Joshua 23:16 Meaning and Explanation
“When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joshua names the specific danger plainly: breaking the covenant by serving other gods will kindle the Lord's anger and bring swift ruin from the land.
What Does Joshua 23:16 Mean?
Joshua closes his farewell by naming the precise sin that would undo Israel: transgressing the covenant to serve and bow before other gods. The covenant is not a vague arrangement but a commanded bond, and to break it invites the Lord's kindled anger and the swift loss of the land. The whole address ends on this clear, unflinching note.
A covenant is a relationship of love and trust, and to abandon it for other gods is the deepest betrayal. Joshua's final word is a warning rooted in love, meant to keep the people from a ruin they need not suffer. The choice he sets before them is the choice Scripture always presses: cling to the Lord and live, or turn away and lose what He so freely gave.
Joshua 23:16 in the Original Language
berith (בְּרִית), 'covenant' -- a binding, solemn relationship established and sealed by God with His people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 23:16
What does Joshua 23:16 mean?
Joshua names the specific danger plainly: breaking the covenant by serving other gods will kindle the Lord's anger and bring swift ruin from the land.