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.

JOSHUA 23:15KJV
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Joshua 23:15 (KJV)

What does Joshua 23:15 mean?

Joshua 23:15 warns that just as God has faithfully brought good things to Israel, as He promised, He will also bring consequences—described as “all evil things”—if they turn away from Him, even to the point of being removed from the land He gave them. The verse stresses that God’s promises include both blessings for obedience and judgment for disobedience.

In this verse, Joshua is speaking to the leaders of Israel near the end of his life, reminding them of God’s faithfulness and the seriousness of keeping His covenant. Joshua connects the people’s experience of God’s goodness (the fulfillment of promises) with the certainty that God will also fulfill warnings if they break faith, highlighting the unchanging nature of God’s word.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 23:15

  • “Good” (טוֹב, tov, H2896) and “evil” (רַע, ra‘, H7451): These words are used to contrast the positive blessings Israel has received with the negative consequences they will face if unfaithful. The pairing emphasizes that God’s faithfulness applies to both reward and discipline.
  • “Things” (דָּבָר, davar, H1697): This word can mean “word,” “matter,” or “thing,” suggesting that both the good and the evil are not just events, but the fulfillment of God’s spoken promises or warnings.
  • “Destroyed” (שָׁמַד, shamad, H8045): This word carries a strong sense of being wiped out or removed, underscoring the seriousness of the warning that Israel could lose the land entirely if they abandon God.

Why Joshua 23:15 matters

  • Joshua 23:15 clarifies that God’s promises are not only about blessings but also include real consequences for breaking faith, correcting the idea that God’s faithfulness means only positive outcomes.
  • The verse ties together the themes of covenant, land, and obedience that run throughout Joshua, showing that Israel’s continued possession of the land depends on their relationship with God.
  • Joshua’s warning here sets the stage for the later history of Israel, where both blessings and judgments come to pass, helping readers understand the pattern seen throughout the rest of the Old Testament.

Where else these words appear

“destroyed” Hebrew H8045 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 31:3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
  • Esther 7:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.