Joshua 23:6
in Joshua 23Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
KJV
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
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This verse in Joshua 23
Commentary
7 notes on this verseVery courageous - For it will require great courage and resolution to execute all the commands of Moses, and particularly, that of expelling and destroying the residue of the Canaanites. The right hand or the left - That is, in one kind or other, by adding to the law, or diminishing from it.
This site's exposition
Be very strong
on Joshua 23:6-8
The charge given Joshua at 1:7, to keep the law without turning right or left, now goes to the whole nation, and the courage asked is courage to keep a book. Verse 7 forbids even invoking their gods' names, as Exodus 23:13 does. The Hebrew verb behind "hold fast" in verse 8, used at Deuteronomy 11:22 and 13:4, turns against the nations at verse 12.
The record, by era
The Reformation1 voice
He affirms that God will be propitious to them, and promises that whatever they attempt will turn out prosperously, provided they are steadfast in obeying the Law. However confidently hypocrites may contemn and deride God, they would wish, however, to have him astricted to them; nay, they often, with no small pomposity, boast of his promises.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses,.... To observe which required spiritual strength, fortitude of mind, a holy courage, a firm and fixed resolution, and particularly to destroy the Canaanites required in that book, and to abstain from all communion and fellowship with them: that ye turn not aside therefrom, to the right hand or the left; See Gill on Jos 1:7.
Keep and do with a firm resolution all that is written in the book of the law. " He presses upon them no more than what they were already bound to. "Keep with care, do with diligence, and eye what is written with sincerity." (2.) To be very cautious: "Take heed of missing it, either on the right hand or on the left, for there are errors and extremes on both hands.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do, etc. - It requires no small courage to keep a sound creed in the midst of scoffers, and not less to maintain a godly practice among the profane and profligate. That is written in the book - By the word of God alone his followers are bound. Nothing is to be received as an article of faith which God has not spoken.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַחֲזַקְתֶּ֣ם | vachazaktem | and you will be strong | H2388 → | 291 times |
| מְאֹ֔ד | meod | very | H3966 → | 300 times |
| לִשְׁמֹ֣ר | lishmor | to take care | H8104 → | 468 times |
| וְלַעֲשׂ֔וֹת | velaasot | and to do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| אֵ֚ת | ʾet | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | every | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַכָּת֔וּב | hakatuv | <the> [thing] written | H3789 → | 224 times |
| בְּסֵ֖פֶר | besefer | in [the] book of | H5612 → | 186 times |
| תּוֹרַ֣ת | torat | [the] law of | H8451 → | 219 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֑ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| לְבִלְתִּ֥י | levilti | to not | H1115 → | 112 times |
| סוּר־ | sur- | to turn aside | H5493 → | 299 times |
| מִמֶּ֖נּוּ | mimenu | from it | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| יָמִ֥ין | yamin | right [hand] | H3225 → | 140 times |
| וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃ | usemol | and left [hand] | H8040 → | 54 times |
וַחֲזַקְתֶּ֣םand you will be strong
vachazaktemH2388 →291 times
מְאֹ֔דvery
meodH3966 →300 times
לִשְׁמֹ֣רto take care
lishmorH8104 →468 times
וְלַעֲשׂ֔וֹתand to do
velaasotH6213 →2628 times
אֵ֚ת<obj.>
ʾetH853 →10935 times
כָּל־every
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הַכָּת֔וּב<the> [thing] written
hakatuvH3789 →224 times
בְּסֵ֖פֶרin [the] book of
beseferH5612 →186 times
תּוֹרַ֣ת[the] law of
toratH8451 →219 times
מֹשֶׁ֑הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
לְבִלְתִּ֥יto not
leviltiH1115 →112 times
סוּר־to turn aside
sur-H5493 →299 times
מִמֶּ֖נּוּfrom it
mimenuH4480 →1188 times
יָמִ֥יןright [hand]
yaminH3225 →140 times
וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃and left [hand]
usemolH8040 →54 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 28:14Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 5:32
So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 30:21
And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”
- Deuteronomy 5:32
Through
Hebrews 12:4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will…
- Hebrews 10:32–34
Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
- Revelation 2:13
I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful…
- Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand…
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
Through
Deuteronomy 5:32So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
it leads to
- Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
- Joshua 1:7
Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that…
- Proverbs 4:27
About Joshua
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.