Joshua 22:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

"Here is what the whole community of ADONAI is saying: 'What is this treachery that you have committed against the God of Isra'el, turning away today from following ADONAI, in that you have built yourselves an altar, thus rebelling today against ADONAI?

Berean Standard Bible:

“This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

American Standard Version:

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 with Strong’s Numbers:

Thus saith{H559} the whole congregation{H5712} of the LORD{H3068}, What trespass{H4604} is this that ye have committed{H4603} against the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, to turn away{H7725} this day{H3117} from following{H310} the LORD{H3068}, in that ye have builded{H1129} you an altar{H4196}, that ye might rebel{H4775} this day{H3117} against the LORD{H3068}?

Cross-References (KJV):

Deuteronomy 12:13

  • Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:

Deuteronomy 12:14

  • But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Joshua 22:16

Joshua 22:16 is a verse set within the broader context of the Israelites' settlement in the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt. The book of Joshua recounts the division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel following the conquest. In this particular narrative, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had been granted land on the eastern side of the Jordan River, and they had built an altar, which was perceived by the other tribes as an act of rebellion against God.

In verse 16, the whole congregation of the Lord, representing the Israelite community led by Phinehas the priest and ten princes, confronts the two and a half tribes about this altar. They question the motives behind the construction of the altar, seeing it as a direct affront to the God of Israel, suggesting that it was built as a means to turn away from following the Lord and potentially to offer sacrifices that should only be made at the central sanctuary. This confrontation reflects the deep concern for religious unity and adherence to the covenant with God, where worship was to be centralized according to God's commandments.

The themes present in this verse include the importance of unity among God's people, the necessity of adhering strictly to divine instructions regarding worship, and the fear of idolatry and apostasy within the community. The historical context highlights the delicate balance of maintaining religious cohesion across geographically dispersed tribes, each with its own local interests and the potential for divergent religious practices. The verse underscores the gravity with which the Israelites regarded the sanctity of worship and the collective responsibility to uphold the worship of the Lord as prescribed in the Torah.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  2. Strong's Number: H5712
    There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵדָה
    Transliteration: ʻêdâh
    Pronunciation: ay-daw'
    Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה.
  3. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  4. Strong's Number: H4604
    There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַעַל
    Transliteration: maʻal
    Pronunciation: mah'-al
    Description: from מָעַל; treachery, i.e. sin; falsehood, grievously, sore, transgression, trespass, [idiom] very.
  5. Strong's Number: H4603
    There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָעַל
    Transliteration: mâʻal
    Pronunciation: maw-al'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. treacherously; transgress, (commit, do a) trespass(-ing).
  6. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
  7. Strong's Number: H3478
    There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
    Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
    Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
    Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
  8. Strong's Number: H7725
    There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שׁוּב
    Transliteration: shûwb
    Pronunciation: shoob
    Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
  9. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
  10. Strong's Number: H310
    There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַחַר
    Transliteration: ʼachar
    Pronunciation: akh-ar'
    Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
  11. Strong's Number: H1129
    There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּנָה
    Transliteration: bânâh
    Pronunciation: baw-naw'
    Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely.
  12. Strong's Number: H4196
    There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
    Transliteration: mizbêach
    Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
    Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar.
  13. Strong's Number: H4775
    There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָרַד
    Transliteration: mârad
    Pronunciation: maw-rad'
    Description: a primitive root; to rebel; rebel(-lious).