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Joshua 24:21 "No!" replied the people. "We will serve the LORD!"

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Joshua 24:21 "No!" replied the people. "We will serve the LORD!"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/24-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/06_Jos_24_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 24:21 - Choose Whom You will Serve" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="No! replied the people. 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We will serve the LORD.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/24.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But the people answered Joshua, &#8220;No, we will serve the LORD!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/24.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we will serve the LORD.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/24.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />&#8220;No!&#8221; replied the people. &#8220;We will serve the LORD!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/24.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/24.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we will serve the LORD!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/24.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we will serve the LORD.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The people said to Joshua, &#8220No, but we will serve the LORD.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we will serve the LORD.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/24.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we will serve Yahweh.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/24.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we will serve [only] the LORD.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/24.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />&#8220;No! &#8221; the people answered Joshua. &#8220;We will worship the LORD.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/24.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />No!&#8221 the people answered Joshua. &#8220We will worship the LORD.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/24.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/joshua/24.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But the people shouted, "We won't worship any other gods. We will worship and obey only the LORD!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/24.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/24.htm">GOD'S WORD&reg; Translation</a></span><br />The people answered Joshua, "No! We will [only] serve the LORD!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/24.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/24.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"No," the people replied to Joshua. "We will serve the LORD."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/24.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?No!? replied the people. ?We will serve the LORD!?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/24.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The people said to Joshua, "No! We really will worship the LORD!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/24.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The people said to Joshua, "No; but we will serve the LORD."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/24.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, No; but we will serve the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/24.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we will serve Yahweh.&#8221; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/24.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the people say to Joshua, &#8220;No, but we serve YHWH!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/24.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the people saith unto Joshua, 'No, but Jehovah we do serve.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/24.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the people will say to Joshua, Nay; but Jehovah we will serve.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/24.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the people said to Josue: No, it shall not be so as thou sayest, but we will serve the Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/24.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, &#8220;By no means will it be as you are saying, but we will serve the Lord.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/24.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But the people answered Joshua, &#8220;No! We will serve the LORD.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/24.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, &#8220;No, we will serve the LORD!&#8221;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/24.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, Nay, we will not serve any other, but we will serve the LORD God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/24.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the people said to Yeshua: &#8220;For us there is no worship of another, but LORD JEHOVAH, he is the God we serve!&#8221;<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/24.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the people said unto Joshua: 'Nay; but we will serve the LORD.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/24.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the people said to Joshua, Nay, but we will serve the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/24-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=6488" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/joshua/24.htm">Choose Whom You will Serve</a></span><br>&#8230;<span class="reftext">20</span>If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.&#8221; <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: l&#333; (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">&#8220;No!&#8221;</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: k&#238; (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: &#8217;e&#7791;- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way&#183;y&#333;&#183;mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: h&#257;&#183;&#8216;&#257;m (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the people.</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: &#8217;el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: y&#601;&#183;h&#333;&#183;w&#333;&#183;&#353;u&#183;a&#8216; (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: na&#183;&#8216;a&#774;&#183;&#7687;&#333;&#7695; (V-Qal-Imperf-1cp) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">&#8220;We will serve</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah&#183;weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD!&#8221;</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>Then Joshua told them, &#8220;You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.&#8221; &#8220;We are witnesses!&#8221; they said.&#8230;<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> &middot; <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/19-8.htm">Exodus 19:8</a></span><br />And all the people answered together, &#8220;We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.&#8221; So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-3.htm">Exodus 24:3</a></span><br />When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: &#8220;All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-7.htm">Exodus 24:7</a></span><br />Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, &#8220;All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-27.htm">Deuteronomy 5:27</a></span><br />Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then you can tell us everything the LORD our God tells you; we will listen and obey.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/26-17.htm">Deuteronomy 26:17</a></span><br />Today you have proclaimed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in His ways, keep His statutes and commandments and ordinances, and listen to His voice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-10.htm">1 Samuel 12:10</a></span><br />Then they cried out to the LORD and said, &#8216;We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.&#8217;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/23-3.htm">2 Kings 23:3</a></span><br />So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/10-29.htm">Nehemiah 10:29</a></span><br />hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/119-106.htm">Psalm 119:106</a></span><br />I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/42-5.htm">Jeremiah 42:5-6</a></span><br />Then they said to Jeremiah, &#8220;May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us. / Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-25.htm">Matthew 27:25</a></span><br />All the people answered, &#8220;His blood be on us and on our children!&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-38.htm">Luke 1:38</a></span><br />&#8220;I am the Lord&#8217;s servant,&#8221; Mary answered. &#8220;May it happen to me according to your word.&#8221; Then the angel left her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-68.htm">John 6:68-69</a></span><br />Simon Peter replied, &#8220;Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. / We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-37.htm">Acts 2:37-38</a></span><br />When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, &#8220;Brothers, what shall we do?&#8221; / Peter replied, &#8220;Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/3-22.htm">Acts 3:22-23</a></span><br />For Moses said, &#8216;The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you. / Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.&#8217;</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the people said to Joshua, No; but we will serve the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">Nay</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/19-8.htm">Exodus 19:8</a></b></br> And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/20-19.htm">Exodus 20:19</a></b></br> And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/24-3.htm">Exodus 24:3,7</a></b></br> And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do&#8230; </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/24-19.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/24-20.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-20.htm">Serve</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/24-22.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-22.htm">Serve</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 24</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-1.htm">Joshua assembles the tribes at Shechem</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-2.htm">A brief history of God's benefits from Terah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">He renews the covenant between them and God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-26.htm">A stone the witness of the covenant</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-29.htm">Joshua's age, death, and burial</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-32.htm">Joseph's bones are buried</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-33.htm">Eleazar dies</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/24.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book&nbsp;&#9702;</a>&nbsp;<a href="/study/chapters/joshua/24.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter&nbsp;</a></tr></table></div><b>"No!"</b><br>This response from the Israelites is emphatic and decisive. It follows Joshua's challenge to the people to choose whom they will serve, whether the gods of their ancestors or the LORD. The use of "No!" indicates a rejection of idolatry and a commitment to the covenant with God. This moment is pivotal, reflecting the Israelites' understanding of their identity as God's chosen people. It echoes the covenant renewal ceremonies seen throughout the Old Testament, where the people reaffirm their dedication to God.<p><b>"replied the people."</b><br>The collective response signifies unity among the Israelites. This communal decision is crucial in the context of ancient Israel, where the community's faithfulness to God was often seen as a determinant of their success and prosperity. The people's reply also reflects the influence of Joshua's leadership and his ability to guide them in spiritual matters. This moment is reminiscent of other instances in the Bible where the people of Israel respond collectively, such as at Mount Sinai (<a href="/exodus/19-8.htm">Exodus 19:8</a>).<p><b>"We will serve the LORD!"</b><br>This declaration is a reaffirmation of the covenant relationship between Israel and God. Serving the LORD implies exclusive worship and obedience to His commandments. The phrase underscores the central theme of the book of Joshua: the call to faithfulness and the rejection of idolatry. It connects to the Shema in <a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4-5</a>, which emphasizes loving and serving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. This commitment also foreshadows the New Testament call to serve God through Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and the prophets.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of Israel after Moses, who is addressing the Israelites in this chapter, urging them to renew their covenant with God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who are being called to make a decisive commitment to serve the LORD.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>The location where Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to renew their covenant with God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_covenant_renewal.htm">The Covenant Renewal</a></b><br>A significant event where the Israelites reaffirm their commitment to serve the LORD exclusively.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The one true God whom the Israelites are pledging to serve, rejecting other gods.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/commitment_to_god.htm">Commitment to God</a></b><br>The Israelites' declaration, "We will serve the LORD," highlights the importance of a clear and decisive commitment to God in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/rejecting_idolatry.htm">Rejecting Idolatry</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites were called to reject other gods, we must identify and turn away from modern-day idols that compete for our devotion.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_renewal.htm">Covenant Renewal</a></b><br>Regularly renewing our commitment to God helps us stay focused and faithful in our spiritual journey.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a></b><br>The collective response of the Israelites shows the power of community in holding each other accountable to serve God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_action.htm">Faithfulness in Action</a></b><br>Serving the LORD involves not just words but actions that reflect our commitment to His will and purposes.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_24.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 24</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'let_your_yes_be_yes'_mean.htm">What does 'We will serve the Lord' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'serve_the_lord'_mean.htm">What does "We will serve the Lord" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_joshua_24_14-15_reconcile_idolatry.htm">Joshua 24:14-15 - How does this pledge to exclusively serve the Lord reconcile with the later biblical narratives showing continued idolatry in Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_levites'_lands_align_biblically.htm">In Joshua 14:3-4, how does the Levites' lack of a territorial inheritance align with other biblical passages that mention Levitical cities and lands?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joshua/24.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21) <span class= "bld">Nay; but we will serve the Lord.</span>--Being brought to the point, no other answer was possible. If they must give up Jehovah or the idols, the idols must go first.<p>(22,23) <span class= "bld">Ye are witnesses . . . that ye have chosen you the Lord . . . Now therefore put away . . . the strange gods</span>.--This was the practical conclusion to which Joshua desired that they should come. But we do not read that they <span class= "ital">did anything </span>in obedience to these words. We read of no images being buried or burned, as in the days of Jacob by David (<a href="/genesis/35-4.htm" title="And they gave to Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.">Genesis 35:4</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/5-21.htm" title="And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.">2Samuel 5:21</a>). There is only a verbal promise: "The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey."<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/24-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">&#8220;No!&#8221;</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1500;&#1465;&#1429;&#1488;</span> <span class="translit">(l&#333;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1463;&#1497;&#1468;&#1465;&#1445;&#1488;&#1502;&#1462;&#1512;</span> <span class="translit">(way&#183;y&#333;&#183;mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the people.</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1492;&#1464;&#1506;&#1464;&#1430;&#1501;</span> <span class="translit">(h&#257;&#183;&#8216;&#257;m)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article &#124; Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">&#8220;We will serve</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1504;&#1463;&#1506;&#1458;&#1489;&#1465;&#1469;&#1491;&#1475;</span> <span class="translit">(na&#183;&#8216;a&#774;&#183;&#7687;&#333;&#7695;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> </span><span class="str2">To work, to serve, till, enslave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD!&#8221;</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1497;&#1456;&#1492;&#1493;&#1464;&#1430;&#1492;</span> <span class="translit">(Yah&#183;weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua 24:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/24-21.htm">OT History: Joshua 24:21 The people said to Joshua No (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/24-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 24:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/24-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 24:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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