Joshua 24:24 kjv
And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
Joshua 24:24 nkjv
And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!"
Joshua 24:24 niv
And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
Joshua 24:24 esv
And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."
Joshua 24:24 nlt
The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone."
Joshua 24 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 19:8 | "All that the Lord has spoken we will do." | Sinai covenant initial acceptance. |
| Deut 5:27 | "We will listen and do everything the Lord our God says." | People's promise to obey Moses. |
| Deut 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." | Emphasizes exclusive loyalty to one God. |
| Deut 6:13 | "You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him..." | Command to worship God alone. |
| Deut 10:12 | "...to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart..." | Requirement of wholehearted service. |
| Deut 10:20 | "You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve Him and hold fast to Him..." | Stronger command for exclusive service. |
| Deut 30:19 | "...choose life, that you and your offspring may live..." | Choice between life (obedience) and death. |
| Deut 30:20 | "...by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice..." | Connects love, obedience, and life. |
| Jos 24:15 | "...choose this day whom you will serve..." | The choice Joshua presents to the people. |
| 1 Sam 7:3 | "...if you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods...and serve the Lord only." | Samuel's call for exclusive devotion. |
| 1 Kgs 18:21 | "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him..." | Elijah's challenge against divided loyalty. |
| Psa 100:2 | "Serve the Lord with gladness..." | Call to joyful service of God. |
| Isa 1:19 | "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land..." | Promise for willing obedience. |
| Jer 7:23 | "But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people...'" | Core covenant promise and demand. |
| Matt 4:10 | "You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." | Jesus' affirmation of Deut 6:13, rejecting temptation. |
| Lk 11:28 | "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" | Emphasizes blessedness of hearing and obeying. |
| Rom 6:16 | "...you are slaves of the one whom you obey..." | Choice between serving righteousness or sin. |
| Heb 5:9 | "...He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." | Salvation tied to obedience to Christ. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only..." | Necessity of acting on God's word. |
| 1 Pet 1:14 | "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance..." | Call to live as obedient children of God. |
| 1 Jn 2:3 | "By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." | Proof of relationship through obedience. |
| Rev 14:12 | "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God..." | Mark of true followers of God. |
Joshua 24 verses
Joshua 24 24 Meaning
Joshua 24:24 records the unified affirmation of the people of Israel to Joshua's challenge. It expresses their deliberate choice and solemn commitment to exclusively serve YHWH, their covenant God, and to diligently obey His declared will and commandments, explicitly rejecting all other deities. This response signifies a renewed covenant vow and a declaration of their singular devotion.
Joshua 24 24 Context
Joshua 24:24 occurs during a pivotal moment known as the Covenant Renewal at Shechem, which marks the culmination of Joshua's leadership before his death. Joshua, as God's representative, gathers all the tribes of Israel to present a solemn choice (Jos 24:14-15). He recounts YHWH's redemptive history with Israel, from Abraham to the Exodus, wilderness wanderings, and the conquest of Canaan, contrasting YHWH's faithfulness with the idolatry of their ancestors and the foreign gods of the land. He then challenges the people to choose whom they will serve: the gods of their fathers, the Amorite gods, or YHWH. The people's declaration in verse 24 is their decisive and public response, an explicit reaffirmation of their commitment to YHWH, rejecting the lure of syncretism or idolatry in the newly acquired land. This event parallels the original covenant making at Sinai, solidifying Israel's identity and responsibilities in the Promised Land.
Joshua 24 24 Word analysis
And: Connects the people's response directly to Joshua's challenge and speech, indicating immediate agreement and continuity in the narrative of covenant renewal.
the people: (Hebrew: הָעָם - ha'am) Refers to the collective assembly of all Israelite tribes. Their united voice signifies a communal and nationwide commitment, not just an individual one. This highlights the corporate nature of the covenant with God.
said: (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyomru) A declarative verb, indicating a firm and public pronouncement, a binding verbal commitment. It's a responsive affirmation.
unto Joshua: Addressed directly to their leader, confirming their decision publicly and formally within the framework of the assembly and covenant process initiated by Joshua.
The Lord: (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH) Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the one true God who revealed Himself to Abraham, Moses, and brought them out of Egypt. It signifies His personal, relational name, emphasizing His unique claim on Israel.
our God: (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵינוּ - Eloheinu) A possessive form, meaning "our powerful one," highlighting the intimate, covenantal, and exclusive relationship. It acknowledges YHWH as their God, distinct from any other gods of the nations, underscoring the "choose whom you will serve" aspect.
will we serve: (Hebrew: נַעֲבֹד - na'avod) A future tense, meaning "we shall serve" or "we will worship/perform duties for." It implies active, dedicated service, devotion, and labor directed towards God, contrasting with serving other gods (Jos 24:14, 15, 19-20). It encompasses all aspects of life.
and his voice: (Hebrew: וּבְקֹלוֹ - u'v'qolo) Refers to God's commandments, His revealed will, and spoken words. This is about attentive listening and understanding what God requires.
will we obey: (Hebrew: נִשְׁמָע - nish'ma) A future tense from the root shama', meaning "to hear, listen, understand, and obey." It is a profound commitment not just to hear God's commands, but to heed and put them into practice. This "listening obedience" is fundamental to the Israelite faith (Shema Yisrael - Deut 6:4).
"The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey": This complete phrase forms a dual commitment: service/worship (עֲבֹדָה - avodah) and obedience to God's revelation (shema). It articulates the very core of the covenant relationship, encompassing both devoted worship and practical adherence to divine law, sealing the people's allegiance to YHWH as their exclusive God and ruler. It emphasizes a complete submission of will and action.
Joshua 24 24 Bonus section
This verse reflects the core theological tenet of monotheism and exclusive worship, which became foundational for Israel's identity and distinctiveness. The solemn nature of the people's vow, reiterated emphatically, underlines the gravity of the choice presented to them. Though a declaration of faith and obedience, the narrative itself hints at the inherent challenge of sustained faithfulness in a polytheistic environment (Jos 24:19-20), foreshadowing Israel's struggles with idolatry throughout their history as documented in the Book of Judges and later historical books. Thus, the verse functions as a critical high point, a moment of profound commitment that sets the theological ideal, even as the Bible acknowledges human frailty in fulfilling such vows over time. It represents a call for intentional and consistent faith, which is still relevant for believers today in choosing to serve Christ above all worldly distractions.
Joshua 24 24 Commentary
Joshua 24:24 captures the people of Israel's decisive response to Joshua's final challenge, a public affirmation echoing the earlier covenant at Sinai (Exod 19:8). This declaration is not merely a verbal assent but a profound commitment encompassing their very being and future actions. By choosing YHWH, their "God," they explicitly rejected all forms of polytheism and syncretism prevalent among the surrounding nations, acknowledging YHWH as the sole divine authority worthy of their service and loyalty. The dual promise "will we serve, and his voice will we obey" highlights the two core components of the covenant relationship: outward devotion (service/worship) and inward submission to God's declared will (obedience). The use of the possessive "our God" signifies a deep relational bond forged by YHWH's faithfulness. This verse sets the stage for the coming generations, laying down the theological foundation that true blessedness lies in undivided loyalty and practical obedience to the one true God. Sadly, subsequent history would show that while their initial intent was genuine, their faithfulness often wavered. This verse therefore serves as both a testament to their initial resolve and a benchmark against which their future actions would be measured.