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Contemporary English Version

Joshua 24:14

Then Joshua told the people: Worship the Lord , obey him, and always be faithful. Get rid of the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fear of God;   Haran;   Obedience;   Shechem;   Sincerity;   Truth;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Awakenings and Religious Reforms;   Fear;   Fear of God;   Idols;   Reforms, Religious;   Religion;   Religion, True-False;   Religious;   Reverence-Irreverence;   Serve God;   Service;   Sincerity;   True Religion;   Work, Religious;   Work-Workers, Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Fear;   Idolatry;   Service;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Decision;   Idolatry;   Sincerity;   Truth;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Idol, Idolatry;   Terah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Joshua the son of nun;   Shechem;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Life;   Will;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Flood;   Idol;   Idolatry;   Shechem;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abraham;   Calf Worship;   Egypt;   Hosea;   Idol;   Joshua;   Pillars;   Rachel;   Remphan;   Ruth;   Satyrs;   Shechem (1);   Teraphim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Beyond the River;   Confessions and Credos;   Covenant;   Ebal;   Flood;   God of the Fathers;   Idol;   Joshua;   Joshua, the Book of;   Mission(s);   Shechem;   Temple of Jerusalem;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Flood;   Shechem;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abraham ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Abram;   Terah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Idolatry,;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Conquest of Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abraham;   Beyond;   Gods;   Israel, History of the People;   Sincere;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Shechem;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for October 6;   Every Day Light - Devotion for February 29;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord.
Hebrew Names Version
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Mitzrayim; and serve you the LORD.
King James Version
Now therefore fear the Lord , and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord .
Lexham English Bible
"So now, revere Yahweh and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness; remove the gods that your ancestors served beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh.
English Standard Version
"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord .
New Century Version
Then Joshua said to the people, "Now respect the Lord and serve him fully and sincerely. Throw away the gods that your ancestors worshiped on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord .
New English Translation
Now obey the Lord and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the Lord .
Amplified Bible
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; remove the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the [Euphrates] River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
New American Standard Bible
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and do away with the gods which your fathers served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe therefore feare the Lorde, & serue him in vprightnesse and in trueth, and put away the gods, which your fathers serued beyonde the flood and in Egypt, and serue the Lord.
Legacy Standard Bible
"So now, fear Yahweh and serve Him in integrity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Therefore fear Adonai , and serve him truly and sincerely. Put away the gods your ancestors served beyond the [Euphrates]River and in Egypt, and serve Adonai !
Darby Translation
And now fear Jehovah and serve him in perfectness and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river, and in Egypt; and serve Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Joshua said to the people, "Now you have heard the Lord's words. So you must respect the Lord and sincerely serve him. Throw away the false gods that your ancestors worshiped. That was something that happened a long time ago on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Now you must serve only the Lord .
George Lamsa Translation
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away out of your heart the strange gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river Euphrates, and in Egypt; and serve the LORD.
Good News Translation
"Now then," Joshua continued, "honor the Lord and serve him sincerely and faithfully. Get rid of the gods which your ancestors used to worship in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord .
Literal Translation
Now, then, fear Jehovah, and serve Him in sincerity and truth, and turn away from the gods which your fathers served Beyond the River, and in Egypt; and you serve Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Feare the LORDE now therfore, and serue him perfectly and in the trueth, and let go the goddes, whom youre fathers serued beyonde the water and in Egipte, and serue ye ye LORDE.
American Standard Version
Now therefore fear Jehovah, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
So now, go in fear of the Lord, and be his servants with true hearts: put away the gods worshipped by your fathers across the River and in Egypt, and be servants of the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe therfore feare the Lorde, and serue him in perfectnesse and trueth, and put away the goddes whiche your fathers serued on the other side of ye fludde and in Egypt, and serue ye the Lorde.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
King James Version (1611)
Now therefore, feare the Lord, and serue him in sinceritie, and in trueth, and put away the gods which your fathers serued on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt: and serue yee the Lord.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And now fear the Lord, and serve him in righteousness and justice; and remove the strange gods, which our fathers served beyond the river, and in Egypt; and serve the Lord.
English Revised Version
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Now, 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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Now therfor drede ye the Lord, and serue ye hym with perfite herte and moost trewe; and do ye awei the goddis, to whiche youre fadris seruyden in Mesopotanye, and in Egipt; and serue ye the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
`And now, fear ye Jehovah, and serve Him, in perfection and in truth, and turn aside the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve ye Jehovah;
Update Bible Version
Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
World English Bible
Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve you Yahweh.
New King James Version
"Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!
New Living Translation
"So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.
New Life Bible
"So fear the Lord. Serve Him in faith and truth. Put away the gods your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt. Serve the Lord.
New Revised Standard
"Now therefore revere the Lord , and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, therefore, revere ye Yahweh, and serve him, in sincerity and in truth, - and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve ye Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and most sincere heart: and put away the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
THE MESSAGE
"So now: Fear God . Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God .
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Contextual Overview

1 Joshua called the tribes of Israel together for a meeting at Shechem. He had the leaders, including the old men, the judges, and the officials, come up and stand near the sacred tent. 2 Then Joshua told everyone to listen to this message from the Lord , the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, and they worshiped other gods. This continued until the time of your ancestor Terah and his two sons, Abraham and Nahor. 3 But I brought Abraham across the Euphrates River and led him through the land of Canaan. I blessed him by giving him Isaac, the first in a line of many descendants. 4 Then I gave Isaac two sons, Jacob and Esau. I had Esau live in the hill country of Mount Seir, but your ancestor Jacob and his children went to live in Egypt. 5Later I sent Moses and his brother Aaron to help your people, and I made all those horrible things happen to the Egyptians. I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, but the Egyptians got in their chariots and on their horses and chased your ancestors, catching up with them at the Red Sea. 7 Your people cried to me for help, so I put a dark cloud between them and the Egyptians. Then I opened up the sea and let your people walk across on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, I commanded the sea to swallow them, and they drowned while you watched. You lived in the desert for a long time, 8 then I brought you into the land east of the Jordan River. The Amorites were living there, and they fought you. But with my help, you defeated them, wiped them out, and took their land. 9 King Balak decided that his nation Moab would go to war against you, so he asked Balaam to come and put a curse on you. 10 But I wouldn't listen to Balaam, and I rescued you by making him bless you instead of curse you. 11 You crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho. The rulers of Jericho fought you, and so did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. I helped you defeat them all.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fear: Deuteronomy 10:12, 1 Samuel 12:24, Job 1:1, Job 28:28, Psalms 111:10, Psalms 130:4, Hosea 3:5, Acts 9:31

serve: Joshua 24:23, Genesis 17:1, Genesis 20:5, Genesis 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:13, 2 Kings 20:3, Psalms 119:1, Psalms 119:80, Luke 8:15, John 4:23, John 4:24, 2 Corinthians 1:12, Ephesians 6:24, Philippians 1:10

put: From this exhortation of Joshua, we not only learn that the Israelites still retained some relics of idolatry, but to what gods they were attached.

1. Those whom their fathers worshipped on the other side of the food, or the river Euphrates, i.e., the gods of the Chaldeans, fire, light, the sun, etc.

2. Those of the Egyptians, Apis, Anubis, serpents, vegetables, etc.

3. Those of the Amorites, Moabites, Canaanites, etc., Baal-peor, Astarte, etc.

How astonishing is it, that after all that God had done for them, and all the miracles they had seen, there should still be found among them both idols and idolaters! Joshua 24:2, Joshua 24:23, Genesis 35:2, Exodus 20:3, Exodus 20:4, Leviticus 17:7, Ezra 9:11, Ezekiel 20:18, Amos 5:25, Amos 5:26

in Egypt: Ezekiel 20:7, Ezekiel 20:8, Ezekiel 23:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:20 - his fear Exodus 23:25 - And ye Joshua 5:9 - I rolled away Joshua 22:5 - serve Joshua 24:15 - whether the gods 1 Samuel 7:3 - put away 1 Samuel 12:14 - If ye will 2 Kings 17:41 - these nations Jeremiah 4:1 - put away Ezekiel 16:3 - Thy birth Ezekiel 16:26 - with the Matthew 4:10 - Thou shalt 1 Corinthians 5:8 - but 2 Corinthians 6:16 - what 2 Corinthians 8:8 - prove Ephesians 6:5 - in

Cross-References

Genesis 15:8
Abram asked, " Lord God, how can I know the land will be mine?"
Genesis 24:1
Abraham was now a very old man. The Lord had made him rich, and he was successful in everything he did.
Genesis 24:2
One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and said to him, "Solemnly promise me
Genesis 24:7
The Lord who rules heaven brought me here from the land where I was born and promised that he would give this land to my descendants forever. When you go back there, the Lord will send his angel ahead of you to help you find a wife for my son.
Genesis 24:8
If the woman refuses to come along, you don't have to keep this promise. But don't ever take my son back there."
Genesis 24:9
So the servant gave Abraham his word that he would do everything he had been told to do.
Genesis 24:10
Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham's camels with valuable gifts. Then he set out for the city in northern Syria, where Abraham's brother Nahor lived.
Genesis 24:11
When he got there, he let the camels rest near the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when the women came out for water.
Genesis 24:13
The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water,
Genesis 24:15
While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham's servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now therefore fear the Lord,.... Since he has done such great and good things, fear the Lord and his goodness, fear him for his goodness sake; nothing so influences fear, or a reverential affection for God, as a sense of his goodness; this engages men sensible of it to fear the Lord, that is, to worship him both internally and externally in the exercise of every grace, and in the performance of every duty:

and serve him in sincerity and in truth: in the uprightness of their souls, without hypocrisy and deceit, and according to the truth of his word, and of his mind and will revealed in it, without any mixture of superstition and will worship, or of the commands and inventions of men:

and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; that is, express an abhorrence of them, and keep at a distance from them, and show that you are far from giving in to such idolatries your ancestors were guilty of, when they lived on the other side Euphrates, in Chaldea, or when they were sojourners in Egypt; for it cannot be thought that the Israelites were at this time guilty of such gross idolatry, at least openly, since Joshua had bore such a testimony of them, that they had cleaved to the Lord unto that day, Joshua 23:8; and their zeal against the two tribes and a half, on suspicion of idolatry, or of going into it, is a proof of it also:

and serve ye the Lord: and him only.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 24:14. Fear the Lord — Reverence him as the sole object of your religious worship.

Serve him — Perform his will by obeying his commands.

In sincerity — Having your whole heart engaged in his worship.

And in truth — According to the directions he has given you in his infallible word.

Put away the gods, c. — From this exhortation of Joshua we learn of what sort the gods were, to the worship of whom these Israelites were still attached.

1. Those which their fathers worshipped on the other side of the flood: i.e., the gods of the CHALDEANS, fire, light, the sun.

2. Those of the EGYPTIANS, Apis, Anubis, the ape, serpents, vegetables, c.

3. Those of the CANAANITES, MOABITES, &c., Baal-peor or Priapus, Astarte or Venus, &c., &c. All these he refers to in this and the following verse. Joshua 24:33; Joshua 24:33.

How astonishing is this, that, after all God had done for them, and all the miracles they had seen, there should still be found among them both idols and idolaters! That it was so we have the fullest evidence, both here and in Joshua 24:23; Amos 5:26 and in Acts 7:41. But what excuse can be made for such stupid, not to say brutish, blindness? Probably they thought they could the better represent the Divine nature by using symbols and images, and perhaps they professed to worship God through the medium of these. At least this is what has been alleged in behalf of a gross class of Christians who are notorious for image worship. But on such conduct God will never look with any allowance, where he has given his word and testimony.


 
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