Joshua 23:6
Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Joshua isn't just telling them to be brave; he's urging them to find their courage within the Book of the Law. True strength isn't about brute force, but about the steadfast resolve to live by God's unchanging word, refusing to drift right or left into the ways of the surrounding nations.
Joshua, nearing the end of his life, gathers the elders of Israel to deliver a final, powerful charge. Having led them to conquer and settle the Promised Land, he reminds them that God has given them rest from their enemies and fulfilled His promises. Now, he urges them to remain fiercely loyal to God and His commands, emphasizing that their continued prosperity and possession of the land depend entirely on their obedience.
Joshua is calling for something more than just basic bravery. He's asking for a specific kind of courage rooted in God's commands.
Joshua urges the Israelites to be 'very courageous' (Hebrew: chazaq me'od) to 'keep and to do' everything in the Law. This isn't just about facing enemies; it's about internal resolve to obey.
The Strength of Obedience
Joshua's warning against turning 'to the right hand or to the left' is a powerful image for maintaining focus in our spiritual lives.
The phrase 'turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left' is a vivid metaphor for absolute adherence to God's Law.
The Danger of the Sideways Step
Understand the original words
chazaq · Hebrew Verb
Possessing a firmness of purpose, courage, and resolve, often commanded by God to His people to ensure obedience and faithfulness to His covenant.
torah · Hebrew Noun
The foundational divine instruction given through Moses at Sinai, forming the covenantal basis for Israel's life, worship, and relationship with God.
sur · Hebrew Verb
To deviate, turn away, or stray from the path of obedience; often used in the context of abandoning the covenant or moral standards.
Joshua's words are spoken at a pivotal moment as the first generation of conquerors and land-receivers is passing away. He's issuing a final, urgent call to faithfulness, knowing the challenges the next generation, living amongst the remaining Canaanites, will face.
~1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Led by Joshua, the Israelites begin the military conquest of the Promised Land after the death of Moses and the crossing of the Jordan River.
~1399 BC
Land Division Among Tribes
The land of Canaan is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua oversees this process and ensures the tribes receive their allotted portions.
Unknown (Late in Joshua's life)— this verse
Joshua's Farewell Address
Joshua, old and nearing the end of his life, gathers the elders of Israel to give a final, powerful exhortation. He recounts God's faithfulness and warns them against straying from His commands.
Late 1300s BC
The Elders of Israel Pass On
Following Joshua's death, the generation that experienced the conquest and received the land also passes away. This leaves a crucial gap in leadership and historical memory.
This passage echoes the command to 'not turn aside to the right hand or to the left' from God's statutes, emphasizing obedience and faithfulness as the path to life and security in the land.
Joshua 1:7This verse directly parallels Joshua's charge here, showing the consistent theme of courage and unwavering adherence to the Law of Moses throughout the conquest and settlement of the land.
Nehemiah 8:1-3This shows a later generation of Israelites also highly valuing the Book of the Law and seeking to understand and live by its commands, demonstrating the enduring importance of Joshua's exhortation.
Galatians 3:10This New Testament passage highlights the impossibility of perfect obedience to the Law for salvation, contrasting with the Old Testament focus on adherence as a condition for blessing in the land.
1 Kings 2:3King David, in his final charge to Solomon, echoes Joshua's command to keep the Law of Moses, showing the continuous transmission of this vital instruction for Israel's leadership and well-being.
jfbJoshua 23:5-11: "And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you."
Jos 23:5-11. By Promises.5-11. the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, as the Lord your God hath promised you, &c.—The actual possessions which God had given were a pledge of the complete fulfilment of His promise in giving them the parts of the country still unconquered. But the accompl…
calvinJoshua 23:1-11: "And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age."
Jehova autem Deus vester ipse propulsabiteas a facie vestra, et expellet eas a conspectu vestro, et jure haereditario possidebitis [188] terram earum, quemadmodum loquutus est Jehova Deus vester vobis.
Be you therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you t…
Joshua isn't just telling them to be brave; he's urging them to find their courage within the Book of the Law. True strength isn't about brute force, but about the steadfast resolve to live by God's unchanging word, refusing to drift right or left into the ways of the surrounding nations.
Joshua, nearing the end of his life, gathers the elders of Israel to deliver a final, powerful charge. Having led them to conquer and settle the Promised Land, he reminds them that God has given them rest from their enemies and fulfilled His promises. Now, he urges them to remain fiercely loyal to God and His commands, emphasizing that their continued prosperity and possession of the land depend entirely on their obedience.
Joshua, nearing the end of his life, gathers the elders of Israel to deliver a final, powerful charge. Having led them to conquer and settle the Promised Land, he reminds them that God has given them rest from their enemies and fulfilled His promises. Now, he urges them to remain fiercely loyal to God and His commands, emphasizing that their continued prosperity and possession of the land depend entirely on their obedience.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Joshua 23:6 is available in the Sola app.
c. 1300-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
Without strong central leadership and with a declining commitment to God's law, Israel enters a cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance through various judges.
"Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left," — Joshua isn't just telling them to be brave; he's urging them to find their courage within the Book of the Law. True strength isn't about brute force, but about the steadfast resolve to live by God'…
