Joshua 24:27

And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.

And Joshua {H3091} said {H559} unto all the people {H5971}, Behold, this stone {H68} shall be a witness {H5713} unto us; for it hath heard {H8085} all the words {H561} of the LORD {H3068} which he spake {H1696} unto us: it shall be therefore a witness {H5713} unto you, lest ye deny {H3584} your God {H430}.

Y'hoshua said to all the people, "See, this stone will be a witness against us; because it has heard all the words of ADONAI which he said to us; therefore it will be a witness against you, in case you deny your God."

And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.”

And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it hath heard all the words of Jehovah which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness against you, lest ye deny your God.

Commentary

Joshua 24:27 marks a solemn moment in the history of Israel, serving as a powerful reminder of the people's renewed commitment to God under Joshua's leadership. This verse encapsulates the significance of a physical witness to a spiritual covenant.

Context

This verse follows Joshua's farewell address to the tribes of Israel at Shechem, where he challenged them to choose definitively whom they would serve (Joshua 24:15). After the people affirmed their decision to serve the LORD, Joshua made a covenant with them and set up a great stone under an oak tree near the sanctuary. This act solidified the verbal agreement, making it a tangible, enduring memorial. The practice of setting up memorial stones was common in the ancient Near East to commemorate significant events, treaties, or vows.

Key Themes

  • Covenant Witness: The stone serves as a physical, enduring witness to the solemn promises made by Israel to God. It is not literally sentient, but it symbolically bears testimony to the verbal agreement between God and His people.
  • Accountability and Remembrance: Joshua declares that the stone "hath heard all the words of the LORD," emphasizing that the covenant was made in God's full knowledge and presence. This underscores the people's accountability to their vows and serves as a constant reminder, preventing spiritual amnesia.
  • Warning Against Apostasy: The primary purpose of the stone as a witness is "lest ye deny your God." It highlights the ever-present danger of turning away from God and the importance of tangible reminders to prevent such defection or idolatry.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "witness" is 'ed (עֵד), which carries the legal and formal weight of testimony. While a stone cannot literally "hear," the Hebrew verb for "heard" (שָׁמַע - shama') is used anthropomorphically here. This rhetorical device powerfully conveys the absolute certainty and binding nature of the covenant, implying that the agreement was made with divine awareness and a full understanding of its terms by the people. It emphasizes that this was not a casual promise but a solemn, recorded oath.

Practical Application

Joshua 24:27 offers profound lessons for believers today concerning our faith and commitments:

  • The Seriousness of Our Vows: Our commitments to God, whether made explicitly in baptism or implicitly through faith in Christ, are serious and carry eternal weight. This verse reminds us that God takes our declarations of allegiance seriously.
  • The Need for Reminders: Just as Israel needed the stone, we can benefit from spiritual "memorials" in our lives—whether they are regular Bible study, participation in communion, or personal symbols—that consistently remind us of our allegiance to God and His faithfulness. These help us to remember the Lord.
  • Guarding Against Denial: The verse serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency or outright denial of God. Our lives, choices, and actions should consistently reflect our declared faith, ensuring we do not deny Him by our works.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 19:40 (7 votes)

    And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

  • Joshua 22:34 (5 votes)

    And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar [Ed]: for it [shall be] a witness between us that the LORD [is] God.

  • Matthew 10:33 (4 votes)

    But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

  • Deuteronomy 31:26 (4 votes)

    Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

  • Joshua 22:27 (4 votes)

    But [that] it [may be] a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.

  • Joshua 22:28 (4 votes)

    Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should [so] say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say [again], Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it [is] a witness between us and you.

  • 1 Samuel 7:12 (3 votes)

    Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.