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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Joshua as he prepares to lead the people, immediately following the charge to meditate on the Book of the Law and preceding his command to the officers.

The words — The text employs חֲזַק (chazaq) meaning "be strong" alongside תֵּחָת (techat) meaning "be dismayed," framing the command as a direct negation of fear and discouragement.

The thread — The promise of divine presence "wherever you go" echoes Genesis 28:15, and the imperative to reject fear mirrors the rhetorical stance of Psalm 27:1.

Why it lands — The text states that courage is required because God accompanies the reader everywhere, making fear and discouragement unnecessary. It asks the reader to ground their obedience in the factual reality of God's presence rather than in personal confidence.

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

הֲל֤וֹאha./Lo'¿/ not צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙tzi.vi.Ti./khahave I commanded/ you חֲזַ֣קcha.Zakbe strong וֶאֱמָ֔ץve./'e.Matzand/ be bold אַֽל־'al-may not תַּעֲרֹ֖ץta.'a.Rotzyou be terrified וְאַל־ve./'al-and/ may not תֵּחָ֑תte.Chatyou be dismayed כִּ֤יkifor עִמְּךָ֙'i.me./Kha[is] with/ you יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your בְּכֹ֖לbe./Kholin/ every אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhere תֵּלֵֽךְ׃ פte.Lekhyou will go

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Genesis 28:15 Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Jeremiah 1:7 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.
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?
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.
Deuteronomy 20:1 When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
Psalms 46:7 The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Deuteronomy 31:7 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance.
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!
Isaiah 43:5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west.
Judges 6:14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”