Joshua 7:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God commands Joshua to consecrate the people for the next day, declaring there is a devoted thing among them that must be removed before they can stand.
What Does Joshua 7:13 Mean?
The command comes: rise and sanctify the people for tomorrow. Before the sin can be exposed, the nation must prepare to meet God in earnest. The LORD repeats the heart of the matter plainly, that a devoted thing is hidden in their midst and they cannot prevail until it is taken away.
To 'sanctify' is to set apart, to come before God ready and reverent. Renewal begins not with the search for the guilty but with the whole people humbling themselves. Before God deals with one man's sin, He calls all Israel to holiness, for any of us might have been the one. The call still stands: prepare your heart, let God search you, and do not rest while a known wrong remains hidden.
Joshua 7:13 in the Original Language
qadash (קָדַשׁ), 'sanctify' -- to set apart as holy, to consecrate for God's presence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 7:13
What does Joshua 7:13 mean?
God commands Joshua to consecrate the people for the next day, declaring there is a devoted thing among them that must be removed before they can stand.