Joshua 24 27

Joshua 24:27 kjv

And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.

Joshua 24:27 nkjv

And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God."

Joshua 24:27 niv

"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."

Joshua 24:27 esv

And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God."

Joshua 24:27 nlt

Joshua said to all the people, "This stone has heard everything the LORD said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God."

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 27 Meaning

Joshua chapter 24 verse 27 records Joshua’s explanation for placing a large stone as a physical witness to the covenant renewed between the Lord and the people of Israel at Shechem. This stone was declared to have "heard" all the words spoken, thereby serving as a tangible and permanent reminder of their commitment. Its purpose was to stand as an enduring testimony and a deterrent, reminding them of their solemn oath to serve Yahweh alone and preventing them from denying their God in the future.

Joshua 24 27 Context

Joshua 24 records Joshua’s farewell address to all the tribes of Israel gathered at Shechem, a significant location for early Israelite history. This event is a solemn covenant renewal ceremony, akin to a legal proceeding. Joshua reviews God’s faithful actions, recounting Israel’s history from Abraham through the Exodus, wilderness wanderings, and conquest of Canaan. He then challenges the people to "choose for yourselves today whom you will serve" (Jos 24:15), starkly contrasting Yahweh with the gods of their ancestors and the Amorites. The people firmly declare their choice to serve the Lord. Joshua then warns them of the serious implications of their vow, stating that God is holy and jealous and will not tolerate disloyalty. After the people reiterate their commitment, Joshua makes a covenant with them, sets down statutes and ordinances, and records them in the Book of the Law. To permanently memorialize this sacred agreement, he sets up a large stone under the oak by the sanctuary of the Lord, then explains its specific role as a witness, forming the context for verse 27. Historically, establishing physical markers like stones was a common practice in the ancient Near East to commemorate important events, particularly treaties and covenants, providing tangible evidence for future generations.

Joshua 24 27 Word analysis

• And Joshua said: (waw-hayyah Yəhôšuaʿ, lit. "And Joshua spoke"). Emphasizes Joshua’s authoritative role as the leader and mediator of the covenant, speaking on behalf of God and guiding the people.
• to all the people: (ʾel kol-hāʿām). Highlights the collective and public nature of the covenant and the universal responsibility within Israel.
• Behold, this stone: (hinnēh hāʾeven hazzōʾt). Hinnēh ("behold," "look") is an interjection used to draw attention to something significant and new. Hāʾeven (the stone) refers to the specific, designated stone placed under the oak by the sanctuary (v. 26). Stones are symbols of permanence, stability, and enduring witness in ancient cultures, unlike fleeting human memory.
• shall be a witness: (tihyeh-bānû ləʿēd). Ləʿēd (לְעֵד) means "as a witness." The stone takes on a quasi-judicial function. It is a material representation of the spoken truth, ensuring accountability.
• against us: (bānû). Refers to Joshua himself and the current generation present, acknowledging their full complicity and immediate responsibility in the covenant just made.
• for it has heard: (kî-hîʾ šāməʿāh). A striking personification. Šāməʿāh (she heard, referring to the feminine "stone") literally means to hear but also implies to pay attention, understand, and thus be able to attest to the facts. The stone, though inanimate, is given the symbolic capacity to bear objective, immutable testimony to the spoken words. This is a common ancient Near Eastern literary device in treaty texts, where elements of nature are called to witness.
• all the words of the Lord: (ʾēt kol-ʾimrê YHVH). ʾImrê (utterances, words) signifies not just mere speech, but the divine commands, covenant stipulations, and pronouncements of God. "Of the Lord" (Yahweh, God's personal covenant name) stresses the divine origin, authority, and sanctity of these words.
• which He spoke to us: (ʾašer dibber ʾēlênû). Reinforces the direct divine communication and the personal nature of God’s covenant with His people, made explicit and agreed upon by the assembled Israelites.
• Therefore it shall be a witness: (wəhāyəṯâ bāḵem ləʿēd). Repetition emphasizes the enduring function of the stone. The switch from past tense "has heard" to future "shall be a witness" confirms its ongoing purpose.
• against you: (bāḵem). This shifts the emphasis to the broader community, including both the present generation and future generations of Israel, holding them accountable to the covenant their ancestors willingly made. The witness functions as an accuser if they betray the covenant.
• lest you deny: (pen-təḵaḥšûn). Tekhaḥšûn (תְּכַחֲשׁוּן) means "to deal falsely with," "deny," "deceive," "betray," or "repudiate." It implies reneging on a promise or vow. This is the core warning – the purpose of the stone is to prevent future apostasy.
• your God: (bēʾlōhêkem). Highlights the personal, possessive relationship and solemn commitment Israel entered into with Yahweh. Denying "your God" means breaking this sacred bond.

• "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us... Therefore it shall be a witness against you": This repeated phrase underscores the legal and covenantal gravity of the event. The "us" implies immediate accountability for those who just made the vow, while the "you" extends this accountability to all future generations, making it clear the stone's testimony transcends time. The stone isn't merely a reminder; it functions as evidence to be presented in a cosmic court if they default on their promise.
• "for it has heard all the words of the Lord": This vivid personification attributes an impossible action to an inanimate object, profoundly impacting its meaning. It signifies the absolute immutability and permanence of the divine word and the human vows. Unlike human memory which fades, or human witnesses who die, the stone embodies the eternal truth of the covenant words. It metaphorically absorbed every command and promise spoken, rendering them indelible. This functions as a polemic against the inertness of pagan idols by emphasizing the living, active, and demanding nature of the covenant God whose words endure.
• "lest you deny your God": This phrase reveals the ultimate purpose of the stone and the covenant renewal ceremony. It is a powerful warning against apostasy, specifically against forsaking Yahweh for other deities or practices. The stone serves as a constant, tangible warning, urging faithfulness to the God who brought them out of Egypt and into the promised land. "Deny your God" encompasses spiritual infidelity, disobedience, and abandonment of the covenant relationship.

Joshua 24 27 Bonus section

The act of establishing this witness stone at Shechem connects Joshua's leadership directly to the patriarchal narratives. Shechem was where Abraham first built an altar to the Lord upon entering Canaan (Gen 12:6-7) and where Jacob buried the foreign gods of his household (Gen 35:4), marking it as a historically significant place for foundational acts of worship and purity. Joshua's use of a stone here reinforces the theme of God's unchanging presence and the continuous demand for faithfulness throughout generations. The personification of the stone "hearing" is a strong rhetorical device often employed in ancient Near Eastern treaties where natural elements (mountains, rivers, heaven, earth) are invoked as cosmic witnesses to emphasize the solemnity and enforceability of oaths, reminding participants that breaking the treaty meant incurring the wrath of cosmic forces. In this biblical context, it highlights the absolute seriousness with which Yahweh regarded their covenant promise.

Joshua 24 27 Commentary

Joshua 24:27 provides the concluding explanation for the covenant marker at Shechem, signifying the deep gravity and enduring nature of Israel's vow to Yahweh. The stone, as a non-human witness, embodies the absolute and unchanging truth of the words spoken, standing in contrast to the fickle human heart. It serves a multi-faceted purpose: as a tangible memorial to a solemn covenant, a reminder of their pledged loyalty, and crucially, an objective "witness against" them should they violate their commitment to serve the Lord alone. This act solidifies the covenant not only through oral agreement and written law but also through a physical, permanent, and accusatory testament designed to prevent future generations from succumbing to idolatry and denying the one true God. This monument thus became a silent yet powerful advocate for fidelity and a condemnation of spiritual infidelity, embodying the very seriousness of God's covenant demands.