Bible Strands
Joshua 23:11
Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Joshua addresses the remaining tribes of Israel at the close of his leadership, speaking immediately after recounting God's promised victories and immediately before warning against covenant compromise with neighboring nations.
The words — The Hebrew imperative נִשְׁמַרְתֶּם (nishmar tem) means "you will take heed" or "watch yourselves," intensified by מְאֹד (me'od) for "exceedingly." This verb governs the infinitive לְאַהֲבָה (le'ahavah), "to love," making exclusive devotion to Yahweh the direct object of their vigilance.
The thread — The charge to love God appears in Joshua 22:5 as a directive to keep the law, parallels Deuteronomy 6:5's command to love God with all one's being, and corresponds to Romans 8:28's description of those called according to His purpose.
Why it lands — The text requires deliberate, ongoing protection of one's heart from idolatrous compromise rather than a single moment of decision. It demands that covenant loyalty be actively maintained as the highest priority above all political or social alliances.
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
King James Version
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.
Cross-references
- 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.”
- Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
- 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.
- Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
- Exodus 20:6 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 But the one who loves God is known by God.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!
- Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
- Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.