Joshua 24 21

Joshua 24:21 kjv

And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:21 nkjv

And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD!"

Joshua 24:21 niv

But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:21 esv

And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:21 nlt

But the people answered Joshua, "No, we will serve the LORD!"

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 21 Meaning

Joshua 24:21 records the decisive declaration of the people of Israel at Shechem. In response to Joshua's profound challenge to choose whom they would serve—whether the pagan gods their ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land they dwelt—the people emphatically rejected any notion of serving foreign deities. Their words, "No, but we will serve the Lord!", express an unwavering, collective commitment and allegiance solely to Yahweh, the God of Israel. It signifies their resolute choice for exclusive worship and service of the covenant God.

Joshua 24 21 Context

Joshua 24 takes place at Shechem, a site steeped in Israelite history, being where Abraham first built an altar and received a promise from the Lord (Gen 12:6-7) and where Jacob buried the foreign gods of his household (Gen 35:2-4). Joshua, in his old age and nearing death, gathers all the tribes of Israel, along with their elders, heads, judges, and officers, before the Lord. He recounts the entire history of God's faithful dealings with Israel, from Abraham's calling to their deliverance from Egypt, through the wilderness wanderings, and their victorious settlement in the Promised Land. This historical recounting serves as a preamble to his challenge: "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served... and serve the Lord" (Josh 24:14). Joshua then presents them with a clear choice, a call to decide who they will truly serve, stating his own resolved commitment: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15). The people initially protest, asserting they will indeed serve the Lord (Josh 24:16-18). However, Joshua then warns them of the severe demands and consequences of serving the holy and jealous God (Josh 24:19-20), highlighting God's justice and intolerance for rebellion. Verse 21 is the people's strong, final reaffirmation in response to this deeper challenge. This covenant renewal ceremony solidifies their commitment under Joshua's leadership before he passes away.

Joshua 24 21 Word analysis

• Then the people: הָעָם (hāʿām). Refers to the collective assembly of all Israel present at Shechem, signifying a unanimous, communal response. This was not a private decision but a public, national covenant declaration.
• answered: וַיַּעֲנוּ (wayyaʿănû) from the verb עָנָה (ʿānâ). This implies a direct, verbal response to Joshua's profound question and challenge. It’s an act of acknowledging and stating a position, similar to giving testimony. The form used here, waw-consecutive imperfect, emphasizes the immediate sequence and consequence of their response to Joshua's preceding words.
• Joshua: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yᵉhôšuaʿ). The leader chosen by God, carrying the torch from Moses, who had faithfully presented God's words and intentions.
• and said: וַיֹּאמְרוּ (wayyōʾmrû) from אָמַר (ʾāmar). Simply states they articulated their response verbally.
• "No, but: לֹא כִּי (lōʾ kî).
  • "No": לֹא (lōʾ) is a strong negation, "not," "nay." Here, it forcefully rejects any thought that they might indeed serve foreign gods, directly refuting the possibility implied by Joshua's severe warning in verse 20 that if they forsook the Lord, He would turn and consume them. They declare, in effect, "It is absolutely not the case that we will forsake the Lord."
  • "but" / "indeed": כִּי (kî) is an emphatic particle that strengthens the preceding "no" and introduces the affirmative statement that follows. It can be translated as "surely," "indeed," or "rather." In this context, it sets up a powerful contrast, emphasizing the certainty of their decision to serve the Lord. It signifies a resolute commitment and conviction, providing the reason for their strong negation. They are not merely saying "no" to idols, but a resounding "yes" to YHWH.
• we will serve: נַעֲבֹד (naʿăvōd) from the verb עָבַד (ʿāvad). This verb carries rich meaning in the Hebrew Bible. It means "to work," "to labor," "to serve," "to be a servant," and also "to worship." This is not a passive or light commitment; it implies active dedication, allegiance, obedience, and hard work in carrying out God's will and performing His prescribed rituals of worship. It denotes exclusive, personal service to a master. Their commitment here is comprehensive—encompassing their whole life as labor and devotion. Scholars emphasize this 'service' (ʾavodah) as distinct from mere intellectual acknowledgment; it is embodied, costly devotion.
• the Lord!": יְהוָה (YHWH). The personal, covenant name of God. By stating they will serve "the Lord," they affirm their allegiance to the one true God who made a covenant with their fathers, delivered them from Egypt, and brought them into the land. This contrasts sharply with the generic "gods" Joshua previously mentioned, making their declaration a direct polemic against all pagan deities and practices. They are choosing the personal, living God over lifeless idols and demanding polytheistic pantheons. This exclusive choice resonates throughout the Old Testament and finds its New Testament echo in Christ's teaching of single-minded devotion (Matt 6:24).

Joshua 24 21 Bonus section

The strong resolve expressed in Joshua 24:21 stands in poignant contrast to Israel's subsequent history recorded in the Book of Judges and beyond, which repeatedly details their lapses into idolatry and disobedience. While their declaration was undoubtedly sincere in that moment, it reveals the human tendency to overstate one's future capacity for faithfulness, especially in the face of temptation or hardship. Joshua's preceding warnings (Josh 24:19-20) subtly highlight God's unbending holiness and His jealousy for His people's exclusive worship, hinting at the high cost of such a covenant. This historical tension—between enthusiastic human vows and God's consistent holiness that uncovers human frailty—underscores the need for ongoing grace and a continually renewed dependence on God's strength to sustain true service. The very verb 'serve' (עָבַד) also encapsulates the essence of true worship which is inseparable from obedience and submission to the divine will.

Joshua 24 21 Commentary

Joshua 24:21 represents the zenith of Israel's national commitment during the covenant renewal at Shechem. Following Joshua's vivid historical recounting and his stark challenge, the people's "No, but we will serve the Lord!" is an emphatic and seemingly resolute declaration of singular loyalty to Yahweh. This response is critical; it is not a mere agreement but a powerful refutation of any notion that they would abandon the true God. The choice was presented as a profound, life-altering decision between the living God and dead idols. Their choice to "serve" (עָבַד - ʾavodah) implied not just passive acknowledgement but active, laborious, and worshipful dedication—a life wholly devoted to God's will. This powerful affirmation set a precedent for future generations, though history would unfortunately reveal the struggle they often had in maintaining this exclusive fidelity. It reminds believers today of the constant call to conscious, deliberate, and exclusive devotion to the one true God, echoing the New Testament call to present one's body as a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1).