Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
Bible in Basic English
Joshua 24:16
Then the people in answer said, Never will we give up the Lord to be the servants of other gods;
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods!
The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods!
Hebrew Names Version
The people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
The people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
King James Version
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord , to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord , to serve other gods;
Lexham English Bible
And the people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we would forsake Yahweh to serve other gods,
And the people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we would forsake Yahweh to serve other gods,
English Standard Version
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods,
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods,
New Century Version
Then the people answered, "We will never stop following the Lord to serve other gods!
Then the people answered, "We will never stop following the Lord to serve other gods!
New English Translation
The people responded, "Far be it from us to abandon the Lord so we can worship other gods!
The people responded, "Far be it from us to abandon the Lord so we can worship other gods!
Amplified Bible
The people answered, "Far be it from us to abandon (reject) the LORD to serve other gods;
The people answered, "Far be it from us to abandon (reject) the LORD to serve other gods;
New American Standard Bible
The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we would abandon the LORD to serve other gods;
The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we would abandon the LORD to serve other gods;
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the people answered and saide, God forbid, that we shoulde forsake the Lord, to serue other gods.
Then the people answered and saide, God forbid, that we shoulde forsake the Lord, to serue other gods.
Legacy Standard Bible
And the people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh to serve other gods;
Contemporary English Version
The people answered: We could never worship other gods or stop worshiping the Lord .
The people answered: We could never worship other gods or stop worshiping the Lord .
Complete Jewish Bible
The people answered, "Far be it from us that we would abandon Adonai to serve other gods;
The people answered, "Far be it from us that we would abandon Adonai to serve other gods;
Darby Translation
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
Easy-to-Read Version
Then the people answered, "We will never stop following the Lord . We will never serve other gods!
Then the people answered, "We will never stop following the Lord . We will never serve other gods!
George Lamsa Translation
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
Good News Translation
The people replied, "We would never leave the Lord to serve other gods!
The people replied, "We would never leave the Lord to serve other gods!
Literal Translation
And the people replied and said, Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods.
And the people replied and said, Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then answered the people, and saide: God forbidde, that we shulde forsake the LORDE, & serue other goddes.
Then answered the people, and saide: God forbidde, that we shulde forsake the LORDE, & serue other goddes.
American Standard Version
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The people aunswered and sayd: God forbyd, that we should forsake the Lord, and serue straunge goddes.
The people aunswered and sayd: God forbyd, that we should forsake the Lord, and serue straunge goddes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the people answered and said: 'Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said: 'Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
King James Version (1611)
And the people answered and said, God forbid that wee should forsake the Lord, to serue other gods.
And the people answered and said, God forbid that wee should forsake the Lord, to serue other gods.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us to forsake the Lord, so as to serve other gods.
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us to forsake the Lord, so as to serve other gods.
English Revised Version
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
Berean Standard Bible
The people replied, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!
The people replied, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And al the puple answeride and seide, Fer be it fro vs that we forsake the Lord, and serue alien goddis.
And al the puple answeride and seide, Fer be it fro vs that we forsake the Lord, and serue alien goddis.
Young's Literal Translation
And the people answer and say, `Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
And the people answer and say, `Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
Update Bible Version
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods;
And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods;
Webster's Bible Translation
And the people answered, and said, Be it far from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
And the people answered, and said, Be it far from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
World English Bible
The people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods;
The people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods;
New King James Version
So the people answered and said: "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
So the people answered and said: "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
New Living Translation
The people replied, "We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods.
The people replied, "We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods.
New Life Bible
The people answered, "May it never be that we turn away from the Lord and serve other gods.
The people answered, "May it never be that we turn away from the Lord and serve other gods.
New Revised Standard
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then responded the people, and said, Far be it from us, that we should forsake Yahweh, - to serve other gods;
Then responded the people, and said, Far be it from us, that we should forsake Yahweh, - to serve other gods;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the people answered, and said, God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods.
And the people answered, and said, God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods.
Revised Standard Version
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
THE MESSAGE
The people answered, "We'd never forsake God ! Never! We'd never leave God to worship other gods.
The people answered, "We'd never forsake God ! Never! We'd never leave God to worship other gods.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
Contextual Overview
15 And if it seems evil to you to be the servants of the Lord, make the decision this day whose servants you will be: of the gods whose servants your fathers were across the River, or of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living: but I and my house will be the servants of the Lord. 16 Then the people in answer said, Never will we give up the Lord to be the servants of other gods; 17 For it is the Lord our God who has taken us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house, and who did all those great signs before our eyes, and kept us safe on all our journeys, and among all the peoples through whom we went: 18 And the Lord sent out from before us all the peoples, the Amorites living in the land: so we will be the servants of the Lord, for he is our God. 19 And Joshua said to the people, You are not able to be the servants of the Lord, for he is a holy God, a God who will not let his honour be given to another: he will have no mercy on your wrongdoing or your sins. 20 If you are turned away from the Lord and become the servants of strange gods, then turning against you he will do you evil, cutting you off, after he has done you good. 21 And the people said to Joshua, No! But we will be the servants of the Lord. 22 And Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have made the decision to be the servants of the Lord. And they said, We are witnesses. 23 Then, he said, put away the strange gods among you, turning your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. 24 And the people said to Joshua, We will be the servants of the Lord our God, and we will give ear to his voice.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
1 Samuel 12:23, Romans 3:6, Romans 6:2, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 10:39
Reciprocal: Joshua 22:29 - God forbid 1 Samuel 20:2 - God forbid 1 Kings 21:3 - The Lord Jeremiah 2:20 - and thou saidst
Cross-References
Genesis 4:1
And the man had connection with Eve his wife, and she became with child and gave birth to Cain, and said, I have got a man from the Lord.
And the man had connection with Eve his wife, and she became with child and gave birth to Cain, and said, I have got a man from the Lord.
Genesis 24:17
And the servant came running to her and said, Give me a little water from your vessel.
And the servant came running to her and said, Give me a little water from your vessel.
Genesis 24:18
And she said, Take a drink, my lord: and quickly letting down her vessel onto her hand, she gave him a drink.
And she said, Take a drink, my lord: and quickly letting down her vessel onto her hand, she gave him a drink.
Genesis 26:7
And when he was questioned by the men of the place about his wife, he said, She is my sister; fearing to say, She is my wife; for, he said, the men of the place may put me to death on account of Rebekah; because she is very beautiful.
And when he was questioned by the men of the place about his wife, he said, She is my sister; fearing to say, She is my wife; for, he said, the men of the place may put me to death on account of Rebekah; because she is very beautiful.
Genesis 39:6
And he gave Joseph control of all his property, keeping no account of anything, but only the food which was put before him. Now Joseph was very beautiful in form and face.
And he gave Joseph control of all his property, keeping no account of anything, but only the food which was put before him. Now Joseph was very beautiful in form and face.
Song of Solomon 5:2
I am sleeping, but my heart is awake; it is the sound of my loved one at the door, saying, Be open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my very beautiful one; my head is wet with dew, and my hair with the drops of the night.
I am sleeping, but my heart is awake; it is the sound of my loved one at the door, saying, Be open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my very beautiful one; my head is wet with dew, and my hair with the drops of the night.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And the people answered and said,.... To Joshua, upon his proposal to them, the option he gave them to serve the Lord or idols, and which was only done to try them:
God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; they speak with the utmost abhorrence of idolatry, as a thing far from their hearts and thoughts, as the most abominable and execrable that could be thought or spoken of; to forsake the word, and worship, and ordinances of God, and serve the idols of the Gentiles, strange gods, whether more ancient or more recent, such as their fathers worshipped in former times, or the inhabitants of the land they now dwelt in, for which they were spewed out of it.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Joshua 24:16. God forbid that we should forsake the Lord — That they were now sincere cannot be reasonably doubted, for they served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and the elders that outlived him, Joshua 24:31; but afterwards they turned aside, and did serve other gods. "It is ordinary," says Mr. Trapp, "for the many-headed multitude to turn with the stream - to be of the same religion with their superiors: thus at Rome, in DIOCLETIAN'S time, they were pagans; in CONSTANTINE'S Christians; in CONSTANTIUS'S, Arians; in JULIAN'S apostates, and in JOVINIAN'S, Christians again! And all this within less than the age of a man. It is, therefore, a good thing that the heart be established with grace."
