The Meaning of Joshua 22:20 Explained

Joshua 22:20

KJV: Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

YLT: Did not Achan son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and on all the company of Israel there was wrath? and he alone expired not in his iniquity.'

Darby: Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing? and wrath fell on all the assembly of Israel, and he perished not alone in his iniquity.

ASV: Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Did not Achan  the son  of Zerah  commit  a trespass  in the accursed thing,  and wrath  fell  on all the congregation  of Israel?  and that man  perished  not alone  in his iniquity. 

What does Joshua 22:20 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 22:20 mean?

Did not Achan son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing and on all the congregation of Israel fell wrath and he [alone as] man one not did perish in his iniquity -
הֲל֣וֹא ׀ עָכָ֣ן בֶּן־ זֶ֗רַח מָ֤עַל מַ֙עַל֙ בַּחֵ֔רֶם וְעַֽל־ כָּל־ עֲדַ֥ת ؟ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָ֣יָה קָ֑צֶף וְהוּא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד לֹ֥א גָוַ֖ע בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ פ

הֲל֣וֹא ׀  Did  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
עָכָ֣ן  Achan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָכָן  
Sense: a Judaite who violated God’s specific ban on taking any loot from the captured city of Jericho and was stoned to death along with his family for this violation.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
זֶ֗רַח  of  Zerah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶרַח  
Sense: a son of Reuel and grandson of Esau, one of the dukes of the Edomites.
מָ֤עַל  commit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָעַל  
Sense: to act unfaithfully, act treacherously, transgress, commit a trespass.
מַ֙עַל֙  a  trespass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
בַּחֵ֔רֶם  in  the  accursed  thing 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵרֶם 
Sense: a thing devoted, thing dedicated, ban, devotion.
וְעַֽל־  and  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עֲדַ֥ת  the  congregation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
؟ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
הָ֣יָה  fell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
קָ֑צֶף  wrath 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶצֶף 
Sense: wrath, anger.
וְהוּא֙  and  he  [alone  as] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אִ֣ישׁ  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֶחָ֔ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
גָוַ֖ע  did  perish 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּוַע  
Sense: to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die.
בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ  in  his  iniquity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation