it feels; what one person hides can quietly weaken a whole people. Yet the verse also shows that God sees what no human eye saw. The same Lord who knows the secret fault is the One who can cleanse it, and the gospel turns on a Savior who bears away what we could never hide from heaven.
Joshua 7:1 in the Original Language
cherem (חֵרֶם), 'accursed thing' -- something devoted entirely to God, set apart from common use, here forfeited to destruction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 7:1
What does Joshua 7:1 mean?
Israel is held guilty as a body when Achan secretly takes what had been devoted to destruction at Jericho, and the LORD's anger burns against the nation.