Joshua 23:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joshua warns that if Israel allies with the nations, the Lord will stop driving them out, and they will become snares, scourges, and thorns until Israel perishes from the land.
What Does Joshua 23:13 Mean?
Joshua does not soften the consequence. If Israel turns to the nations, the very peoples God would have removed will become instruments of ruin, snares and traps to catch them, scourges in their sides, thorns in their eyes. The blessing of the good land can be forfeited; the gift is not held by presumption but by faithfulness.
Sin that is welcomed rather than refused becomes a torment. What Israel embraces against God's word will turn and wound them. This is not God's cruelty but the natural harvest of a divided heart, spelled out in mercy so the people might choose life. The image is vivid on purpose: the entanglements we will not let go of become the thorns we cannot remove.
Joshua 23:13 in the Original Language
moqesh (מוֹקֵשׁ), 'snare' -- a hidden trap or bait-stick that springs shut on its prey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 23:13
What does Joshua 23:13 mean?
Joshua warns that if Israel allies with the nations, the Lord will stop driving them out, and they will become snares, scourges, and thorns until Israel perishes from the land.