The Meaning of Joshua 22:19 Explained

Joshua 22:19

KJV: Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.

YLT: 'And surely, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over for you unto the land of the possession of Jehovah, where the tabernacle of Jehovah hath tabernacled, and have possession in our midst; and against Jehovah rebel not, and against us rebel not, by your building for you an altar, besides the altar of Jehovah our God.

Darby: Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession is unclean, come over into the land of the possession of Jehovah, where Jehovah's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession amongst us; but rebel not against Jehovah, and rebel not against us, in building for yourselves an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.

ASV: Howbeit, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of Jehovah, wherein Jehovah's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against Jehovah, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Notwithstanding,  if the land  of your possession  [be] unclean,  [then] pass ye over  unto the land  of the possession  of the LORD,  wherein the LORD'S  tabernacle  dwelleth,  and take possession  among  us: but rebel  not against the LORD,  nor  rebel  against us, in building  you an altar  beside  the altar  of the LORD  our God. 

What does Joshua 22:19 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 22:19 mean?

And nevertheless if [is] unclean the land of your possession [then] cross over to - of the possession of Yahweh where stands - tabernacle of Yahweh and take possession among us but against Yahweh not do rebel and against us nor rebel by building yourselves an altar besides the altar of Yahweh our God
וְאַ֨ךְ אִם־ טְמֵאָ֜ה אֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗ם עִבְר֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֶל־ אֲחֻזַּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁכַן־ שָׁם֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּ בְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּ וּבַֽיהוָ֣ה אַל־ תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ וְאֹתָ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־ תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ בִּבְנֹֽתְכֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔י מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ

וְאַ֨ךְ  And  nevertheless 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
טְמֵאָ֜ה  [is]  unclean 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: טָמֵא  
Sense: unclean, impure.
אֶ֣רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗ם  of  your  possession 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֲחֻזָּה  
Sense: possession, property.
עִבְר֨וּ  [then]  cross  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֶל־  - 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֲחֻזַּ֤ת  of  the  possession 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֲחֻזָּה  
Sense: possession, property.
יְהוָה֙  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  where 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָֽׁכַן־  stands 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
שָׁם֙    - 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
מִשְׁכַּ֣ן  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּ  and  take  possession 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָחוּז 
Sense: grasp, take hold, seize, take possession.
בְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּ  among  us 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
וּבַֽיהוָ֣ה  but  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ  do  rebel 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָרַד  
Sense: to rebel, revolt, be rebellious.
וְאֹתָ֙נוּ֙  and  against  us 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, first person common plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
אֶל־  nor 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ  rebel 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָרַד  
Sense: to rebel, revolt, be rebellious.
בִּבְנֹֽתְכֶ֤ם  by  building 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
לָכֶם֙  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
מִזְבֵּ֔חַ  an  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔י  besides 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: בַּלְעֲדֵי  
Sense: apart from, except, without, besides.
מִזְבַּ֖ח  the  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
יְהוָ֥ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).