Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses speaks to Joshua and all Israel on the plains of Moab, immediately after God promises to deliver the Canaanite nations into Israel's hands.

The words — The opening command uses חִזְקוּ (chiz.Ku) for "be strong" and אִמְצוּ ('im.Tzu) for "be bold," directly paired with the prohibitions אַל־תִּירְאוּ (do not be afraid) and אַל־תַּעַרְצוּ (do not be terrified).

The thread — The same structural command and divine presence promise appear in Joshua 1:9, is repeated in Psalms 27:14, and is reframed in Ephesians 6:10 as strength drawn from the Lord's power.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to replace fear with action by anchoring resolve in the factual claim that God accompanies the task.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

חִזְק֣וּchiz.Kube strong וְאִמְצ֔וּve./'im.Tzuand/ be bold אַל־'al-may not תִּֽירְא֥וּti.re.'Uyou be afraid וְאַל־ve./'al-and/ may not תַּעַרְצ֖וּta.'ar.Tzuyou be terrified מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑םmi./pe.nei./Hemof/ <before>/ them כִּ֣י׀kifor יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your ה֚וּאhu'he הַהֹלֵ֣ךְha./ho.Lekh[is] the/ [one who] goes עִמָּ֔ךְ'i.Ma/khwith/ you לֹ֥אlo'not יַרְפְּךָ֖yar.pe./Khahe will abandon/ you וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not יַעַזְבֶֽךָּ׃ פya.'az.Ve./kahe will forsake/ you

King James Version

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Cross-references

Joshua 1:9 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.”
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Psalms 27:14 Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
1 Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Luke 12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
Joshua 10:25 “Do not be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua said. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do this to all the enemies you fight.”