The Meaning of Joshua 22:16 Explained

Joshua 22:16

KJV: Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?

YLT: Thus said all the company of Jehovah, What is this trespass which ye have trespassed against the God of Israel, to turn back to-day from after Jehovah, by your building for you an altar, for your rebelling to-day against Jehovah?

Darby: Thus saith the whole assembly of Jehovah: What wickedness is this which ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Jehovah, in that ye have built yourselves an altar, rebelling this day against Jehovah?

ASV: Thus saith the whole congregation of Jehovah, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Jehovah, in that ye have builded you an altar, to rebel this day against Jehovah?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the whole congregation  of the LORD,  What trespass  [is] this that ye have committed  against the God  of Israel,  to turn away  this day  from following  the LORD,  in that ye have builded  you an altar,  that ye might rebel  this day  against the LORD? 

What does Joshua 22:16 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 22:16 mean?

thus says whole the congregation of Yahweh: what [is] treachery this that you have committed against the God of Israel to turn away this day from following Yahweh in that you have built for yourselves an altar that you might rebel this day against Yahweh
כֹּ֣ה אָמְר֞וּ כֹּ֣ל ׀ עֲדַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה מָֽה־ הַמַּ֤עַל הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר מְעַלְתֶּם֙ בֵּאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָשׁ֣וּב הַיּ֔וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה בִּבְנֽוֹתְכֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לִמְרָדְכֶ֥ם הַיּ֖וֹם ؟ בַּיהוָֽה

כֹּ֣ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמְר֞וּ  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
כֹּ֣ל ׀  whole 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֲדַ֣ת  the  congregation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
יְהוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh: 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מָֽה־  what  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
הַמַּ֤עַל  treachery 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָעַל  
Sense: to act unfaithfully, act treacherously, transgress, commit a trespass.
הַזֶּה֙  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
מְעַלְתֶּם֙  you  have  committed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָעַל  
Sense: to act unfaithfully, act treacherously, transgress, commit a trespass.
בֵּאלֹהֵ֣י  against  the  God 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  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.
לָשׁ֣וּב  to  turn  away 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
הַיּ֔וֹם  this  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י  from  following 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בִּבְנֽוֹתְכֶ֤ם  in  that  you  have  built 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
לָכֶם֙  for  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
מִזְבֵּ֔חַ  an  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
לִמְרָדְכֶ֥ם  that  you  might  rebel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מָרַד  
Sense: to rebel, revolt, be rebellious.
הַיּ֖וֹם  this  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
؟ בַּיהוָֽה  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.

What are the major concepts related to Joshua 22:16?

Loading Information...