Joshua 24:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Speaking for the LORD, Joshua recalls that Israel's earliest ancestors lived beyond the river and worshipped other gods.
What Does Joshua 24:2 Mean?
Joshua now speaks not his own words but the LORD's, opening a long recital of grace. He begins far back, with Terah and the family of Abraham across the Euphrates, and tells the unflattering truth: the fathers once served other gods. The story of the covenant starts not with human merit but with people who did not yet know the Lord.
This honest beginning makes everything after it grace. God reached toward a family that had no claim on him, and the same is true for every soul he calls. None of us comes from a spotless past; the wonder is that he sought us while we were still far off, and drew us to himself.
Joshua 24:2 in the Original Language
The phrase 'other gods' marks the family's starting point as idolaters, the very thing the chapter will call them to leave behind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 24:2
What does Joshua 24:2 mean?
Speaking for the LORD, Joshua recalls that Israel's earliest ancestors lived beyond the river and worshipped other gods.