“Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
Parallel translations
- WEB “Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel.”
- KJV Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
- NKJV “Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.”
- NASB “Now then, do away with the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
- NLT “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
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
Joshua commands them to put away the foreign gods among them and incline their hearts to Yahweh. It matters because true devotion requires removing rival idols and reorienting the heart to God.
Overview
Joshua's call implies that hidden idols still remained, so verbal commitment had to be matched by concrete repentance. Inclining the heart to Yahweh shows that obedience is inward as well as outward. This anticipates the gospel promise of a renewed heart, given by God so His people can truly love and serve Him (Ezekiel 36:26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Josh 24:14Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
- 2 Cor 6:16–18What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
- Judg 10:15–16“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”
- Gen 35:2–4So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.
- Heb 12:28–29Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- Prov 2:2if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
- 1 Sam 7:3–4Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
- Ps 119:36Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.
- 1 Kgs 8:58May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers.
- Ps 141:4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.
- Hos 14:2–3Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.
- Exod 20:23You are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.
- 1 Cor 10:19–21Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
- Hos 14:8O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 24:23 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.