Joshua 24:20
If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וַֽעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם
and serve
H5647
וַֽעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם
and serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
5 of 16
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
gods
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
6 of 16
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
נֵכָ֑ר
strange
H5236
נֵכָ֑ר
strange
Strong's:
H5236
Word #:
7 of 16
foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom
וְשָׁ֨ב
then he will turn
H7725
וְשָׁ֨ב
then he will turn
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
8 of 16
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
וְהֵרַ֤ע
and do you hurt
H7489
וְהֵרַ֤ע
and do you hurt
Strong's:
H7489
Word #:
9 of 16
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)
וְכִלָּ֣ה
and consume
H3615
וְכִלָּ֣ה
and consume
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
11 of 16
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
אֶתְכֶ֔ם
H853
אֶתְכֶ֔ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אַֽחֲרֵ֖י
you after
H310
אַֽחֲרֵ֖י
you after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
13 of 16
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Acts 7:42Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?1 Chronicles 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.Isaiah 1:28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.Jeremiah 17:13O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.Ezekiel 18:24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.2 Chronicles 15:2And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.Ezra 8:22For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.Hebrews 10:38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Historical Context
This warning proved accurate—Judges 2:11-15 records Israel's immediate apostasy after Joshua's death, serving Baals and Ashtoreths, experiencing God's anger and oppression. The prophetic-historic cycle of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance dominates the Judges period (circa 1375-1050 BC).
Questions for Reflection
- Why does receiving God's goodness make subsequent rebellion more serious rather than less, and how does this principle apply to those raised in Christian environments versus new converts?
- How do you reconcile God's unchanging character with the reality that His response to people 'turns' based on their covenant faithfulness or unfaithfulness?
- What does the repeated cycle of apostasy-judgment-repentance-deliverance in Judges teach about human nature, God's patience, and the necessity of new covenant transformation (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:26-27)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods (אֱלֹהֵי נֵכָר, elohei nekhar, 'gods of foreignness')—Joshua's warning isn't hypothetical but prophetic, anticipating the apostasy cycle recorded in Judges. The phrase he will turn and do you hurt (וְשָׁב וְהֵרַע לָכֶם, veshav veherah lachem) uses shuv ('turn/return'), suggesting God's character doesn't change but His posture toward rebels must shift from blessing to discipline.
After that he hath done you good emphasizes the tragedy—judgment comes not on strangers but on those who've experienced God's goodness. This anticipates Hebrews 10:26-31's warning that willful apostasy after receiving truth invites fearful judgment. God's past kindness becomes the measure of present rebellion's severity.