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Tuesday, August 5th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Good News Translation

Joshua 23:7

and then you will not associate with these peoples left among you or speak the names of their gods or use those names in taking vows or worship those gods or bow down to them.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Company;   Fellowship;   Obedience;   Thompson Chain Reference - Association-Separation;   Israel;   Separation;   Steadfastness;   Steadfastness-Instability;   The Topic Concordance - Bowing;   Idolatry;   Marriage;   Service;   Speech/communication;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God;   Idolatry;   Oaths;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Idol, Idolatry;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bowing;   Heathen;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Oath;   Holman Bible Dictionary - God;   Joshua, the Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Conquest of Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Attitudes;   Gods;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Names of God;   Worship, Idol-;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and so that you do not associate with these nations remaining among you. Do not call on the names of their gods or make an oath to them; do not serve them or bow in worship to them.
Hebrew Names Version
that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;
King James Version
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
Lexham English Bible
so as not to go among these remaining nations with you; do not profess the name of their gods, and do not swear by them, serve them, or bow down to them.
English Standard Version
that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them,
New Century Version
Don't become friends with the people living among us who are not Israelites. Don't say the names of their gods or make anyone swear by them. Don't serve or worship them.
New English Translation
or associate with these nations that remain near you. You must not invoke or make solemn declarations by the names of their gods! You must not worship or bow down to them!
Amplified Bible
so that you do not associate with these nations which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear [an oath by them], or serve them, or bow down to them.
New American Standard Bible
so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain with you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Neither companie with these nations: that is, with them which are left with you, neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to sweare by them, neither serue them nor bowe vnto them:
Legacy Standard Bible
so that you will not go along with these nations, these which remain among you, and you will not mention the name of their gods, and you will not make anyone swear by them, and you will not serve them, and you will not bow down to them.
Contemporary English Version
Don't have anything to do with the nations that live around you. Don't worship their gods or pray to their idols or make promises in the names of their gods.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then you won't become like those nations remaining among you. Don't even mention the name of their gods, let alone have people swear by them, serve them or worship them;
Darby Translation
that ye enter not among these nations, these that remain among you; and ye shall make no mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them;
Easy-to-Read Version
There are still some people living among us who are not Israelites. They worship their own gods. Don't become friends with them. Don't serve or worship their gods.
George Lamsa Translation
And you shall not mix with these nations that remain among you; neither make mention of the names of their gods, nor swear by them, neither serve them, nor worship them;
Literal Translation
so as not to go in among these nations, these who are left with you; and that you do not make mention of the name of their gods, nor shall you swear, nor shall you serve them, nor shall you bow yourselves to them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that ye come not amonge ye remnaunt of these nacios, which are with you: And se that ye make no mencion ner sweare by the names of their goddes, nether serue them, ner bowe youre selues vnto them:
American Standard Version
that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them;
Bible in Basic English
Have nothing to do with these nations who still are living among you; let not their gods be named by you or used in your oaths; do not be their servants or give them worship:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neither company with these nations that is with them that are left with you, neither make mention of the name of ther gods, nor cause to sweare by them, neither serue them, nor bowe your selues vnto them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor worship them;
King James Version (1611)
That yee come not among these nations, these that remaine amongst you, neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to sweare by them, neither serue them, nor bow your selues vnto them.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
that ye go not in among these nations that are left; and the names of their gods shall not be named among you, neither shall ye serve them, neither shall ye bow down to them.
English Revised Version
that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them:
Berean Standard Bible
So you are not to associate with these nations remaining among you. Do not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
lest aftir that ye han entrid to the hethene men, that schulen be among you, ye swere in the name of `the goddis of hem, and ye serue tho goddis, and worschipe hem.
Young's Literal Translation
so as not to go in among these nations, these who are left with you; and of the name of their gods ye do not make mention, nor do ye swear, nor do ye serve them, nor do ye bow yourselves to them;
Update Bible Version
that you don't come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;
Webster's Bible Translation
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves to them:
World English Bible
that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;
New King James Version
and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
New Living Translation
Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them.
New Life Bible
Do not mix with these nations that stay among you. Do not say the names of their gods or make anyone swear by them. Do not work for them or worship them.
New Revised Standard
so that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, or bow yourselves down to them,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
so as not to go in among these nations, these which remain with you, - and, with the name of their gods, shall ye neither make memorial nor put on oath, and neither serve them, - nor bow down to them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them:
Revised Standard Version
that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, or bow down yourselves to them,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them.

Contextual Overview

1 Much later the Lord gave Israel security from their enemies around them. By that time Joshua was very old, 2 so he called all Israel, the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of the people, and said, "I am very old now. 3 You have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you. The Lord your God has been fighting for you. 4 I have assigned as the possession of your tribes the land of the nations that are still left, as well as of all the nations that I have already conquered, from the Jordan River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 The Lord your God will make them retreat from you, and he will drive them away as you advance. You shall have their land, as the Lord your God has promised you. 6 So be careful to obey and do everything that is written in the book of the Law of Moses. Do not neglect any part of it, 7 and then you will not associate with these peoples left among you or speak the names of their gods or use those names in taking vows or worship those gods or bow down to them. 8 Instead, be faithful to the Lord , as you have been till now. 9 The Lord has driven great and powerful nations out as you advanced, and no one has ever been able to stand against you. 10 Any one of you can make a thousand men run away, because the Lord your God is fighting for you, just as he promised.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

That ye come: Have no civil or social contacts with them, as these will infallibly lead to spiritual affinities, in consequence of which, ye will make honourable "mention of the name of their gods," "swear by them" "and serve" them in their abominable rites; and "bow yourselves unto them," as your creators and preservers. All this will follow by simply coming among them. He who walks in the counsel of the ungodly, will soon stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of scorners. Joshua 23:12, Exodus 23:33, Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 7:3, Proverbs 4:14, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, Ephesians 5:11

neither: Exodus 23:13, Numbers 32:38, Psalms 16:4, Hosea 2:17

to swear: Jeremiah 5:7, Zephaniah 1:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:2 - strange Exodus 20:5 - bow down Numbers 25:2 - bowed Numbers 33:52 - General 2 Kings 17:35 - charged them Isaiah 26:13 - by thee Jeremiah 12:16 - as they Zechariah 13:2 - I will cut

Cross-References

Genesis 18:2
he looked up and saw three men standing there. As soon as he saw them, he ran out to meet them. Bowing down with his face touching the ground,
Genesis 19:1
When the two angels came to Sodom that evening, Lot was sitting at the city gate. As soon as he saw them, he got up and went to meet them. He bowed down before them
Genesis 23:17
That is how the property which had belonged to Ephron at Machpelah east of Mamre, became Abraham's. It included the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees in the field up to the edge of the property.
Genesis 23:18
It was recognized as Abraham's property by all the Hittites who were there at the meeting.
Proverbs 18:24
Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.
Hebrews 12:14
Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.
1 Peter 3:8
To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That ye come not among these nations, those that remain among you,.... That remained unsubdued, or that were suffered to dwell among them, being tributaries to them; with these they were not to converse freely and familiarly, nor to carry on trade and commerce with them, nor enter into any alliances or marriages with them, and not even attend any of their feasts, and especially their idolatrous ones:

neither make mention of the name of their gods; not in common conversation, and still less in any religious matters; never with any reverence of them, or in any respectable manner; but always with indignation and contempt, calling them dunghill gods, and the like, as they often are in Scripture:

nor cause to swear [by them]; neither swear by them themselves, nor cause others to swear by them, as Abarbinel; or a man his neighbour, as Kimchi; no, not a Gentile, as Ben Melech; so it is said in the Misnah p,

"he that vows in the name of an idol, and confirms in his name, (which Bartenora interprets, swears by his name,) transgresses a negative precept.''

Maimonides q also says,

"he that vows in the name of an idol, and swears by it, is to be beaten--he that swears by it himself, or causes a Gentile to swear by it; for it is forbidden to cause a Gentile to swear by his fear (or idol), and even to cause him to make mention of it, though not in the way of an oath, it is forbidden:''

neither serve them; by offering any sacrifice or incense to them, or by praying to them, or offering them praises on any account, or by performing any religious service in any instance or form whatever:

nor bow yourselves unto them; give them any adoration or worship, external or internal.

p Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 6. q Hilchot & Obedeth Cochabim, c. 5. sect. 10.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 23:7. Come not among these nations — Have no civil or social contracts with them, (see Joshua 23:12), as these will infallibly lead to spiritual affinities, in consequence of which ye will make honourable mention of the name of their gods, swear by them as the judges of your motives and actions, serve them in their abominable rites, and bow yourselves unto them as your creators and preservers; thus giving the whole worship of God to idols: and all this will follow from simply coming among them. He who walks in the counsel of the ungodly will soon stand in the way of sinners, and shortly sit in the seat of the scornful. Nemo repente fuit turpissimus. "No man rises to the highest stages of iniquity but by degrees." NERO himself, under the instructions of Seneca, was a promising youth.


 
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