"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
— Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
Joshua 24:15 is the "as for me and my house" verse. This page gives the verse, when Joshua said it, and a plain reading. For more verses on the theme, see Bible verses about family, Bible verses about Joshua, and Bible verses about obedience.
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The verse
The King James says, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
"Serve" is abad (H5647), to work for or worship. "Choose" is bachar (H977), to pick out or decide. "House" or "household" is bayith (H1004), which means a home and the family who live in it.
When Joshua said it
Joshua was old, and he gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem (Joshua 24:1). He retold their history, from Abraham to the Exodus to entering the land. Just before verse 15 he said, "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:14).
The people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!" (Joshua 24:16), and later, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him" (Joshua 24:24). That day Joshua made a covenant with them and set up a large stone as a witness (Joshua 24:25-27).
What the verse is saying
Joshua does not let the people drift. He puts the choice in front of them, "choose for yourselves this day," and then says where he stands before they answer. His decision covers his whole household, not only himself.
That is why the line hangs over so many front doors. It is a family's statement of who they will follow. For more on that, see Bible verses about serving others, Bible verses about worship, and Bible verses about parenting.
Questions people ask
What does Joshua 24:15 say?
It ends, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD" (NIV), or "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (KJV). Before that, Joshua tells Israel to choose that day whom they will serve.
Who said "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"?
Joshua said it to the tribes of Israel gathered at Shechem near the end of his life (Joshua 24:1, 15).
What does "choose you this day whom ye will serve" mean?
Joshua asked Israel to decide, right then, whether they would serve the LORD or the gods of their ancestors and neighbors. "Choose" is bachar, to make a deliberate pick.
How did the people answer Joshua?
They said, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!" (Joshua 24:16) and "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him" (Joshua 24:24).
What verse goes well with Joshua 24:15?
Joshua 1:9 says, "Be strong and courageous." Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."
