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Achan

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A biblical figure whose secret appropriation of forbidden spoils brought divine punishment on Israel; in poetry, he symbolizes hidden sin, communal guilt, and the catastrophic ripple of a single transgression.

Detailed Definition
In the Book of Joshua, Achan takes devoted goods from Jericho and conceals them beneath his tent. His private desire becomes a public wound, making him a potent poetic emblem of secret guilt, inherited consequence, and the uneasy relation between individual choice and collective fortune. A poem invoking Achan may place buried treasure beside a troubled conscience, suggesting that what is hidden can still alter the fate of an entire people.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poet may invoke Achan as a warning that hidden wrongdoing can damage an entire community; “Like Achan, I buried the stolen gold beneath my tent”; The name can symbolize private guilt revealed after public triumph; A modern poem might contrast Achan’s secret theft with the openness of communal confession.
Additional Notes
Achan appears in Joshua 7, where he secretly takes devoted spoil from Jericho. His individual sin brings defeat and judgment upon the whole Israelite community, making him a biblical example of concealed wrongdoing, communal responsibility, and the danger of coveting. Related ideas include confession, divine judgment, and restoration after repentance.
Also Known As
Achar
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