Joshua 24:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joshua warns that serving the holy, jealous LORD is no light thing and must not be undertaken carelessly.
What Does Joshua 24:19 Mean?
Joshua answers their eager promise with a sober warning. 'Ye cannot serve the LORD,' he says, for he is holy and jealous and will not lightly overlook persistent rebellion. He is not discouraging devotion but exposing how easily a quick vow underestimates the One it is made to.
Holiness and jealousy here mean God will not share his people's hearts with idols or treat covenant-breaking as nothing. Joshua wants their commitment to be made with open eyes, not in a burst of feeling. True faith reckons honestly with the weight of who God is, and so leans all the more on his mercy rather than on its own strength.
Joshua 24:19 in the Original Language
qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ), 'holy' -- set apart, utterly pure, belonging to a different order than all that is common.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 24:19
What does Joshua 24:19 mean?
Joshua warns that serving the holy, jealous LORD is no light thing and must not be undertaken carelessly.