Joshua 23:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joshua charges the people to be very courageous in keeping the whole law of Moses, never veering from it to either side.
What Does Joshua 23:6 Mean?
The same words once spoken to Joshua at the start of his leadership now pass to the whole nation: be strong and courageous. Here courage is bent toward obedience, to keep and to do all that is written. To turn neither right nor left is to walk a straight path, refusing both excess and neglect of God's word.
Faithfulness takes courage. It is easier to drift than to keep the path, easier to add our own ideas or subtract what is inconvenient. Joshua knew the danger lay not only in enemy armies but in a wandering heart. To treasure God's word and do it, steadily, without veering, is its own quiet bravery, the obedience that flows from love.
Joshua 23:6 in the Original Language
chazaq (חָזַק), 'be courageous' -- to be strong, firm, resolute; the same charge given Joshua at his commissioning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 23:6
What does Joshua 23:6 mean?
Joshua charges the people to be very courageous in keeping the whole law of Moses, never veering from it to either side.