King James Version

What Does Joshua 23:13 Mean?

Joshua 23:13 in the King James Version says “Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall ... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

Joshua 23:13 · KJV


Context

11

Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. yourselves: Heb. your souls

12

Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

13

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

14

And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

15

Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. This sobering warning reverses the promise of verse 5. The emphatic phrase "know for a certainty" (yado'a ted'u, יָדֹעַ תֵּדְעוּ) uses the infinitive absolute construction for strong emphasis—"knowing, you shall know" or "you must certainly know." Joshua demands unambiguous understanding of covenant consequences.

The escalating metaphors trace progressive harm: (1) "snares" (le-fach, לְפַח)—bird traps that catch unexpectedly; (2) "traps" (le-moqesh, לְמוֹקֵשׁ)—baited devices attracting victims to destruction; (3) "scourges in your sides" (le-shoteth be-tsiddeikhem, לְשֹׁוטֵט בְּצִדֵּיכֶם)—whips inflicting constant pain; (4) "thorns in your eyes" (le-tsinim be-eineikhem, לְצִנִנִים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם)—sharp objects causing blindness and agony. These images depict increasing suffering from tolerated sin.

The phrase "until ye perish from off this good land" (ad avodkhem me'al ha-adamah ha-tovah ha-zot, עַד אֲבָדְכֶם מֵעַל הָאֲדָמָה הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת) prophesies exile—the ultimate covenant curse (Leviticus 26:33-39; Deuteronomy 28:63-68). The verb avad (אָבַד, to perish) indicates complete removal. God's "good land" (adamah tovah, אֲדָמָה טוֹבָה) remains His gift, but covenant unfaithfulness forfeits the privilege of dwelling there. This prophecy found tragic fulfillment in the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This warning proved horrifyingly prophetic. Judges 2:11-15 describes the immediate aftermath: "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim... And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers." The Judges period featured recurring cycles of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance—exactly the "snares and traps" Joshua warned against.

The Northern Kingdom fell to Assyria in 722 BCE, with the population deported and replaced by foreign peoples (2 Kings 17:6-23). The Southern Kingdom fell to Babylon in 586 BCE, with Jerusalem destroyed and the people exiled (2 Kings 25). Both destructions resulted directly from covenant unfaithfulness—particularly syncretism with Canaanite religions and violation of the very commands Joshua emphasized in this farewell address.

Archaeological evidence confirms the biblical account. The Assyrian annals of Sargon II record the deportation of 27,290 Israelites from Samaria. The Babylonian Chronicles describe Nebuchadnezzar's sieges of Jerusalem. The Lachish Letters (ostraca from c. 587 BCE) provide poignant testimony to the final days before Jerusalem's fall. Joshua's warnings were not empty rhetoric but accurate prediction of consequences for covenant violation.

Reflection Questions

  1. What seemingly small compromises in your life might become "snares and traps" leading to greater spiritual harm if not addressed?
  2. How does understanding the progressive nature of sin's consequences (from snares to exile) motivate immediate repentance when the Holy Spirit convicts?
  3. What would it look like to take covenant warnings seriously enough to make difficult separations from influences that threaten your faithfulness to Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
תֵּֽדְע֔וּ1 of 31

Know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

תֵּֽדְע֔וּ2 of 31

Know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

כִּי֩3 of 31
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

לֹ֨א4 of 31
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יוֹסִ֜יף5 of 31

will no more

H3254

to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)

יְהוָ֖ה6 of 31

that the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם׃7 of 31

your God

H430

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

לְהוֹרִ֛ישׁ8 of 31

drive out

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

אֶת9 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַגּוֹיִ֥ם10 of 31

any of these nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הָאֵ֖לֶּה11 of 31
H428

these or those

מִלִּפְנֵיכֶ֑ם12 of 31

from before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

וְהָי֨וּ13 of 31
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לָכֶ֜ם14 of 31
H0
לְפַ֣ח15 of 31

you but they shall be snares

H6341

a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin)

וּלְמוֹקֵ֗שׁ16 of 31

and traps

H4170

a noose (for catching animals) (literally or figuratively); by implication, a hook (for the nose)

וּלְשֹׁטֵ֤ט17 of 31

unto you and scourges

H7850

to flog; a goad

בְּצִדֵּיכֶם֙18 of 31

in your sides

H6654

a side; figuratively, an adversary

וְלִצְנִנִ֣ים19 of 31

and thorns

H6796

a thorn

בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם20 of 31

in your eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

עַד21 of 31
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

אֲבָדְכֶ֗ם22 of 31

until ye perish

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

מֵ֠עַל23 of 31
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הָֽאֲדָמָ֤ה24 of 31

land

H127

soil (from its general redness)

הַטּוֹבָה֙25 of 31

from off this good

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

הַזֹּ֔את26 of 31
H2063

this (often used adverb)

אֲשֶׁר֙27 of 31
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נָתַ֣ן28 of 31

hath given

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָכֶ֔ם29 of 31
H0
יְהוָ֖ה30 of 31

that the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם׃31 of 31

your God

H430

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


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 23:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 23:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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