Joshua 7 · Verse 21

Joshua 7:21

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:21, King James Version

Joshua 7:21 in other translations

BSBWhen I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
WEBWhen I saw among the plunder 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.”
ASVwhen I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
YLTand I see among the spoil a goodly robe of Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and one wedge of gold, whose weight is fifty shekels, and I desire them, and take them; and lo, they are hid in the earth, in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.'
DARBYI saw among the spoils a beautiful mantle of Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a golden bar of fifty shekels weight, and I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
BBEWhen I saw among their goods a fair robe of Babylon and two hundred shekels of silver, and a mass of gold, fifty shekels in weight, I was overcome by desire and took them; and they are put away in the earth in my tent, and the silver is under it.
WebsterWhen I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them, and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

What does Joshua 7:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. a goodly Babylonish garment--literally, "a mantle of Shinar." The plain of Shinar was in early times celebrated for its gorgeous robes, which were of brilliant and various colors, generally arranged in figured patterns, probably resembling those of modern Turkish carpets, and the colors were either interwoven in the loom or embroidered with the needle. two hundred shekels of silver--equivalent to £22 10s. sterling, according to the old Mosaic shekel, or the half of that sum, reckoning by the common shekel. a wedge of gold--literally, an ingot or bar in the shape of a tongue.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 A goodly Babylonish garment - אדרת שנער addereth shinar, a splendid or costly robe of Shinar; but as Babylon or Babel was built in the plain of Shinar, the word has in general been translated Babylon in this place. It is very probable that this was the robe of the king of Jericho, for the same word is used, Jon 3:6, to express the royal robe, of the king of Nineveh which he laid aside in order to humble himself before God. Bochart and Calmet have shown at large that Babylonish robes were very splendid, and in high reputation. "They are," says Calmet, "generally allowed to have been of various colors, though some suppose they were woven thus; others, that they were embroidered with the needle; and others, that they were painted. Silius Italicus appears to think they were woven thus: - Vestis spirantes referens subtemine vultus, Quos radio caelat Babylon. Punic. lib. xiv., ver. 667. Martial seems to say they were embroidered with the needle: - Non ego praetulerim Babylonia Picta superbe Textra, Semiramia quae variantur Acu. Lib. viii., E. 28, ver. 17. Pliny (lib. viii., c. 48) and Apuleius (Florid. lib. i). speak of them as if painted: "Colores diversos picturae intexere Babylon maxime celebravit, et nomen imposuit." Thus far Calmet: but it may be observed that the clothes woven of divers colors at Babylon, which were so greatly celebrated, and hence called Babylonish garments, appear rather to have had the pictures woven or embroidered in them than painted on them, as Calmet supposes, though it is most likely the figures referred to were the work of the needle after the cloth came from the loom. Aquila translates the original, אדרת שנער addereth shinar, by στολην βαβυλονικην, a Babylonish robe; Symmachus, ενδυμα συναρ, a robe of Synar; the Septuagint, ψιλην ποικιλην, a fine garment of different colors; and the Vulgate, pallium coccineum, a scarlet cloak. There is no doubt it was both beautiful and costly, and on these grounds it was coveted by Achan. Two hundred shekels of silver - At three shillings per shekel, amount to about 30l. sterling. A wedge of gold - A tongue of gold, לשון זהב leshon zahab what we commonly call an ingot of gold, a corruption of the word lingot, signifying a little tongue, of fifty shekels weight. These fifty shekels, in weight 29 oz. 15 15/31 gr., at 2l. 5s. 2 1/2 42/93d. per shekel, would be worth about 113l. 0s. 10 3/4d. This verse gives us a notable instance of the progress of sin. It 1. enters by the eye; 2. sinks into the heart; 3. actuates the hand; and, 4. leads to secrecy and dissimulation. I saw, etc, I coveted, etc. I took and hid them in the earth. Thus says St. James: "When lust (evil desire) is conceived it bringeth forth sin; and when sin is finished it bringeth forth death," Jos 1:15.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 7:16-26

See the folly of those that promise themselves secrecy in sin. The righteous God has many ways of bringing to light the hidden works of darkness. See also, how much it is our concern, when God is contending with us, to find out the cause that troubles us. We must pray with holy Job, Lord, show me wherefore thou contendest with me. Achan's sin began in the eye. He saw these fine things, as Eve saw the forbidden…

Read the full comment on Joshua 7:16-26 →

Joshua 7:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וָאֵ֣רֶאva.'er.'eh'and I sawH7200
בַשָּׁלָ֡לva.sha.Lalamong the bootyH7998
אַדֶּ֣רֶת'a.De.ret<the> cloak ofH155
שִׁנְעָר֩shin.'ArShinarH8152
אַחַ֨ת'a.ChatoneH259
טוֹבָ֜הto.VahgoodH2896
וּמָאתַ֧יִםu.ma.Ta.yimand two hundredH3967
שְׁקָלִ֣יםshe.ka.LimshekelsH8255
כֶּ֗סֶףKe.sefsilverH3701
וּלְשׁ֨וֹןu.le.Shonand a wedge ofH3956
זָהָ֤בza.HavgoldH2091
אֶחָד֙'e.ChadoneH259
חֲמִשִּׁ֤יםcha.mi.Shim[was] fiftyH2572
שְׁקָלִים֙she.ka.LimshekelsH8255
מִשְׁקָל֔וֹmish.ka.Loweight itsH4948
וָֽאֶחְמְדֵ֖םva.'ech.me.Demand I desired themH2530
וָֽאֶקָּחֵ֑םva.'e.ka.Chemand I took themH3947
וְהִנָּ֨םve.hi.Namand there theyH2009
טְמוּנִ֥יםte.mu.Nim[are] hiddenH2934
בָּאָ֛רֶץba.'A.retzin the groundH776
בְּת֥וֹךְbe.Tokhin [the] midst ofH8432
הָאָֽהֳלִ֖יha.'o.ho.Li<the> tent myH168
וְהַכֶּ֥סֶףve.ha.Ke.sefand the silverH3701
תַּחְתֶּֽיהָ\׃tach.Tei.ha[is] under itH8478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Joshua 7:21

  • James 1:15

    Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • Psalms 119:37

    Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

  • Luke 12:15

    And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

  • 1 John 2:15-16

    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • 2 Peter 2:15

    Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

  • Deuteronomy 7:25

    The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

  • 2 Samuel 11:2

    And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

  • Proverbs 28:22

    He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

  • Genesis 3:6

    And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

  • Genesis 6:2

    That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

  • Hebrews 13:5

    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

  • 2 Kings 5:20-27

    But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I saw.
Ge 3:6; 6:2; 2Sa 11:2; Job 31:1; Ps 119:37; Pr 23:31; 28:22
Mt 5:28,29; 1Jo 2:15,16
Babylonish garment.{Addereth shinâr,} "a splendid or costly robe of Shinar," the plain in which Babylon stood. Bochart and Calmet have shewn at large, that Babylonish robes were very splendid, and in high reputation. Calmet says, they are generally allowed to have been of various colours, though some suppose they were woven thus; others, that they were embroidered with the needle; and others, that they were painted. Silius Italicus seems to think they were woven. Martial supposes them to have been embroidered with the needle; and Pliny and Apuleius speak of them as painted.
Ge 10:10; *marg:
wedge. Heb. tongue. I coveted.
Ex 20:17; De 7:25; 1Ki 21:1,2; 2Ki 5:20-27; Hab 2:9; Lu 12:15
Ro 7:7,8; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; 1Ti 6:9,10; Heb 13:5; 2Pe 2:15
took them.
Pr 4:23; Mic 2:1,2; Jas 1:15
they are hid.
2Sa 11:6-17; 2Ki 5:24,25; Isa 28:15; 29:15; Lu 12:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Joshua 7:20

    And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

  • Joshua 7:21

    When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

  • Joshua 7:22

    So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

Read all of Joshua 7

Joshua 7:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que vi entre los despojos un manto babilónico muy bueno, y doscientos siclos de plata, y un changote de oro de peso de cincuenta siclos; lo cual codicié, y tomé: y he aquí que está escondido debajo de tierra en el medio de mi tienda, y el dinero debajo de ello.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		j’ai vu parmi le butin un beau manteau de Shinhar, et 200 sicles d’argent, et un lingot d’or du poids de 50 sicles; je les ai convoités, et je les ai pris; et voilà, ils sont cachés dans la terre, au milieu de ma tente, et l’argent est dessous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich sah unter der Beute einen schönen Mantel aus Sinear und zweihundert Sekel Silber und eine goldene Stange, fünfzig Sekel ihr Gewicht, und mich gelüstete danach, und ich nahm sie; und siehe, sie sind im Innern meines Zeltes in der Erde vergraben und das Silber darunter.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vidi enim inter spolia pallium coccineum valde bonum, et ducentos siclos argenti, regulamque auream quinquaginta siclorum: et concupiscens abstuli, et abscondi in terra contra medium tabernaculi mei, argentumque fossa humo operui.