The Meaning of Joshua 22:22 Explained

Joshua 22:22

KJV: The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)

YLT: The God of gods -- Jehovah, the God of gods -- Jehovah, He is knowing, and Israel, he doth know, if in rebellion, and if in trespass against Jehovah (Thou dost not save us this day!)

Darby: The God of gods, Jehovah, the God of gods, Jehovah, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know it; if it is in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah, save us not this day!

ASV: The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, the Mighty One, God, Jehovah, he knoweth; and Israel he shall know: if it be in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah (save thou us not this day,)

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  God  of gods,  the LORD  God  of gods,  he knoweth,  and Israel  he shall know;  if [it be] in rebellion,  or if in transgression  against the LORD,  (save  us not this day,  ) 

What does Joshua 22:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 22:21-34 - The Altar Of Witness
Phinehas and the ten princes did their work well. It was politic as well as true to remind the departing warriors that they could not rebel against God without involving the whole nation. So deeply did the spirit of love work in their hearts that Phinehas and his men even proposed to share the land of western Canaan with them, rather than that they should drift away from the Law of God. There was a gentleness, a desire to conciliate, a yearning over their brethren, which were quite after the mind of Christ, and which had the desired effect in a frank disavowal of any of those unworthy motives that their brethren had imputed.
So is it always. Let us lay aside the sword for the olive-branch. Before proceeding to severer measures, whether as individuals or as nations, let us ever try to restore our brethren "in the spirit of meekness." Let us count it a greater gain to win a brother than to conquer him. As we grow older, may we become more mellow! Matthew 18:15; Galatians 6:1-5. [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 22:22 mean?

the Mighty one of gods Yahweh the Mighty one Yahweh He knows and Israel will know if [it is] in rebellion or if in treachery against Yahweh not do save us day this
אֵל֩ ׀ אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ יְהוָ֜ה אֵ֣ל ׀ יְהוָה֙ ה֣וּא יֹדֵ֔עַ וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יֵדָ֑ע אִם־ בְּמֶ֤רֶד וְאִם־ בְּמַ֙עַל֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה אַל־ תּוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

אֵל֩ ׀  the  Mighty  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀  of  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֵ֣ל ׀  the  Mighty  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יֹדֵ֔עַ  knows 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  and  Israel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, 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.
יֵדָ֑ע  will  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אִם־  if  [it  is] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
בְּמֶ֤רֶד  in  rebellion 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶרֶד  
Sense: rebellion, revolt.
וְאִם־  or  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
בְּמַ֙עַל֙  in  treachery 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
בַּֽיהוָ֔ה  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תּוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּ  do  save  us 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
הַיּ֥וֹם  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַזֶּֽה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.