The Meaning of Joshua 23:7 Explained

Joshua 23:7

KJV: That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

YLT: so as not to go in among these nations, these who are left with you; and of the name of their gods ye do not make mention, nor do ye swear, nor do ye serve them, nor do ye bow yourselves to them;

Darby: that ye enter not among these nations, these that remain among you; and ye shall make no mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them;

ASV: that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them , neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That ye come  not among these nations,  these that remain  among you; neither make mention  of the name  of their gods,  nor cause to swear  [by them], neither serve  them, nor bow  yourselves unto them: 

What does Joshua 23:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 23:1-16 - Joshua's Farewell Address
Joshua's anxiety for the welfare of his people after his death has New Testament parallels. See Acts 20:29; 2 Peter 1:13-15; and especially John 13:1-38; John 14:1-31; John 15:1-27. As always, he lays stress on what the Lord had done, Joshua 23:3; Joshua 23:5; Joshua 23:9. Not one ray of glory is stolen for himself.
He argues for their steadfastness on three grounds: There are the promises of Joshua 23:5; the threatenings of Joshua 23:11-13; the exhortations of Joshua 23:14-16. Our failure to drive out the foes of our heart is due to our failure to follow the Lord. A lack of whole-hearted surrender lies at the root of all failure. Cleaving to the Lord is the Old Testament way of saying "abide in Christ," John 15:1-27.
In contrast to man's inconstancy and infidelity, notice the sublime testimony to God's faithfulness. "Not one thing hath failed," Joshua 23:14. When at last we review our life, we, too, shall be able to say as much, if only by His grace we are kept faithful and obedient. We cannot keep the old Covenant, but the new stands forever, Jeremiah 31:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 23

1  Joshua's exhortation before his death
3  by former benefits
5  by promises
11  and by threatenings

What do the individual words in Joshua 23:7 mean?

[and] lest you go among nations these who remain these among you and of the name of their gods not You shall make mention nor cause [anyone] to swear [by them] and [and] not you shall serve them bow down to them
לְבִלְתִּי־ בוֹא֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם הָאֵ֔לֶּה הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אִתְּכֶ֑ם וּבְשֵׁ֨ם אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֤ם לֹא־ תַזְכִּ֙ירוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א תַשְׁבִּ֔יעוּ וְלֹ֣א תַעַבְד֔וּם תִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ לָהֶֽם

לְבִלְתִּי־  [and]  lest 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
בוֹא֙  you  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם  among  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֥ים  who  remain 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁאַר  
Sense: to remain, be left over, be left behind.
הָאֵ֖לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
אִתְּכֶ֑ם  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וּבְשֵׁ֨ם  and  of  the  name 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֤ם  of  their  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
תַזְכִּ֙ירוּ֙  You  shall  make  mention 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
וְלֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תַשְׁבִּ֔יעוּ  cause  [anyone]  to  swear  [by  them] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
וְלֹ֣א  and  [and]  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תַעַבְד֔וּם  you  shall  serve  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, third person masculine plural
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
תִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ  bow  down 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לָהֶֽם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural