Joshua 7:11Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.
The setting
Near Jericho, Israel, ~1400 BC. After their first military victory, Israel suffers shocking defeat at tiny Ai. Joshua is face-down before the ark, devastated...
The emotion here: burning anger mixed with grief over broken relationship
The original word
ma'al (מַעַל) — to act unfaithfully, specifically breaking sacred trust
Why it matters
The 'devoted things' (herem) from Jericho were to be totally destroyed or given to God's treasury — touching them meant death
Read with care
What most readers miss in Joshua 7:11
God lists FIVE different sins: transgression, taking, stealing, deceiving, and hiding — sin compounds
Common misconceptionPeople think God is being harsh, but one man's secret sin caused 36 soldiers to die at Ai. Hidden sin always affects others.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Joshua 7:11
Bible Genome reading
Joshua 7:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Joshua 7:11 comes from the book of Joshua, written during the conquest period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sin, covenant breaking. Notable phrases: Israel has sinned; transgressed my covenant.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Joshua 7:11 mean to you, today?
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