The Meaning of Joshua 22:5 Explained

Joshua 22:5

KJV: But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

YLT: Only, be very watchful to do the command and the law which Moses, servant of Jehovah, commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commands, and to cleave to Him, and to serve Him, with all your heart, and with all your soul.'

Darby: Only, take great heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

ASV: Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But take diligent  heed  to do  the commandment  and the law,  which Moses  the servant  of the LORD  charged  you, to love  the LORD  your God,  and to walk  in all his ways,  and to keep  his commandments,  and to cleave  unto him, and to serve  him with all your heart  and with all your soul. 

What does Joshua 22:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 22:1-20 - Averting War Between Brethren
There was generous appreciation of services rendered as Joshua dismissed the warriors. Something like "Well-done, good and faithful servant," rings through His words. But he takes care to remind them that the tenure of their lands depends wholly on their obedience. This will explain the brief and transient existence of the trans-Jordanic tribes.
The altar was probably erected on the east of the Jordan. It was "over against" the land of Canaan, and was perhaps a facsimile of that at Shiloh. The prompting motive was to cement the union between themselves and the other tribes. But that end would have been better served had they obeyed the divine command in assembling annually with them. You can secure unity, not by external symbols, but by spiritual affinity and fellowship. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 22

1  The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home,
10  They build the altar of testimony in their journey
11  The Israelites are offended thereat
21  They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction

What do the individual words in Joshua 22:5 mean?

But take heed careful to do - the commandment and the law which commanded you Moses the servant of Yahweh to love Yahweh your God and to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul
רַ֣ק ׀ שִׁמְר֣וּ מְאֹ֗ד לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת אֶת־ הַמִּצְוָ֣ה וְאֶת־ הַתּוֹרָה֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶם֮ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶֽבֶד־ יְהוָה֒ לְ֠אַהֲבָה יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜ם וְלָלֶ֧כֶת בְּכָל־ דְּרָכָ֛יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥ר מִצְוֺתָ֖יו וּלְדָבְקָה־ ב֑וֹ וּלְעָבְד֕וֹ בְּכָל־ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל־ נַפְשְׁכֶֽם

שִׁמְר֣וּ  take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מְאֹ֗ד  careful 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת  to  do 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמִּצְוָ֣ה  the  commandment 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
הַתּוֹרָה֮  the  law 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
צִוָּ֣ה  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
מֹשֶׁ֣ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עֶֽבֶד־  the  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
יְהוָה֒  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְ֠אַהֲבָה  to  love 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
יְהוָ֨ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜ם  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְלָלֶ֧כֶת  and  to  walk 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
דְּרָכָ֛יו  His  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְלִשְׁמֹ֥ר  and  to  keep 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מִצְוֺתָ֖יו  His  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
וּלְדָבְקָה־  and  to  hold  fast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: דָּבַק  
Sense: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch.
ב֑וֹ  to  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
וּלְעָבְד֕וֹ  and  to  serve  Him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
בְּכָל־  with  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לְבַבְכֶ֖ם  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
וּבְכָל־  and  with  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
נַפְשְׁכֶֽם  your  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.