Bible Strands
Joshua 14:9
On that day Moses swore to me, saying, ‘Surely the land on which you have set foot will be an inheritance to you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Caleb addresses the assembled leaders, recalling the precise moment Moses bound himself to a future territorial grant. The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשָּׁבַע (va.yi.sha') marks a formal, legally binding oath rather than a casual promise. The noun הָאָרֶץ (ha.a.retz) specifies the exact ground Caleb first stepped on as the measured boundary of his inheritance. The thread — The motif of footfall determining land possession appears in Joshua 1:3 and Deuteronomy 1:36, where physical entry triggers legal claim. Numbers 14:22 supplies the counterexample, showing that those who tested God lost the right to claim that same territory. Why it lands — The text establishes that covenant inheritance depends on sustained obedience, not isolated bravery. Readers must conclude that divine promises require continuous loyalty to remain active.
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
King James Version
And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.
Cross-references
- Joshua 1:3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses.
- Deuteronomy 1:36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”
- Numbers 14:22 not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times—
- Numbers 13:22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.