Joshua 24 23

Joshua 24:23 kjv

Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

Joshua 24:23 nkjv

"Now therefore," he said, "put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel."

Joshua 24:23 niv

"Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."

Joshua 24:23 esv

He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel."

Joshua 24:23 nlt

"All right then," Joshua said, "destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 23 Meaning

Joshua 24:23 contains Joshua's direct and forceful command to the Israelites following their declaration to serve the Lord. It demands a twofold action: the decisive removal of any foreign deities they possessed and the full redirection of their entire being – their minds, wills, and affections – exclusively toward Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This verse serves as a crucial test of their newly reaffirmed commitment to the covenant, emphasizing that true devotion requires both external cleansing and internal heart orientation.

Joshua 24 23 Context

Joshua 24 takes place at Shechem, serving as Joshua's farewell address to the nation of Israel before his death. This chapter records a formal covenant renewal ceremony, reminding the Israelites of God's faithful history with their ancestors, from Abraham to their entry into the Promised Land. Joshua challenges the people to "choose this day whom you will serve" (v. 15), knowing that full commitment to Yahweh meant rejecting the prevalent Canaanite gods. The people respond with a resounding declaration, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods" (v. 16), and again, "We will serve the LORD, for he is our God" (v. 18). Joshua then warns them of the serious implications of their vow, stating that they cannot truly serve the holy God if they also hold onto other deities (vv. 19-20). Verse 23, therefore, is Joshua's specific, immediate, and practical command, acting as a crucial test of the sincerity and depth of their public profession. He points directly to the lingering issue of idolatry within their midst and demands a radical response: removal of foreign gods and total dedication of heart to Yahweh.

Joshua 24 23 Word analysis

• Now therefore: (Heb. וְעַתָּה, wə‘attāh) - A transition word that ties Joshua's immediate command directly to the Israelites' fresh vow of commitment. It indicates that since they have declared their loyalty, certain actions are a logical and necessary consequence. It calls for an immediate response based on their declared choice.
• put away: (Heb. סוּרוּ, sūrū) - An imperative verb, meaning "remove," "turn away," or "take away." It's a strong command for decisive, active removal. This isn't merely to stop worshipping, but to physically or consciously rid themselves of the idols or any instruments associated with their worship. It implies a radical and complete break with former practices.
• the strange gods: (Heb. אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר, ’ĕlōhê hannēkār)
  • gods (אֱלֹהִים, ’ĕlōhîm): Here used in the context of false deities, idols that are worshipped instead of or alongside the true God.
  • strange/foreign (נֵכָר, nēkār): Signifies something alien, unknown, or belonging to another culture. It denotes that these deities are not native to Israel's covenant with Yahweh; they are outside, in opposition to, the exclusive worship required by their God. This term serves as a direct polemic, subtly indicating their illegitimacy and contrasting them with Yahweh, the one true and known God of Israel.
• which are among you: (Heb. אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבְּכֶם, ’ăšer bəqirbəkem) - This phrase highlights that the problem of idolatry was not just an external threat from surrounding nations, but an internal, personal, and domestic reality within Israelite households. It indicates that foreign gods had infiltrated their communities, homes, and perhaps even their hearts, making the call to "put away" intensely personal and practical.
• and incline your heart: (Heb. הַטּוּ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶם, haṭṭū ’eṯ-ləḇaḇkem)
  • incline (נטה, nāṭāh): An imperative verb, meaning "to bend," "stretch out," or "turn." It implies a deliberate, conscious act of steering or directing. It is not a passive reception but an active exercise of will and choice to turn one's deepest being towards God.
  • your heart (לְבַבְכֶם, ləḇaḇkem): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" (לֵב, lēḇ) is not just the seat of emotions, but the entire inner person—intellect, will, desires, conscience, and affections. To incline one's heart means to direct one's entire will, mind, and innermost desires toward God, making Him the central focus of all being.
• unto the LORD God of Israel: (Heb. אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, ’el-YHVH ’ĕlōhê Yiśrā’ēl)
  • the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH/Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful relationship with His people.
  • God of Israel: A specific identifier that emphasizes His unique covenant relationship and sovereignty over Israel, distinguishing Him absolutely from the "strange gods." It reaffirms His authority as the one true God to whom they owe exclusive allegiance. This title reminds them of their history and identity tied solely to Him.

Joshua 24 23 Bonus section

The tension presented in Joshua 24:23, between professing commitment to Yahweh and the subtle presence of "strange gods among you," highlights a recurring theme throughout biblical history. The Israelites consistently struggled with syncretism – the blending of Yahweh worship with pagan practices, despite clear warnings. Joshua’s command pre-emptively addresses this spiritual compromise, establishing a benchmark for purity that future generations would often fail to meet. This verse implicitly sets the stage for much of the later prophetic condemnation of Israel's spiritual adultery. For believers today, "strange gods" might not be carved images but can take the form of anything that occupies the supreme place in one's life—be it career, wealth, personal ambition, relationships, comfort, or even self-reliance. Joshua's instruction stresses that faith is not a passive agreement but an active and continuous process of both disengaging from worldly idols and passionately engaging with the Person of God.

Joshua 24 23 Commentary

Joshua 24:23 encapsulates the very essence of covenant fidelity and authentic faith. Having just affirmed their commitment to Yahweh, Israel is immediately confronted with the practical cost of their pledge. Joshua’s command is profoundly insightful, revealing that true devotion must involve both a decisive break from anything that competes for God's place and an active, conscious turning of one's entire being towards Him. The call to "put away the strange gods" is not a suggestion but a categorical imperative for a pure worship life; it requires actively identifying and eliminating overt or subtle idolatry present even within their own households. Simultaneously, the charge to "incline your heart" emphasizes that external cleansing without internal transformation is insufficient. The "heart" represents the core of one's will, mind, and affections. It signifies a radical redirection of their inner loyalties away from anything foreign to Yahweh and wholly towards Him, as the "God of Israel," their covenant Lord. This verse serves as a timeless challenge, demonstrating that allegiance to the one true God demands absolute singularity of devotion, manifesting in both concrete actions of renunciation and profound inner orientation. It's a reminder that genuine repentance and faith are not merely words but a demonstrated commitment to abandon all rivals for God's supremacy in one's life.