Joshua 7:19 · Bible study
Joshua 7:19 Commentary: 'Give Glory to God', Confession and Honor
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study Joshua 7:19. Why Joshua calls Achan 'my son' and urges him to give glory to God by confessing. Hebrew insights, historical context, pastoral application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Joshua calls Achan to confess his sin in order to give glory to God, acknowledging his omniscience and justice.
- Key words: Kavod (glory, honor), todah (confession, thanksgiving), nagad (tell, declare).
- Main debate: Whether the focus of “give glory” is more on vindicating God’s judgment or on Achan’s personal repentance.
- Theological theme: The holiness of God and the restorative power of truthful confession.
- Best use: A model for pastoral confrontation that combines compassion with a call to honesty for God’s sake.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don’t hide it from me!”
KJV King James Version 1769
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Joshua saith unto Achan, `My son, put, I pray thee, honour on Jehovah, God of Israel, and give to Him thanks, and declare, I pray thee, to me, what thou hast done--hide not from me.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Joshua said to Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to Jehovah the God of Israel, and make confession to him: tell me now what thou hast done, keep it not back from me.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Joshua said to Achan: My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and confess, and tell me what thou hast done, hide it not.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces Josué dijo á Achân: Hijo mío, da gloria ahora á Jehová el Dios de Israel, y dale alabanza, y declárame ahora lo que has hecho; no me lo encubras.
Então Josué disse a Acã: Filho meu, dá glória agora ao SENHOR o Deus de Israel, e dá-lhe louvor, e declara-me agora o que fizeste; não me o encubras.
Josué dit à Acan: Mon fils, donne gloire à l’ Éternel, le Dieu d’ Israël, et rends-lui hommage. Dis-moi donc ce que tu as fait, ne me le cache point.
Und Josua sprach zu Achan: Mein Sohn, gib dem HERRN, dem Gott Israels, die Ehre und gib ihm das Lob und sage mir an: Was hast du getan? und leugne mir nichts.
Toen zeide Jozua tot Achan: Mijn zoon! Geef toch den HEERE, den God van Israel, de eer, en doe voor Hem belijdenis; en geef mij toch te kennen, wat gij gedaan hebt, verberg het voor mij niet.
Allora Giosuè disse ad Acan: “Figliuol mio, da’ gloria all’Eterno, all’Iddio d’Israele, rendigli omaggio, e dimmi quello che hai fatto; non me lo celare”.
I rzekł Jozue do Achana: Synu mój, daj proszę chwałę Panu, Bogu Izraelskiemu, i wyznaj przed nim, a oznajmij mi proszę, coś uczynił, nie taj przede mną.
Тогда Иисус сказал Ахану: сын мой! воздай славу Господу, Богу Израилеву и сделай пред Ним исповедание и объяви мне, что ты сделал; не скрой от меня.
約書亞 對 亞干 說：「我兒，我勸你 將榮耀 歸給 耶和華─以色列的 神，在他面前 認 罪，將你所 做 的事告訴 我，不要 向我 隱瞞。」
And Joshua said to Achan, My son, give glory and praise to the Lord, the God of Israel; give me word now of what you have done, and keep nothing back from me.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Joshua 7:19
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Joshua’s command to “give glory to Yahweh” is a solemn call to acknowledge God’s perfect knowledge and justice by telling the whole truth. Calvin and Keil & Delitzsch insist that Joshua’s address as “my son” is neither ironic nor deceptive but expresses genuine paternal compassion, even as the sentence of death is imminent. Adam Clarke stresses that the phrase “give glory to God” was a standard form of adjuration used in Israel to demand an honest statement, as seen later in John 9:24. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible note that confession brings God glory precisely because it vindicates His omniscience and righteousness. Gill and Wesley highlight that Joshua seeks Achan’s confession not only for the community’s sake but also for Achan’s own spiritual good. The Hebrew word for confession (todah) also carries the sense of “thanksgiving,” which Keil and Delitzsch say is central: by owning his sin, Achan renders to God the praise that is due. Together, the sources agree that the core of this verse is the intersection of justice and mercy, truth-telling that honors God and opens the door to restoration, even in the shadow of judgment.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse clearly presents Joshua’s call to confession as a means of honoring God’s truthfulness and justice, and it does so with pastoral compassion.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'give glory to God' | It is a solemn call to acknowledge God's omniscience and justice by confessing the truth. | Some emphasize that the confession is primarily for God's vindication before Israel; others stress the spiritual benefit for the sinner, including possible forgiveness. |
| Joshua's address as 'my son' | It expresses genuine paternal care, not irony or deceit. | No significant debate; though some ask whether Joshua intended to give Achan hope for pardon, most say he simply treated him with humanity. |
| Purpose of confession after the lot | Confession confirms God's revealed judgment and upholds His righteousness. | Jewish tradition holds that confession grants a share in the world to come (Mishnah Sanhedrin 6.2); Christian interpreters focus more on restoring the community and honoring God. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits at the turning point of Joshua 7. Israel has suffered a shocking defeat at Ai because one man secretly took plunder that God had placed under a ban (Joshua 6:18-19). After Joshua’s lament, God commands him to identify the offender by tribe, clan, and household (Joshua 7:13-14). The elaborate process of selection, likely involving the Urim and Thummim, as in 1 Samuel 10:20-21, leaves no room for doubt. When the lot falls on Achan, Joshua immediately addresses him not as a criminal but as “my son.”
“Give glory to the Lord” functions as a legal formula in ancient Israel. The same wording appears in 1 Samuel 6:5 when the Philistines confess their wrongdoing, and in Jeremiah 13:16 as a plea before judgment. In John 9:24, religious leaders use the phrase to force the healed blind man to speak. It summons the accused to honor God by telling the truth under the weight of divine scrutiny. Confession in Israelite culture was both a personal act of repentance and a public vindication of God’s character (Numbers 5:6-7). The word todah (“confession” in verse 19) can also mean “thanksgiving,” suggesting that owning sin is itself a form of praise.
Joshua’s approach reflects the dual role of a leader in ancient Israel: he must execute justice but also shepherd his people with a father’s heart. The valley where Achan dies will be called Achor, “trouble”, yet later that same valley becomes a door of hope (Hosea 2:15). This transformation begins with a simple act: a man speaking truth to bring glory to God.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Joshua 7:19. The Masoretic Text is stable in this verse, and ancient translations (LXX, Vulgate) reflect the same Hebrew wording. Modern English translations differ only in phrasing, not in meaning.
Reception History
In early Jewish tradition, Achan’s confession became a model for the power of owning one’s sin. The Mishnah (Sanhedrin 6.2) teaches that “whoever confesses has a share in the world to come,” citing this very verse. Christian interpreters through the centuries have used Joshua 7:19 to illustrate the importance of pastoral confrontation. John Calvin pointed to Joshua’s example as a lesson for judges: they should combine severity with humanity, avoiding both reckless harshness and sentimental leniency. The phrase “give glory to God” also traveled into the Gospel of John, where the religious leaders use it to pressure the blind man to speak about his healing (John 9:24). Across traditions, this verse has served as a touchstone for understanding how truth-telling, especially about our failures, can actually honor God and open a path to restoration.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Confrontation with Compassion. Joshua says “my son” to a condemned man. Sin must be named, but it can be named with love.
- Confession as Glory. To “give glory to God” does not mean covering up shame; it means letting the truth about who God is, his knowledge, justice, mercy, become visible.
- Concealment vs. Disclosure. Achan hid the plunder, but hidden sin always surfaces. Full confession clears the way for both human accountability and divine restoration.
Five-point outline
- The Leader’s Heart: Joshua models how to confront without contempt.
- God’s Glory at Stake: The whole nation had stumbled; confession restores God’s honor.
- The Call to Truth: No more evasion. “Tell me now what you have done.”
- Grace within Judgment: Even in the certainty of sentence, a door opens for Achan to acknowledge God.
- Community Repair: Achan’s confession allows Israel to move from defeat to victory.
Illustration hooks
- Classroom confession: A student blames others for a missing assignment, but the teacher, knowing the facts, says “just tell me the truth, that will honor both of us.” The tension breaks only when the student speaks honestly.
- Family confrontation: A parent who discovers a broken heirloom sits down with the child and says “I already know, but I want you to tell me, not to punish, but to set things right.”
- Courtroom scene: A judge who knows the evidence still asks the defendant to enter a plea. The act of speaking the truth has weight beyond the facts themselves.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God want me to confess sins He already knows about?
- How can I confess in a way that actually brings glory to God instead of shame to myself?
- What do I do if I’ve hidden something for years, is it too late to come clean?
Leading a Discussion
In Joshua 7:19, Israel’s leader speaks to a guilty man with the words “my son” and calls him to honor God by confessing. This moment shows that truth-telling is not just about punishment, it can bring glory to God and set the stage for healing. Use these questions to explore the passage together.
Discussion questions
- Read Joshua 7:19 carefully. What tone do you hear in Joshua’s voice? What clues suggest his attitude toward Achan?
- The phrase “give glory to the Lord” was used in legal settings. Why does acknowledging the truth about our sin bring glory to God?
- Achan’s guilt had already been shown by the lot. Why did Joshua still insist on a verbal confession? What does that tell us about the value of spoken confession?
- In verse 20, Achan says “I have truly sinned against Yahweh.” Compare this with his earlier silence. What changes when we say our sin out loud?
- How does this passage challenge the way we usually respond when we are caught in a mistake? Do we tend to hide, deflect, or come clean?
- Joshua’s address “my son” shows compassion within confrontation. How can we speak truth to someone while also honoring their dignity?
- Think of a time when admitting a wrong brought relief or restored a relationship. How did that act of honesty reflect God’s glory?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 5:6 | “Speak to the children of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against Yahweh, and that soul is guilty, |
| Numbers 5:7 | then he shall confess his sin which he has done; and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty. |
| I Samuel 6:5 | Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. |
| I Samuel 14:43 | Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.” |
| II Chronicles 30:22 | Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings and making confession to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. |
| II Chronicles 33:12 | When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. |
| II Chronicles 33:13 | He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh was God. |
| Ezra 10:10 | Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, increasing the guilt of Israel. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke sees the call to "give glory to God" as a summons to full, honest confession, done in recognition of God's omniscience. He stresses that this served not only to vindicate God's judgment before the people but also to secure Achan's own salvation through genuine humiliation.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that "give glory to the Lord" is a solemn oath, calling the person to declare the truth before God. The phrase assumes truthfulness itself honors God, since revealing what is true directly advances His glory.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Joshua calls Achan "son" sincerely, not ironically, showing fatherly affection even while condemning him. This teaches judges to temper severity with humanity, yet without flattering criminals with false hope of pardon. Joshua does not deceive Achan but freely pronounces the sentence God has given.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Joshua's appeal to Achan as "my son" and his plea that Achan give glory to God through confession underscores that acknowledging sin openly is itself an act of honoring God. The commentator stresses that hiding wrongdoing dishonors God, while truthful confession restores the glory due to Him.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights Joshua's humane and affectionate address to Achan as "my son," showing respect for a fellow Israelite despite his crime. He notes that Joshua urged confession not only for Achan's own hope of forgiveness but also to satisfy others of his guilt, since the law condemned no one on confession alone.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Joshua's appeal to Achan to "give glory to God" was not a general call to praise but a formal adjuration, a solemn way of urging him to tell the truth. This phrase served as a legal and religious plea for honest confession.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stress that Joshua's address "my son" is not ironic but shows sincere paternal concern. The command "give glory to the Lord" is a solemn summons to confess truthfully before God, and "give Him praise" means to honor God as the Omniscient One through an honest admission.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry notes that when Joshua urged Achan to confess, he called it giving glory to God. The point is that confession does more than admit wrongdoing; it honors the Lord by acknowledging His perfect justice and His knowledge of every hidden thing.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that Joshua calls Achan "my son" to show the inquiry comes from love, not hatred. He then explains that Achan's confession and punishment will restore glory to God's omniscience, justice, omnipotence, and faithfulness, all of which were dishonored and obscured by the sin.