Lexical Summary Shebarim: Shebarim Original Word: שְׁבָרִים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shebarim Plural of sheber; ruins; Shebarim, a place in Palestine -- Shebarim. see HEBREW sheber NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originpl. of sheber Definition perhaps "quarries," a place near Ai NASB Translation Shebarim (1). Topical Lexicon 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 Shebarim appears once, in Joshua 7:5, describing the place to which the men of Ai pursued Israel after their unexpected rout. The Berean Standard Bible renders the term “the quarries,” while retaining Shebarim in a footnote. Located on the descent from Ai toward the Jordan valley, the site likely marked a series of stone-breaks or clefts, fitting its Hebrew sense of “breaks” or “breaches.” Though obscure on the map, Shebarim becomes a spiritual milestone in Israel’s conquest narrative. 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 The defeat at Shebarim comes immediately after the triumph at Jericho (Joshua 6). Thirty-six Israelites die, the army flees, and “the hearts of the people melted and became like water” (Joshua 7:5). The sudden reversal exposes a hidden transgression—Achan’s theft of the devoted things. Thus Shebarim stands as the physical stage where covenant unfaithfulness is unmasked, turning military history into moral instruction. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 1. Covenant Holiness. Deuteronomy 7:26 had warned that devoted objects bring a curse; Shebarim proves the warning true. 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Shebarim underscores humanity’s need for a Mediator who bears sin’s breach. Whereas Achan dies for his own guilt, Jesus Christ “was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). The contrast heightens the grace displayed at the cross, where the breach between God and humankind is permanently mended (Hebrews 10:19-22). 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 When victories breed complacency, Shebarim warns believers to guard tender consciences. Personal or hidden sin can fracture family, church, or mission. Yet the narrative also invites hope: once sin is dealt with, the very place of failure can lead to fresh advances in God’s purposes (Philippians 3:13-14). Forms and Transliterations הַשְּׁבָרִ֔ים השברים haš·šə·ḇā·rîm hashshevaRim haššəḇārîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 7:5 HEB: הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ עַד־ הַשְּׁבָרִ֔ים וַיַּכּ֖וּם בַּמּוֹרָ֑ד NAS: as far as Shebarim and struck them down KJV: the gate [even] unto Shebarim, and smote INT: the gate far Shebarim down the descent 1 Occurrence |
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