“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The command to "put away the gods your fathers served" isn't just about discarding old idols. It’s a profound call to actively sever ties with ancestral traditions that didn't honor God, acknowledging that even deeply ingrained practices need to be left behind for true devotion. This highlights that faithfulness to God often requires a radical break from the past, even when those traditions are hallowed by time and family history.
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joshua is bringing the entire nation of Israel together for a final, momentous address before he passes from the scene. He's just recounted God's incredible faithfulness through their history, from Abraham to their conquest of Canaan, and now he's challenging them to make a decisive choice. He calls them to wholeheartedly commit to serving the LORD, explicitly demanding they abandon the idolatrous practices inherited from their ancestors in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Joshua lays out a clear path forward for Israel. It's not just about belief, but about action rooted in deep respect.
Joshua's opening command is twofold: 'fear the LORD and serve him.' This isn't about a cowering, debilitating fear. It's a profound reverence, a recognition of God's unmatched power and holiness that leads to wholehearted devotion. Serving God means actively living out that reverence. It’s about our attitude (sincerity) and our actions (faithfulness). This dual emphasis calls for an internal disposition that overflows into outward obedience.
Joshua doesn't just tell them what to do; he tells them what to stop doing. What does it mean to truly 'put away' the old ways?
The call to 'serve him in sincerity and in truth' is immediately followed by a command to 'put away the gods which your fathers served.' This reveals that true service isn't just about adding God to your life; it requires actively removing anything that competes for your devotion. 'Sincerity' speaks to the completeness of the heart's commitment – no hidden agendas or divided loyalties. 'Truth' points to alignment with God's revealed will, not human traditions or deceptive practices. Putting away the old gods, whether from beyond the Euphrates or from Egypt, meant a radical break from ancestral idolatry, even if those practices were subtle or deeply ingrained.
Joshua reminds Israel of their ancestors' journey, highlighting how easily faith can be lost across generations. What's the antidote?
Ask a follow-up
Joshua’s reminder about the gods their fathers served “beyond the River and in Egypt” wasn’t just historical fact; it was a warning. These ancestral practices, though distant in time and place, represented a spiritual lineage that could easily reassert itself. The core issue was serving other gods. Joshua’s repeated call to 'serve the LORD' emphasizes that faithfulness is exclusive. It’s a deliberate choice to commit exclusively to Yahweh, the God who delivered them. This commitment isn't just for the current generation but sets a standard for those to come, ensuring that God alone is worshipped and honored.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the covenant God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal One who revealed Himself to Moses. It signifies God's holiness, faithfulness, and personal relationship with His people.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
To revere, stand in awe of, and honor God. In a biblical context, it implies a heart-posture of humble submission, recognition of His majesty, and obedience rooted in love.
`abad · Hebrew Verb
To minister to or perform religious service for a deity or master. It encompasses acts of worship, obedience, and living in total devotion and submission to God's will.
tamim · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Purity, wholeness, or integrity of heart. It describes a lifestyle characterized by moral uprightness and an undivided devotion to God, free from hypocrisy or double-mindedness.
'emeth · Hebrew Noun
Steadfastness, reliability, and devotion. It denotes a firm commitment to keeping covenant promises and remaining loyal to God's truth regardless of circumstances.
'elohim · Hebrew Noun
Spiritual objects of worship created by human hands or imagination. Biblically, these are false entities that distract from or compete with the worship of the one true Creator God.
Joshua's urgent call to abandon idolatry highlights that even after miraculous deliverances and a fresh start in the Promised Land, the temptation to return to ancestral practices from Mesopotamia and Egypt lingered, proving the ongoing battle for the people's hearts.
c. 2100-2000 BC
Abraham's Ancestors in Ur
Abraham's family, including his father Terah, lived in Ur of the Chaldeans, a region known for its complex polytheistic worship.
c. 2000-1800 BC
The Patriarchal Migration
Abraham was called by God to leave Ur and migrate, eventually settling in Canaan, while his relatives continued in Mesopotamia and other regions.
c. 1800-1500 BC
Israel's Sojourn in Egypt
Jacob and his descendants lived in Egypt for centuries, initially welcomed but later enslaved, adopting and adapting to some Egyptian religious practices.
c. 1446-1406 BC
The Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, leading them through the wilderness for 40 years, during which they were instructed in His laws.
c. 1406-1330 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites conquered the Promised Land, dispossessing the Canaanite nations whose idolatrous practices were rampant.
c. 1330 BC— this verse
Joshua's Farewell Address at Shechem
In his final address to the united tribes of Israel, Joshua recounts God's faithfulness and challenges them to commit fully to serving the LORD, forsaking all former idolatrous practices.
This passage echoes Joshua's call to 'fear the LORD' and 'serve him in sincerity and truth', emphasizing that true service is rooted in loving God and following His ways with one's whole heart.
Psalm 51:6The verse speaks of God desiring 'truth in the inward being', which directly parallels Joshua's exhortation to serve the LORD 'in sincerity and in truth', highlighting the internal, wholehearted nature of genuine worship.
1 Kings 18:21This verse presents a stark contrast to Joshua's command, showing Elijah challenging Israel to stop 'limping between two opinions' and choose whether to follow Baal or Yahweh, illustrating the danger of divided loyalty that Joshua was warning against.
Ezekiel 20:7-8This passage recalls the Israelites' rebellion in Egypt, urging them to 'throw away the abominations' and 'not defile themselves with the idols of Egypt,' which directly relates to Joshua's command to put away the gods their fathers served in Egypt.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching that 'no one can serve two masters' powerfully reinforces Joshua's imperative to serve the LORD alone and to put away other gods, as true devotion cannot be divided.
wesleyJoshua 24:14: "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD."
24:14 The gods - Whereby it appears, that although Joshua had doubtless prevented and purged out all public idolatry, yet there were some of them who practised it in their private houses and retirements. Your fathers - Terah, and Nahor, and Abraham, as ver.2, and other of your ancestors. In Egyp…
jfbJoshua 24:14: "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD."
14-28. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth—After having enumerated so many grounds for national gratitude, Joshua calls on them to declare, in a public and solemn manner, whether they will be faithful and obedient to the God of Israel. He avowed this to be his ow…
The command to "put away the gods your fathers served" isn't just about discarding old idols. It’s a profound call to actively sever ties with ancestral traditions that didn't honor God, acknowledging that even deeply ingrained practices need to be left behind for true devotion. This highlights that faithfulness to God often requires a radical break from the past, even when those traditions are hallowed by time and family history.
Joshua is bringing the entire nation of Israel together for a final, momentous address before he passes from the scene. He's just recounted God's incredible faithfulness through their history, from Abraham to their conquest of Canaan, and now he's challenging them to make a decisive choice. He calls them to wholeheartedly commit to serving the LORD, explicitly demanding they abandon the idolatrous practices inherited from their ancestors in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Joshua is bringing the entire nation of Israel together for a final, momentous address before he passes from the scene. He's just recounted God's incredible faithfulness through their history, from Abraham to their conquest of Canaan, and now he's challenging them to make a decisive choice. He calls them to wholeheartedly commit to serving the LORD, explicitly demanding they abandon the idolatrous practices inherited from their ancestors in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
"“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD." — The command to "put away the gods your fathers served" isn't just about discarding old idols. It’s a profound call to actively sever ties with ancestral traditions that didn't honor God, acknowledgin…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026