Joshua 24:15 Text
King James Version (KJV)
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD , choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD .
World English Bible (WEB)
If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”
What Joshua 24:15 Means
Joshua puts a plain choice in front of the people: serve the LORD or serve other gods, and decide today. The verse does not pretend the options are equal, since the whole speech before it recounts what God had done, but it does insist that service has to be chosen and cannot be inherited. Joshua lists two alternatives, the gods their ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and the gods of the Amorites around them, which shows that temptation could come from both the past and the present neighbors. The final line is often printed on plaques and read as a family motto. It is worth noticing that Joshua speaks for his own household and does not claim to decide for anyone else. The phrase my house means family and dependents. The WEB renders the river as the River, meaning the Euphrates, where the KJV says flood.
Context of Joshua 24:15
Joshua is traditionally associated with the leader who succeeded Moses, though the book was probably compiled later from several sources. This scene comes near the end of his life at Shechem, where he gathers the tribes to renew their covenant. He walks through Israel's history from Abraham to the conquest, then asks them to commit. The people answer that they will serve the LORD, and Joshua warns them it will not be easy. To read the whole book, see random verse from Joshua.
How to Apply Joshua 24:15
A household motto is a nice thing, but this verse is really about a decision that has to be made again over time. Think about one concrete habit or priority your family or close circle could shape around what you believe. Speak for yourself first, and invite others gently instead of pressuring them.
Related Verses
- Exodus 20:3 – Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Deuteronomy 30:19 – I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
- 1 Kings 18:21 – And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
- Matthew 6:24 – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Faith, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD mean?
Joshua is declaring that he and his family have chosen to worship and obey the LORD, whatever the people around him decide. It is a statement of personal and household commitment, made publicly, and not a guarantee about how each family member will respond.
Who was Joshua speaking to in Joshua 24:15?
He was speaking to the gathered tribes of Israel at Shechem, near the end of his life. They had settled in the land of Canaan, and he asked them to renew their covenant with God and put away the idols still among them.
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