Joshua 7:21When I saw among the spoil a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it."
The setting
Valley of Achor, Israel. Achan describes the exact moment of temptation in Jericho's ruins. A Babylonian robe worth a year's wages, 5 pounds of silver, and a gold bar...
The emotion here: reliving the moment of temptation with shame and regret
The original word
chamad (חָמַדְתִּי) — to desire, covet with intention to possess
Why it matters
The Babylonian robe was likely royal garment worth more than most people earned in a lifetime
Read with care
What most readers miss in Joshua 7:21
He lists them in order of temptation — beautiful robe (eyes), silver (status), gold (security)
Common misconceptionPeople think the sin was taking devoted things. The real sin was coveting — he was already guilty the moment he decided 'I want that.' The taking was just the final step.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Joshua 7:21
Bible Genome reading
Joshua 7:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Joshua 7:21 comes from the book of Joshua, written during the conquest period. These words are attributed to Achan. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include temptation, material desire. Notable phrases: beautiful Babylonian robe; coveted them.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Joshua 7:21 mean to you, today?
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