But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
Parallel translations
- WEB but hold fast to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day.
- BSB Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
- NKJV but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.
- NASB But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.
- NLT Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Instead they are to hold fast to Yahweh as they have done. It calls them to continued, loyal devotion to God.
Overview
In contrast to entanglement with the nations, Joshua commands Israel to cling tightly to the Lord. The phrase recalls the covenant language of clinging to God in love and loyalty. This steadfast attachment to Yahweh is the safeguard against being drawn away into idolatry.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Deut 10:20Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
- Josh 22:5But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Acts 11:23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
- Deut 13:4Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
- Deut 11:22For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;
- Deut 4:4But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 23:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.