ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Joshua 24.26

type: passage created: 2026-05-06 updated: 2026-05-06 book: Joshua chapter: 24 verses: "26" translation_default: ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT tags: [scripture] citation_count: 1 enriched: false

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Joshua 24.26

Book: Joshua · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"24. And the people said unto Joshua, Jehovah our God will we serve, and unto his voice will we hearken. 25. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem."

"26. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Jehovah."

"27. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it hath heard all the words of Jehovah which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness against you, lest ye deny your God. 28. So Joshua sent the people away, every man unto his inheritance." (Joshua 24:24-28, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"24. The people said to Joshua, “We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice.” 25. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem."

"26. Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh."

"27. Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all Yahweh’s words which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God.” 28. So Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance." (Joshua 24:24-28, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"24. And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. 25. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem."

"26. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD."

"27. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. 28. So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance." (Joshua 24:24-28, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"24. And the people say unto Joshua, 'Jehovah our God we serve, and to His voice we hearken.' 25. And Joshua maketh a covenant with the people on that day, and layeth on it a statute and an ordinance, in Shechem."

"26. And Joshua writeth these words in the Book of the Law of God, and taketh a great stone, and raiseth it up there under the oak which [is] in the sanctuary of Jehovah."

"27. And Joshua saith unto all the people, 'Lo, this stone is against us for a witness, for it hath heard all the sayings of Jehovah which He hath spoken with us, and it hath been against you for a witness, lest ye lie against your God.' 28. And Joshua sendeth the people away, each to his inheritance." (Joshua 24:24-28, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: narrator (traditionally Joshua + later editor)
  • Audience: settled Israelite community
  • Location: Canaan (conquest and settlement)
  • Time period: events c. 1406-1390 BC; composed c. 1380-1050 BC

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.