Bible Strands
Joshua 8:34
Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua addresses the complete assembly of Israel, including elders, officers, judges, women, children, and resident foreigners, standing before the Ark on the slopes of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. He delivers the reading immediately following the covenant ceremony described in the preceding verse.
The words — קָרָא (qara') translates literally as "he read aloud" or "proclaimed." כָּל (kol) means "all," marking the exhaustive scope of the material Joshua recited.
The thread — This public recitation mirrors Ezra's reading of the Law in Nehemiah 8:2 and operates in the same tradition as the account in Nehemiah 13:1. It fulfills the earlier directive recorded in Deuteronomy 31:10 regarding the periodic proclamation of the Law.
Why it lands — The text records Joshua's exact compliance with the written instruction, noting that not a single commanded word was omitted. It requires the community to receive the complete text without alteration or selective listening.
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
And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 8:2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.
- Deuteronomy 31:10 Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles,
- Nehemiah 13:1 At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
- Leviticus 26:1 “You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.
- Deuteronomy 27:14 Then the Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:
- Deuteronomy 29:20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven
- Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster.
- Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
- Nehemiah 9:3 While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God.