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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/joshua/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/joshua/23.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“But if you turn away from him and cling to the customs of the survivors of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry with them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, <i>even</i> these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain with you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For if you ever turn back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you go <i>along</i> with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For if you ever turn back and cling to the rest of these nations, these that are left among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you ever turn away and become loyal to the rest of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry or associate with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry or associate with them and they with you, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Else if ye do at all go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"But if you turn away and go along with the other nations within your [borders], if you intermarry with them or associate with them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If you are disloyal and join with the nations that are still left among you and intermarry with them, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />because if you ever turn back and cling to those who remain of these nations by intermarrying with them and associating one with another, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But if you ever turn away and make alliances with these nations that remain near you, and intermarry with them and establish friendly relations with them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Else if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave to the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and associate with them, and they with you:<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />But—if you turn back at all and have cleaved to the remnant of these nations, these who are left with you, and intermarried with them, and gone in to them, and they to you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'But -- if ye at all turn back and have cleaved to the remnant of these nations, these who are left with you, and intermarried with them, and gone in to them, and they to you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For if turning back, ye shall turn back and cleave to the remainder of these nations, these being left with you, and marry with them, and go in to them, and they in to you,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But if you choose to cling to the errors of these nations that live among you, and to mix with them by marriage, and to join with them by friendship,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For if you ever turn away from him and join with the remnant of these nations that survive among you, by intermarrying and intermingling with them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For if you turn back, and join the survivors of these nations left here among you, and intermarry with them, so that you marry their women and they yours,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For if you ever turn back and join the remnant of these nations that remain among you and make marriages with them and mix with them and they with you;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />But if you will return and you will cleave to the remainder of these nations who were left among you, and you shall be to them sonsinlaw, and you shall be joined to them and those among you<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For if ye shall turn aside and attach yourselves to these nations that are left with you, and make marriages with them, and become mingled with them and they with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/23-12.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=6153" 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/23.htm">Joshua's Charge to Leaders</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">if</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: šō·wḇ (V-Qal-InfAbs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">you turn away</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: tā·šū·ḇū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1692.htm" title="1692: ū·ḏə·ḇaq·tem (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To cling, cleave, keep close. A primitive root; properly, to impinge, i.e. Cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit.">and cling</a> <a href="/hebrew/3499.htm" title="3499: bə·ye·ṯer (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- From yathar; properly, an overhanging, i.e. an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope.">to the rest</a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">of these</a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: hag·gō·w·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">nations</a> <a href="/hebrew/7604.htm" title="7604: han·niš·’ā·rîm (Art:: V-Nifal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To remain, be left over. A primitive root; properly, to swell up, i.e. Be redundant.">that remain</a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those."></a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: ’it·tə·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.">among you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2859.htm" title="2859: wə·hiṯ·ḥat·tan·tem (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConjPerf-2mp) -- Make oneself a daughter's husband. A primitive root; to give away in marriage; hence to contract affinity by marriage.">and if you intermarry</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: ū·ḇā·ṯem (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">and associate</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: wə·hêm (Conj-w:: Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">with them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- "></a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <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="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a></span><br />Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/2-2.htm">Judges 2:2-3</a></span><br />and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? / So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/34-12.htm">Exodus 34:12-16</a></span><br />Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst. / Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. / For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-2.htm">1 Kings 11:2</a></span><br />These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/31-16.htm">Deuteronomy 31:16</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Moses, “You will soon rest with your fathers, and these people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/33-55.htm">Numbers 33:55</a></span><br />But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you settle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-33.htm">1 Corinthians 15:33</a></span><br />Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-17</a></span><br />Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What 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.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-34.htm">Psalm 106:34-36</a></span><br />They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/9-12.htm">Ezra 9:12</a></span><br />Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25-27</a></span><br />I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! / Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. / Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/5-9.htm">1 Corinthians 5:9-11</a></span><br />I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. / I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. / But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-20.htm">2 Peter 2:20-22</a></span><br />If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. / Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-4.htm">Revelation 18:4</a></span><br />Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Else if you do in any wise go back, and join to the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you:</p><p class="hdg">go back</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/36-3.htm">Psalm 36:3</a></b></br> The words of his mouth <i>are</i> iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, <i>and</i> to do good.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/125-5.htm">Psalm 125:5</a></b></br> As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: <i>but</i> peace <i>shall be</i> upon Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-4.htm">Isaiah 1:4</a></b></br> Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.</p><p class="hdg">cleave</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a></b></br> Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/34-3.htm">Genesis 34:3</a></b></br> And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/18-1.htm">1 Samuel 18:1-3</a></b></br> And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul… </p><p class="hdg">shall make</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/34-12.htm">Exodus 34:12-16</a></b></br> Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3</a></b></br> Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/11-4.htm">1 Kings 11:4</a></b></br> For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, <i>that</i> his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as <i>was</i> the heart of David his father.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/47-4.htm">Ally</a> <a href="/joshua/23-7.htm">Associate</a> <a href="/joshua/23-8.htm">Cleave</a> <a href="/joshua/23-8.htm">Cling</a> <a href="/joshua/23-8.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Intermarry</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Join</a> <a href="/leviticus/7-4.htm">Joining</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Marriages</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-30.htm">Married</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-8.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/joshua/23-9.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/joshua/13-12.htm">Remnant</a> <a href="/joshua/12-4.htm">Residue</a> <a href="/joshua/23-1.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/joshua/23-6.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/joshua/6-18.htm">Wise</a> <a href="/joshua/8-35.htm">Women</a> <a href="/joshua/23-11.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/41-9.htm">Ally</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-2.htm">Associate</a> <a href="/ruth/2-21.htm">Cleave</a> <a href="/1_samuel/26-19.htm">Cling</a> <a href="/judges/7-20.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-2.htm">Intermarry</a> <a href="/judges/3-13.htm">Join</a> <a href="/judges/11-3.htm">Joining</a> <a href="/genesis/34-9.htm">Marriages</a> <a href="/ruth/1-4.htm">Married</a> <a href="/judges/14-8.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/joshua/23-13.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/judges/5-13.htm">Remnant</a> <a href="/2_kings/25-11.htm">Residue</a> <a href="/judges/3-11.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/judges/1-28.htm">Wise</a> <a href="/judges/5-24.htm">Women</a> <a href="/joshua/23-16.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/23-1.htm">Joshua's exhortation before his death</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/23-3.htm">by former benefits</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/23-5.htm">by promises</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/23-11.htm">and by threatenings</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 />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <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/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/joshua/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For if you turn away</b><br>This phrase serves as a warning against apostasy, highlighting the importance of remaining faithful to God. The Israelites were often tempted to turn away from God, as seen in the cycles of sin and repentance throughout the Book of Judges. This warning is consistent with the covenantal language found in Deuteronomy, where blessings and curses are outlined based on Israel's obedience or disobedience.<p><b>and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you</b><br>The nations referred to are the Canaanite peoples who were not fully driven out of the Promised Land. Clinging to these nations implies adopting their practices and gods, which was strictly forbidden (<a href="/exodus/23-32.htm">Exodus 23:32-33</a>). This phrase underscores the danger of syncretism and the dilution of Israel's distinct identity as God's chosen people. Historically, the Israelites struggled with this, as seen in the accounts of Solomon's reign, where foreign influences led to idolatry.<p><b>and if you intermarry</b><br>Intermarriage with the Canaanites was prohibited because it often led to the worship of foreign gods (<a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a>). This was not a racial issue but a spiritual one, as the primary concern was the preservation of Israel's covenant relationship with God. The story of King Solomon, who married many foreign women and subsequently turned to their gods, serves as a cautionary tale (<a href="/1_kings/11.htm">1 Kings 11:1-4</a>).<p><b>and associate with them</b><br>Association with the remaining nations involved more than just social interaction; it implied forming alliances and adopting their cultural and religious practices. This was a direct threat to the purity of Israel's worship and obedience to God. The prophets frequently condemned such associations, as they often led to Israel's downfall and exile (<a href="/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17</a>). The call to be separate is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are urged not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (<a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-17</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of Israel who succeeded Moses, delivering a farewell address to the Israelites in this chapter.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, who are being warned by Joshua about the dangers of turning away from God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaanite_nations.htm">Canaanite Nations</a></b><br>The remaining nations in the Promised Land, representing potential sources of idolatry and sin for the Israelites.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/promised_land.htm">Promised Land</a></b><br>The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/intermarriage.htm">Intermarriage</a></b><br>A specific concern for Joshua, as it could lead to the Israelites adopting pagan practices and turning away from God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_compromise.htm">The Danger of Compromise</a></b><br>Compromise with ungodly influences can lead to spiritual decline. Just as Joshua warned the Israelites, Christians today must be vigilant about the influences they allow into their lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a></b><br>Obedience to God's commands is crucial for maintaining a strong relationship with Him. The Israelites were called to remain faithful to God's covenant, and believers today are called to live according to God's Word.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_idolatry.htm">Guarding Against Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry can take many forms, not just the worship of physical idols. Believers must guard their hearts against anything that takes precedence over their relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_community.htm">The Role of Community</a></b><br>The community of believers plays a vital role in encouraging one another to remain faithful. Just as the Israelites were a community, the church today should support and hold each other accountable.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>Disobedience to God can lead to severe consequences, as seen throughout Israel's history. Believers are reminded that turning away from God can result in spiritual and sometimes physical repercussions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_israelites_continue_idolatry.htm">If Joshua 23 emphasizes exclusive worship of Yahweh, why do historical records suggest continued syncretism and idolatry among the Israelites? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_key_events_in_joshua's_life.htm">What are key events in Joshua's life?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_solomon_punished_for_intermarriage.htm">1 Kings 11:9-10 - Why does God punish Solomon for foreign marriages here when other biblical figures also intermarried without similar consequences?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_would_god_allow_killing_innocents.htm">Exodus 12:29 - How can a just and loving God sanction the killing of innocent firstborn children?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joshua/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12,13) <span class= "bld">if ye . . . make marriages with them . . . the Lord your God will no more drive out.</span>--The common-sense of this warning is manifest. The God of Israel cannot treat as His enemies those whom Israel has united with itself, unless He also makes war on Israel. It was a long time before Israel learned the lesson how to live <span class= "ital">in </span>the world without being <span class= "ital">of </span>the world. It was not learnt until after the Babylonish captivity, and when learnt, it soon developed into a Pharisaical exclusiveness, which produced the very opposite effect to that which the law was intended to have.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Go back.</span> Literally, <span class="accented">return.</span> Cleave. A word (see ver. 8) signifying close and intimate relationship. And the intimacy of the relationship is indicated, as in ver. 8, by the use of the preposition <span class="hebrew">בְּ</span>. <span class="cmt_word">Make marriages with them.</span> No closer or more intimate relationship is possible than this. Nothing, therefore, would be more certain to draw the Israelites away from their allegiance to God, and to seduce them and their children into the false and corrupt worship of the nations around them. "Unde deprecor vos qui fidelis estis, ut ita vitam vestram et conversationem servetis, ne in aliquo vel ipsi scandalum patiamini vel aliis scandalum faciatis; sit in vobis summi studii, summaeque cautelae, ne quis in hanc sanctam congregationem vestram pollutus introeat" (Orig., Hom. 21 on Joshua). Go in unto them. Rather, <span class="accented">go among them.</span> Spoken of the familiar intercourse of friendship. It is equivalent to our words "associate with them." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/23-12.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">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י ׀</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">if</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you turn away</span><br /><span class="heb">שׁ֣וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(šō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and cling</span><br /><span class="heb">וּדְבַקְתֶּם֙</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḏə·ḇaq·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1692.htm">Strong's 1692: </a> </span><span class="str2">To impinge, cling, adhere, to catch by pursuit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the rest</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּיֶ֙תֶר֙</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ye·ṯer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3499.htm">Strong's 3499: </a> </span><span class="str2">An overhanging, an excess, superiority, remainder, a small rope</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of these</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֵ֔לֶּה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’êl·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> </span><span class="str2">These, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">nations</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגּוֹיִ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gō·w·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that remain</span><br /><span class="heb">הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(han·niš·’ā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7604.htm">Strong's 7604: </a> </span><span class="str2">To swell up, be, redundant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among you,</span><br /><span class="heb">אִתְּכֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(’it·tə·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_854.htm">Strong's 854: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nearness, near, with, by, at, among</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and if you intermarry</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהִֽתְחַתַּנְתֶּ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hiṯ·ḥat·tan·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2859.htm">Strong's 2859: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, away in marriage, to contract affinity by marriage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and associate</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבָאתֶ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇā·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with them,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהֵ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/23-12.htm">OT History: Joshua 23:12 Else if you do at all go (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/23-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 23:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 23:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/23-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 23:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 23:13" /></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>