King James Version

Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9 is God's command to Joshua to be strong and of a good courage, and not to be afraid or dismayed, because the LORD his God was with him wherever he went. God spoke it as Joshua took over from Moses and prepared to lead Israel across the Jordan.

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Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 · KJV

Joshua 1:9 in context

⁶Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

⁷Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

⁸This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

⁹Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

¹⁰Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

¹¹Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.

¹²And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

Joshua 1:6-12, King James Version.

What Joshua 1:9 means

The verse opens with a question: Have not I commanded thee? Courage here is not a mood God hopes Joshua will feel. It is an order, and it rests on the authority of the one giving it.

The reason for the courage is the last line: the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua is not told the task will be easy, or that he is strong enough on his own. He is told he will not be alone. A few verses earlier God put it plainly: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

This is the third time in the chapter God tells Joshua to be strong and of a good courage (verses 6, 7, and 9). The first is tied to the land he will divide among the tribes. The second is tied to keeping the law of Moses, meditating on it day and night. The third is tied to God's presence. Together they cover the mission, the method, and the companion.

Joshua was not new to danger. He had been Moses' minister, had led Israel against Amalek, and was one of the two spies who trusted God at Kadesh. Even so, he needed to hear this word as Moses' long leadership came to an end.

Background and context

Before: Joshua 1:1-8. After the death of Moses, the LORD speaks to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister. He tells him to arise and go over the Jordan with all the people, promises every place the sole of their foot treads upon, and says no man will be able to stand before him. He tells Joshua to be strong and very courageous to keep the law, and that this book of the law shall not depart out of his mouth.

After: Joshua 1:10-18. Joshua commands the officers to tell the people to prepare food, for within three days they will cross the Jordan. He reminds the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh of their promise to Moses to fight beside their brothers. They answer that they will do all he commands, and close with the same words God used: only be strong and of a good courage.

Moses had already spoken this charge over Joshua in front of all Israel (Deuteronomy 31:7), and Joshua had been full of the spirit of wisdom because Moses laid his hands on him (Deuteronomy 34:9).

Key verses

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Joshua 1:5 · KJV

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8 · KJV

Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
Joshua 1:18 · KJV

Cross references

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 Moses charges Joshua before all Israel with the same words.And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:23 God himself gives Joshua the charge to be strong and of a good courage.And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.
1 Chronicles 28:20 David passes the same charge to Solomon for building the temple.And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not and be not dismayed, for I am with thee.Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Matthew 28:20 Jesus promises his disciples, I am with you alway.Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 The promise never to leave nor forsake, given in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Joshua 1:5, is repeated.Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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Common questions

What does Joshua 1:9 mean?

It means Joshua was commanded to be brave and not afraid, and the reason was God's presence: the LORD would be with him wherever he went. The courage rests on who goes with him, not on his own strength.

Who said Joshua 1:9?

The LORD spoke it to Joshua the son of Nun, right after the death of Moses, as Joshua was about to lead Israel into the promised land.

Who wrote the book of Joshua?

The book does not name its author. Jewish tradition attributes most of it to Joshua himself, with later additions such as the account of his death.

Is Joshua 1:9 a promise for Christians today?

It was first given to Joshua for a specific task. Christians have long drawn comfort from it because the same promise of God's presence is repeated in the New Testament, for example in Hebrews 13:5 and Matthew 28:20.

What does good courage mean in the KJV?

It means a firm, steady heart in the face of danger. It is paired with be strong, and set against being afraid or dismayed.