Joshua 24:14 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.

◄ Joshua 24:14 ►

New International Version
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and 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.

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.

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.

King James Bible
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.

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 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.

NASB 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.

NASB 1977
“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.

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.

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.

Christian Standard Bible
“Therefore, fear the LORD and worship him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the LORD.

Holman 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 Yahweh.

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.

Contemporary English Version
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.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Fear the LORD, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only 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.

International Standard Version
"Now you must fear the LORD and serve him in faithfulness and truth. Throw away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Instead, serve the LORD.

Majority 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.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

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. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And now, fear YHWH, 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 YHWH;

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;

Smith's Literal Translation
And, now fear ye Jehovah and serve him in uprightness and in truth; and remove the gods which your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.

Catholic Translations

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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and very sincere heart. And take away the gods that your fathers served in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

New American Bible
“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
“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.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
From now on, be in awe of LORD JEHOVAH and serve him in perfection and in truth, and remove from your heart foreign gods that your fathers served at the crossing of the river and in Egypt, and you serve LORD JEHOVAH

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Choose Whom You will Serve
14Now, 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. 15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, / and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?

1 Samuel 12:24
Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

Exodus 20:3-5
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

1 Kings 18:21
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 Kings 17:35-39
For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. / And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ...

John 4:23-24
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. / God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

2 Corinthians 6:16-18
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.” / “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” / And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Psalm 2:11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

1 Peter 1:17
Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.

Ephesians 6:7
Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,

Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. / For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. / “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Treasury of Scripture

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 you the LORD.

fear

Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

1 Samuel 12:24
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

serve

Joshua 24:23
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 20:5,6
Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this…

Joshua 24:23
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

Genesis 35:2
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

Exodus 20:3,4
Thou shalt have no other gods before me…

in Egypt

Ezekiel 20:7,8
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God…

Ezekiel 23:3
And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.

Jump to Previous

Egypt Hearts Perfection Perfectness River Servants Serve Served Side Sincerity Throw True. Truth Turn Worshiped Worshipped

Jump to Next

Egypt Hearts Perfection Perfectness River Servants Serve Served Side Sincerity Throw True. Truth Turn Worshiped Worshipped

Joshua 24

1. Joshua assembles the tribes at Shechem
2. A brief history of God's benefits from Terah
14. He renews the covenant between them and God
26. A stone the witness of the covenant
29. Joshua's age, death, and burial
32. Joseph's bones are buried
33. Eleazar dies

Berean Study Bible

Now therefore
This phrase serves as a transition, indicating a conclusion or a call to action based on previous statements. In the context of Joshua 24, Joshua has recounted the history of Israel, emphasizing God's faithfulness and mighty acts. The Hebrew word for "therefore" (וְעַתָּה, ve'atah) suggests a logical progression, urging the Israelites to respond appropriately to God's past deeds. It is a call to reflection and decision, urging the people to consider the weight of their history and the covenant relationship with God.

fear the LORD
The Hebrew word for "fear" (יָרֵא, yare) encompasses reverence, awe, and respect, rather than mere terror. It implies a deep recognition of God's holiness, power, and authority. In the ancient Near Eastern context, fear of a deity was common, but for Israel, it was uniquely tied to a covenant relationship with Yahweh, who had proven Himself as their deliverer and sustainer. This fear is foundational to wisdom and obedience, as seen throughout the Scriptures (e.g., Proverbs 9:10).

and serve Him
The Hebrew word for "serve" (עָבַד, avad) can mean to work, worship, or labor. It implies a life dedicated to God, encompassing both religious duties and everyday actions. Serving God is not limited to ritualistic practices but involves a holistic commitment to living according to His will. This service is a response to God's grace and a reflection of His character in the believer's life.

in sincerity
The word "sincerity" (תָּמִים, tamim) conveys completeness, integrity, and blamelessness. It suggests serving God with an undivided heart, free from hypocrisy or deceit. In the biblical context, sincerity is not merely about external actions but the internal state of the heart. God desires genuine devotion, where actions align with inner convictions.

and truth
The Hebrew word for "truth" (אֱמֶת, emet) signifies faithfulness, reliability, and stability. It is often associated with God's character, as He is the ultimate standard of truth. Serving God in truth means aligning one's life with His revealed word and living in accordance with His unchanging nature. It involves a commitment to honesty and faithfulness in all aspects of life.

Put away the gods
This command to "put away" (הָסִירוּ, hasiru) implies a decisive action to remove or discard. The "gods" refer to the idols and false deities that the Israelites had encountered in Egypt and among the Canaanites. Archaeological findings reveal the prevalence of idol worship in the ancient Near East, highlighting the constant temptation for Israel to syncretize their worship. This call to put away other gods underscores the exclusivity of worship that Yahweh demands.

your fathers served
This phrase acknowledges the historical reality that the ancestors of Israel, including those in Egypt and beyond the Euphrates, had engaged in idolatry. It serves as a reminder of the past failures and the need for a break from those practices. The reference to "fathers" connects the present generation to their heritage, urging them to learn from history and choose a different path.

beyond the River and in Egypt
"Beyond the River" refers to the region beyond the Euphrates, where Abraham's family originated. This geographical reference highlights the long-standing presence of idolatry in their ancestral history. "In Egypt" recalls the period of bondage, where the Israelites were exposed to the pantheon of Egyptian gods. These locations serve as reminders of God's deliverance and the call to exclusive worship of Him.

and serve the LORD
The repetition of the call to "serve the LORD" emphasizes the central theme of the verse. It is a call to exclusive devotion to Yahweh, rejecting all other allegiances. This service is not merely ritualistic but involves a comprehensive commitment to God's covenant, reflecting His holiness and righteousness in every aspect of life. The LORD (Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, reminding the Israelites of His personal relationship with them and His faithfulness to His promises.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) Fear the Lord.--It should be remembered throughout the whole of this passage that Lord stands for JEHOVAH, the covenant God of Israel.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - Sincerity and truth. These words, rendered by the LXX. ἐν εὐθύτητι καὶ ἐνδικαιοσύνῃ, are not the precise equivalent of those so translated in other passages in the Bible, nor is St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5:8, quoting this passage. The word translated sincerity is rather to be rendered perfection, or perfectness. The Hebrew word signifying truth is derived from the idea of stability, as that which can stand the rude shocks of inquiry.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Now, therefore,
וְעַתָּ֞ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

fear
יְר֧אוּ (yə·r·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and serve
וְעִבְד֥וּ (wə·‘iḇ·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

Him
אֹת֖וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

in sincerity
בְּתָמִ֣ים (bə·ṯā·mîm)
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth

and truth;
וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑ת (ū·ḇe·’ĕ·meṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

cast aside
וְהָסִ֣ירוּ (wə·hā·sî·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

the gods
אֱלֹהִ֗ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

your fathers
אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֜ם (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

served
עָבְד֨וּ (‘ā·ḇə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

beyond
בְּעֵ֤בֶר (bə·‘ê·ḇer)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5676: A region across, on the opposite side

the Euphrates
הַנָּהָר֙ (han·nā·hār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity

and in Egypt,
וּבְמִצְרַ֔יִם (ū·ḇə·miṣ·ra·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

and serve
וְעִבְד֖וּ (wə·‘iḇ·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Links

Joshua 24:14 NIV
Joshua 24:14 NLT
Joshua 24:14 ESV
Joshua 24:14 NASB
Joshua 24:14 KJV

Joshua 24:14 BibleApps.com
Joshua 24:14 Biblia Paralela
Joshua 24:14 Chinese Bible
Joshua 24:14 French Bible
Joshua 24:14 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear Yahweh and serve him (Josh. Jos)