The Meaning of Joshua 22:17 Explained

Joshua 22:17

KJV: Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,

YLT: Is the iniquity of Peor little to us, from which we have not been cleansed till this day -- and the plague is in the company of Jehovah,

Darby: Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us? from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the assembly of Jehovah.

ASV: Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves unto this day, although there came a plague upon the congregation of Jehovah,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Is] the iniquity  of Peor  too little  for us, from which we are not cleansed  until this day,  although there was a plague  in the congregation  of the LORD, 

What does Joshua 22:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 22:1-20 - Averting War Between Brethren
There was generous appreciation of services rendered as Joshua dismissed the warriors. Something like "Well-done, good and faithful servant," rings through His words. But he takes care to remind them that the tenure of their lands depends wholly on their obedience. This will explain the brief and transient existence of the trans-Jordanic tribes.
The altar was probably erected on the east of the Jordan. It was "over against" the land of Canaan, and was perhaps a facsimile of that at Shiloh. The prompting motive was to cement the union between themselves and the other tribes. But that end would have been better served had they obeyed the divine command in assembling annually with them. You can secure unity, not by external symbols, but by spiritual affinity and fellowship. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 22

1  The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home,
10  They build the altar of testimony in their journey
11  The Israelites are offended thereat
21  They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction

What do the individual words in Joshua 22:17 mean?

is [not] enough for us - the iniquity of Peor which not we are cleansed from until day this and although there was a plague in the congregation of Yahweh
הַמְעַט־ לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־ עֲוֺ֣ן פְּע֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־ הִטַּהַ֙רְנוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַיְהִ֥י הַנֶּ֖גֶף בַּעֲדַ֥ת יְהוָֽה

הַמְעַט־  is  [not]  enough 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
לָ֙נוּ֙  for  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲוֺ֣ן  the  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
פְּע֔וֹר  of  Peor 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פְּעֹור  
Sense: a mountain peak in Moab belonging to the Abarim range and near Pisgah.
הִטַּהַ֙רְנוּ֙  we  are  cleansed 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: טָהֵר  
Sense: to be clean, be pure.
עַ֖ד  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הַיּ֣וֹם  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וַיְהִ֥י  and  although  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַנֶּ֖גֶף  a  plague 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֶגֶף  
Sense: blow, striking, plague.
בַּעֲדַ֥ת  in  the  congregation 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.