Joshua 23 7

Joshua 23:7 kjv

That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

Joshua 23:7 nkjv

and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,

Joshua 23:7 niv

Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them.

Joshua 23:7 esv

that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them,

Joshua 23:7 nlt

Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them.

Joshua 23 verses

Joshua 23 7 Meaning

Joshua 23:7 serves as a crucial warning from Joshua to the people of Israel concerning the dangers of idolatry and assimilation with the remaining Canaanite nations. It meticulously outlines the progression of compromise: first, not to associate with them; second, not to utter or acknowledge the names of their false gods; and finally, not to serve or worship them. This verse underscores the absolute exclusivity of the Israelites' covenant with YHWH and demands unwavering loyalty, warning against any act that would legitimize pagan deities or practices in the eyes of God or the people.

Joshua 23 7 Context

Joshua chapter 23 contains Joshua's final farewell address to the leaders of Israel, just before his death. Having led the people into the Promised Land and secured victories against its inhabitants, Joshua reminds them of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to give them the land. This chapter serves as a solemn warning against deviating from God's commands. The surrounding verses reiterate God's past help and future intentions to drive out the remaining enemies, conditional on Israel's obedience. Verse 7, in particular, highlights the ever-present danger of syncretism and idolatry arising from the unexterminated pagan presence. Joshua foresees the potential for Israel to be drawn into the spiritual and cultural practices of these nations, thus compromising their unique relationship with YHWH. The warning emphasizes the profound link between covenant faithfulness and the successful completion of the conquest, underscoring the spiritual battle alongside the physical one.

Joshua 23 7 Word analysis

• You must not associate: This translates the Hebrew verb bō’ (בֹּא), meaning "to come," "to go," or "to enter." In this context, it signifies "to enter into relationship," "to mingle with," or "to come among." It's the initial step toward compromise.
  • Significance: It prohibits even superficial contact or social mingling that could lead to deeper entanglement. The danger starts with proximity and acceptance.
• with these nations: Refers to the various Canaanite groups (e.g., Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites) that the Israelites failed to fully dispossess or utterly destroy, as commanded by YHWH.
  • Significance: These remaining nations represent persistent temptation and a challenge to Israel's exclusive devotion to God. Their presence tests Israel's obedience to God's command of holy separation.
• that remain among you: Emphasizes the immanent and immediate danger. The threat is not distant but is living within their very midst.
  • Significance: The proximity makes the temptation strong and pervasive, illustrating that internal threats can be as dangerous as external ones.
• you must not invoke the names: From the Hebrew root zakhar (זָכַר), "to remember," "to call to mind," here specifically "to utter" or "to mention" in a solemn way. The negation forbids giving legitimacy to foreign gods by acknowledging their names.
  • Significance: Even speaking the names of foreign gods can subtly normalize their existence and power, leading to recognition and potential worship. It denies the very reality of these pagan deities, affirming only YHWH's existence.
• of their gods: Refers to the local deities of Canaan, such as Baal, Asherah, and others, associated with fertility cults and abhorrent practices.
  • Significance: Direct polemic against polytheism; explicitly discrediting the validity of these false deities. It reinforces the singularity and supremacy of YHWH.
• or swear by them: Using their names in oaths, indicating a trust or appeal to their supposed authority or power. The Hebrew is shaba’ (שָׁבַע), "to swear," "to take an oath."
  • Significance: Taking an oath implies invoking the name of a god as a guarantor. To do so with pagan gods would elevate them to a level of legitimacy and power that only YHWH possesses, directly violating the covenant.
• or serve them: Hebrew ’abad (עָבַד), meaning "to work," "to serve," or "to worship." This signifies active participation in the cultic practices of foreign gods.
  • Significance: This goes beyond mere acknowledgment to active engagement. It's about practical worship and allegiance. It denotes a deliberate choice to align oneself with pagan systems, directly betraying loyalty to YHWH.
• or bow down to them: Hebrew shaḥah (שָׁחָה), "to bow down," "to prostrate oneself," usually as an act of worship or reverence.
  • Significance: The physical act of prostration is a universal sign of homage and worship. This explicitly prohibits formal, outward acts of worship to pagan deities, encapsulating the final step in the spiritual compromise.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• You must not associate with these nations, these that remain among you: This phrase establishes the foundational prohibition: no friendly mingling or intimate involvement with the pagan inhabitants. It highlights the internal threat, emphasizing that even the mere presence of these nations could lead to defection. This is a call for segregation, not based on racial hatred, but on maintaining spiritual purity and exclusive covenant loyalty.
• neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: This sequential phrase outlines a deepening descent into apostasy. It starts with verbal recognition (mentioning/swearing), moves to active participation (serving), and culminates in overt worship (bowing down). This progression reveals the insidious nature of compromise: minor concessions can lead to full idolatry. It comprehensively covers cognitive, verbal, and physical acts of idolatry, leaving no room for any form of acknowledgment or worship of false gods. The detailed negative commands emphasize God's absolute demand for singular and unwavering devotion, a stark contrast to the polytheistic and syncretistic religious environment of Canaan.

Joshua 23 7 Bonus section

The injunctions in Joshua 23:7 reflect the repeated warnings throughout the Pentateuch, particularly in Deuteronomy, highlighting a consistent theme in God's law for Israel: a holy separation from pagan practices and peoples is essential for their spiritual well-being and their role as God's peculiar treasure. This separation was not about superiority, but about preserving their identity as the people through whom the one true God would reveal Himself to the world. The polemic against uttering the names of their gods signifies a crucial step in de-legitimizing these deities in the minds of the people, stripping them of any perceived power or reality. It’s a deliberate effort to eradicate polytheistic thought, reminding Israel that YHWH alone is God, and no other deity exists or holds power worthy of recognition, oath-taking, or worship. This verse sets the stage for much of Israel's subsequent history, where their failure to adhere to these very warnings led to their repeated fall into idolatry and its devastating consequences.

Joshua 23 7 Commentary

Joshua 23:7 is a profound warning that encapsulates the constant spiritual battle faced by God's people. It lays bare the path of apostasy, which often begins subtly, not with outright rebellion, but with gradual compromise. The verse instructs Israel to maintain strict separation from the unexterminated pagan nations and their idolatrous practices. The danger escalates from simply associating with them, to verbal acknowledgment of their gods, then to pledging allegiance by swearing, and finally, to actual service and worship. This progression illustrates that compromise in small matters inevitably leads to graver spiritual transgression. Joshua's charge here serves as a potent reminder that the Lord demands exclusive loyalty and total devotion; any form of syncretism or tolerance for other gods is an abomination. For Israel, failure to heed this warning would directly lead to the tragic cycle of disobedience, judgment, and deliverance chronicled in the book of Judges. It emphasizes that the true conquest of the land involved not only physical domination but also, crucially, spiritual purity.