Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
About this passage
Joshua 1:9 is part of God's charge to Joshua at the opening of the Book of Joshua. Moses has died, and Joshua is told to lead Israel across the Jordan into the land of Canaan. The verse repeats the call to be strong and courageous and says that God will be with him wherever he goes.
The charge echoes earlier words in Deuteronomy, where Moses encourages Joshua and the people before they cross. In the story, courage is tied to obeying the law given through Moses, which verses 7 and 8 describe just before this verse.
The verse is now widely used as a general encouragement in fear or change. It reads in its book as a commission to a leader at a turning point, and the book's account of the conquest is a subject of ongoing historical and ethical discussion among readers.
Questions
Who is God speaking to in Joshua 1:9?
God is speaking to Joshua, who has just become Israel's leader after Moses' death. The words commission him to lead the people into the land, and are often applied more widely as encouragement.
What comes just before Joshua 1:9?
Verses 7 and 8 tell Joshua to be strong and to keep the law of Moses, speaking of it day and night. Verse 9 then repeats the call to courage and promises God's presence.