Joshua 24:20

Sin Judgment

¹⁸ And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God!”

¹⁹ But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.

If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.”

²¹ “No!” replied the people. “We will serve the LORD!”

²² Then Joshua told them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “We are witnesses!” they said.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.”
KJV: If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
WEB: If you forsake the LORD, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.”
ASV: If ye forsake Jehovah, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
DARBY: If ye forsake Jehovah, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
BLB: If you⁺ forsake YHWH and serve foreign gods, He will turn and do harm to you⁺ and consume you⁺ after that He has done good to you⁺.”

ÅB: Når dere forlater Herren og dyrker fremmede guder, da vil han vende seg bort og la det gå dere ille og tilintetgjøre dere, etter at han før har gjort vel mot dere.
OTB: Hvis dere vender dere bort fra Herren og tjener andre guder, vil han bringe ulykke over dere og gjøre ende på dere, etter at han har vært god mot dere.»
B1930: Når I forlater Herren og dyrker fremmede guder, da vil han vende sig bort og la det gå eder ille og tilintetgjøre eder, efterat han før har gjort vel mot eder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hebrews 10:26–27
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
Read in context
Acts 7:42
But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
Read in context
Ezekiel 18:24
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
Read in context
1 Chronicles 28:9
As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
Read in context
Jeremiah 17:13
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away will be written in the dust, for they have abandoned the LORD, the fountain of living water.
Read in context
Isaiah 65:11–12
But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
Read in context
2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Read in context
Isaiah 1:28
But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
Read in context