Joshua 24:31
And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּֽעֲבֹ֤ד
served
H5647
וַיַּֽעֲבֹ֤ד
served
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
1 of 24
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And Israel
H3478
לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
2 of 24
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יָמִים֙
all the days
H3117
יָמִים֙
all the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וְכֹ֣ל׀
H3605
וְכֹ֣ל׀
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יָמִים֙
all the days
H3117
יָמִים֙
all the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
9 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הֶֽאֱרִ֤יכוּ
that overlived
H748
הֶֽאֱרִ֤יכוּ
that overlived
Strong's:
H748
Word #:
12 of 24
to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively)
יָמִים֙
all the days
H3117
יָמִים֙
all the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
13 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י
H310
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
14 of 24
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
וַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
וַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
16 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָֽדְע֗וּ
and which had known
H3045
יָֽדְע֗וּ
and which had known
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
17 of 24
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
18 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
19 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה
all the works
H4639
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה
all the works
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
20 of 24
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
21 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
22 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Deuteronomy 31:13And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.Judges 2:7And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.Deuteronomy 31:29For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.Deuteronomy 11:2And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm,
Historical Context
The phrase anticipates Judges 2:7, which repeats it verbatim before describing Israel's descent into apostasy. Scholars estimate this faithful period lasted 20-30 years after Joshua's death. The elders' deaths marked a catastrophic leadership vacuum that the judge cycle attempted to fill.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you ensure the next generation experiences God personally, not just hears your stories?
- What spiritual truths must each generation rediscover rather than merely inherit?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel—Faithfulness continued while eyewitnesses lived. All the days of Joshua testifies to his leadership's spiritual impact. The elders which had known (asher yadu, אֲשֶׁר יָדְעוּ, 'who had experienced') kept faith alive through personal testimony.
This explains Judges' tragic pattern: the generation that experienced God's acts remained faithful, but the next generation apostatized (Judges 2:10). Experiential knowledge transfers imperfectly. Each generation must encounter God personally, not merely inherit stories. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 addresses this: parents must actively teach children about God's works.