Joshua 22:5

But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joshua addresses the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as they prepare to return east of the Jordan, between the permission to leave (v.4) and the blessing that sends them (v.6).

The words — רַק (rak, "only") frames the imperative שִׁמְרוּ (shimru, "take care / guard"), restricting the entire command to one thing: guard the commandment and the law.

The thread — The love-and-obedience formula echoes Matthew 22:37 ("Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul") and Exodus 20:6, which binds loving God to keeping His commandments.

Why it lands — The verse does not separate love from practice; it defines love as walking, keeping, holding fast, and serving, leaving no room for affection unexpressed in obedience.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

רַ֣ק׀rakonly שִׁמְר֣וּshim.Rutake care מְאֹ֗דme.'Odexceedingly לַעֲשׂ֨וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ do אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַמִּצְוָ֣הha./mitz.Vahthe/ commandment וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַתּוֹרָה֮ha./to.Rahthe/ law אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich צִוָּ֣הtzi.Vahhe commanded אֶתְכֶם֮'et./Khem<obj.>/ you מֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehMoses עֶֽבֶד־'e.ved-[the] servant of יְהוָה֒Yah.wehYahweh לְ֠אַהֲבָהLe./'a.ha.vahto/ love אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְהוָ֨הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜ם'e.lo.hei./KhemGod/ your וְלָלֶ֧כֶתve./la./Le.khetand/ to/ walk בְּכָל־be./kholin/ all דְּרָכָ֛יוde.ra.Kha/vways/ his וְלִשְׁמֹ֥רve./li/sh.Morand/ to/ keep מִצְוֹתָ֖יוmitz.vo.Ta/vcommandments/ his וּלְדָבְקָה־u./le./da.ve.kah-and/ to/ cleaveב֑וֹv/oto/ himוּלְעָבְד֕וֹu./le./'a.ve.D/oand/ to/ serve/ him בְּכָל־be./kholwith/ all לְבַבְכֶ֖םle.vav./Khemheart/ your וּבְכָל־u./ve./Khol-and/ with/ all נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃naf.she./Khembeing/ your

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Matthew 22:37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Exodus 20:6 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Exodus 15:26 saying, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
Deuteronomy 11:22 For if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him—
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Joshua 24:14 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.

People named

Moses