Joshua 24:16 kjva — And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;

King James Version with Apocrypha

"And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;"

— Joshua 24:16, King James Version with Apocrypha

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Joshua 24:16 in Other Translations

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Joshua 24 — Context

13

And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

14

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

16

And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;

17

For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:

18

And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God.

19

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

Joshua 24:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Joshua 24:16 say?
Joshua 24:16 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;”
Where is Joshua 24:16 in the Bible?
Joshua 24:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Joshua, chapter 24, verse 16.
Who wrote Joshua?
Joshua is traditionally attributed to Joshua (traditional). Traditionally written by Joshua with later additions noting his death and burial. It was written c. 1405–1380 BC.
What is the book of Joshua about?
Joshua is the account of Israel's entry into Canaan under Moses' successor — the crossing of the Jordan, the fall of Jericho, the conquest of the land, and its division among the twelve tribes. It is a record of God's faithfulness to his covenant promise to Abraham.
What are the major themes of Joshua?
Joshua explores themes including Conquest, Faithfulness, Inheritance, Courage, Holy War. These themes shape the meaning and context of Joshua 24:16.
What translation should I read Joshua 24:16 in?
Joshua 24:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Joshua 24:16?
Joshua 24:16 reads (KJVA): “And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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