Paragraph 7:19

Joshua asked Achan to confess.

7:19a

So Joshua said to Achan: After the lot showed that Achan was guilty, Joshua gave advice, or a warning, to Achan.

7:19b

My son: The direct address My son indicates that Joshua had higher status than Achan, and that he addressed him in a polite manner. It does not mean that Achan was really Joshua’s son. Use a form of address that is appropriate in this context. It may be more natural to not translate this phrase.

give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel: Joshua urged Achan to tell the truth. If Achan tells the truth, he will honor God and give glory to him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Honor Yahweh, who is the God of Israel, by telling the truth
-or-
tell the truth here before the Lord, the God of Israel (Good News Translation)

7:19c

and make a confession to Him: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as make a confession :

(1) It means confess. For example:

and confess (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New Century Version, King James Version)

(2) It means give praise. For example:

and give him the praise (New International Version)

(New International Version, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This fits well with the context.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

confess ⌊your sin⌋ to Yahweh

7:19d-e

I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me: Joshua warned Achan that he must confess his sin and not attempt to keep it secret.

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