Joshua 22:5

Joshua 22:5 Meaning and Explanation

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

King James Version (KJV)

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Joshua's parting charge: love, walk with, obey, cleave to, and serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

What Does Joshua 22:5 Mean?

Before they depart, Joshua gives a parting charge that gathers up the heart of the whole law. Drawing on the words of Moses (Deuteronomy 6), he piles verb upon verb: love, walk, keep, cleave, serve -- and all of it with the whole heart and soul.

This is the sum of a life given to God. Obedience here is not cold rule-keeping but devotion: to cling to the Lord as a beloved companion and pour out the whole self in His service. It is the same call the Lord Jesus named the great commandment, and it remains the truest aim of every soul that knows Him.

Joshua 22:5 in the Original Language

dabaq (דָּבַק), 'cleave' -- to cling fast, the same word used for a husband joined to his wife.

Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 22:5

What does Joshua 22:5 mean?

Joshua's parting charge: love, walk with, obey, cleave to, and serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

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