This verse summarizes how God’s people must abandon all rival loyalties, fear Him alone, and serve Him completely.
Joshua stood before the gathered Israelites at Shechem, a city nestled between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal in Israel’s central hill country, historically significant for covenant ceremonies and deeply connected to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Shechem is mentioned in multiple passages, and was chosen for covenant renewal). At this pivotal moment—likely near the end of Joshua’s life around the late 14th century BC—he reminded the people of their unique covenant relationship with the LORD, who had delivered them from Egypt and granted them the land of Canaan. As the faithful successor to Moses, Joshua carried forward God’s command to reject idolatry and cling to divine truth.
Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. (v.14)
Through this call, Joshua exhorted Israel to deepen their reverence and awe (“fear the LORD”) and to worship wholeheartedly (“in sincerity and truth”). Casting off all forms of idolatry was essential to remain under the LORD’s blessing. The mention of “gods which your fathers served” underscores how quickly the heart can drift back to ancestral falsehoods, and Joshua urged the nation to stand firm in devotion to the One true God. His stance foreshadows Jesus’ teaching that true worshipers must worship the Father “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), reminding us that authenticity before God is the foundation of genuine faithfulness.
Set to dark mode
Joshua 24:14 meaning
Joshua stood before the gathered Israelites at Shechem, a city nestled between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal in Israel’s central hill country, historically significant for covenant ceremonies and deeply connected to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Shechem is mentioned in multiple passages, and was chosen for covenant renewal). At this pivotal moment—likely near the end of Joshua’s life around the late 14th century BC—he reminded the people of their unique covenant relationship with the LORD, who had delivered them from Egypt and granted them the land of Canaan. As the faithful successor to Moses, Joshua carried forward God’s command to reject idolatry and cling to divine truth.
Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. (v.14)
Through this call, Joshua exhorted Israel to deepen their reverence and awe (“fear the LORD”) and to worship wholeheartedly (“in sincerity and truth”). Casting off all forms of idolatry was essential to remain under the LORD’s blessing. The mention of “gods which your fathers served” underscores how quickly the heart can drift back to ancestral falsehoods, and Joshua urged the nation to stand firm in devotion to the One true God. His stance foreshadows Jesus’ teaching that true worshipers must worship the Father “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), reminding us that authenticity before God is the foundation of genuine faithfulness.