Joshua 24:22

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, [We are] witnesses.

And Joshua {H3091} said {H559} unto the people {H5971}, Ye are witnesses {H5707} against yourselves that ye have chosen {H977} you the LORD {H3068}, to serve {H5647} him. And they said {H559}, We are witnesses {H5707}.

Y'hoshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen ADONAI, to serve him." They answered, "We are witnesses."

Then Joshua told them, β€œYou are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” β€œWe are witnesses!” they said.

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

Commentary

Context of Joshua 24:22

Joshua 24 records a pivotal moment in Israel's history: Joshua's farewell address and the renewal of the covenant at Shechem. Having recounted God's faithfulness from Abraham through the exodus and the conquest of Canaan, Joshua presents the people with a solemn choice: to serve the LORD, the God who brought them into the promised land, or to serve the gods their ancestors worshipped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land they now lived (Joshua 24:15). The people emphatically declare their commitment to serve the LORD (Joshua 24:21). In verse 22, Joshua responds by holding them accountable to their own words, underscoring the gravity of their self-declared vow.

Key Themes in Joshua 24:22

  • Accountability and Self-Witness: Joshua's declaration, "Ye are witnesses against yourselves," emphasizes that the people's own verbal commitment serves as undeniable testimony of their choice. They cannot later claim ignorance or coercion. This highlights the weight and binding nature of their spoken word before God.
  • Solemn Covenant and Choice: This verse underscores the serious, binding nature of the covenant relationship with God. It is not a casual agreement but a conscious, public, and self-affirmed choice to serve the LORD exclusively. The people willingly step into this profound spiritual commitment.
  • Exclusivity of Devotion: The choice presented by Joshua was clear: serve the LORD or other gods. The people's affirmation to serve "the LORD" alone signifies their understanding that devotion to the true God demands exclusivity, rejecting all forms of idolatry. This commitment demands exclusive devotion, as highlighted by Christ Himself.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "witnesses" is ג֡דִים (β€˜edim), which carries significant legal and covenantal weight. It implies a formal testimony or declaration. When Joshua states, "Ye are witnesses against yourselves," he means their own words will stand as undeniable proof of their solemn oath. Their response, "We are witnesses," confirms their full understanding and acceptance of this self-incriminating commitment.

Related Scriptures

  • This moment of choice and accountability mirrors the principle of choosing life or death, blessing or curse, as laid out in Deuteronomy 30:19.
  • The idea of a people's words serving as their own witness can be seen in various legal contexts in the Old Testament, where testimony is crucial for establishing truth.
  • The call to serve God with undivided loyalty is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, from the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3) to the teachings of Jesus.

Practical Application for Today

Joshua 24:22 remains profoundly relevant for believers today. It calls us to:

  1. Examine Our Commitments: Just as Israel made a public vow, we are called to consciously choose to serve God. Is our faith a deeply personal and intentional commitment, or merely a cultural inheritance?
  2. Understand the Weight of Our Words: Our declarations of faith and devotion are not to be taken lightly. When we profess belief or make promises to God, those words carry spiritual weight and signify our accountability.
  3. Live Out Our Choice: The verse reminds us that true commitment to God is demonstrated through action, not just words. Our lives should consistently reflect our choice to serve the LORD, shunning anything that would compromise our devotion. This means living a life of daily surrender and worship.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 119:173

    ΒΆ Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

  • Psalms 119:11

    ΒΆ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

  • Job 15:6

    Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

  • Luke 10:42

    But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

  • Deuteronomy 26:17

    Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

  • Luke 19:22

    And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
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