Deuteronomy 31:6-8 is Moses’ final charge to Israel and to his successor Joshua, urging them to be strong and courageous as they enter the promised land. The reason for that courage is not their own strength but the LORD’s promise to go ahead of them and never abandon them.
These words come near the end of Moses’ life, on the plains of Moab just east of the Jordan River. Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and now a new generation stood ready to cross into Canaan, a land occupied by peoples who would not give it up easily.
6 Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.” 7 Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 The LORD himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 (WEB)
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Summary
Moses speaks first to the whole people, telling them not to fear the nations they will face. He grounds this command in a simple fact: the LORD their God is the one who goes with them, and he will not fail or forsake them.
Then Moses turns to Joshua in front of all Israel and repeats the charge personally. Joshua is to lead the people into the land, and the same promise of the LORD’s presence and faithfulness is given to him, so that his leadership rests on God rather than on his own ability.
Context of Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches Moses gave to Israel before his death, and it is traditionally attributed to him, though many scholars see it as shaped over time by later editors. Its audience is the generation born in the wilderness, who need to hear the covenant renewed before they take possession of the land.
The verses just before this passage describe the LORD going before Israel to defeat the nations, as he had defeated Sihon and Og earlier. The verses that follow describe the public reading of the law every seven years, so the courage Moses calls for is set within a community that remembers God’s commands and his past acts of deliverance.
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Verse by Verse
Joshua 1:9
Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(WEB)
This verse picks up Moses’ charge and gives it directly to Joshua as he prepares to cross the Jordan. The repeated command to be strong and courageous, joined to the promise that the LORD is with him wherever he goes, shows how the commission passed from Moses to his successor.
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
(WEB)
Isaiah speaks to a later generation facing danger, and his words echo the same pattern of fear answered by God’s presence and help. The passage shows that the assurance Moses gave Israel continued to shape how God’s people understood courage in every period.
A Prayer Based on Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Lord, you know how quickly fear rises in me when the road ahead is unclear and the work in front of me feels too large. Thank you that you do not ask me to be brave on my own strength. You go before me, you are with me, and you will not fail or forsake me. Steady my heart when I want to shrink back, and help me take the next faithful step because you are already there. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:6-8?
Joshua was Moses’ assistant and the man chosen to succeed him as leader of Israel. In this passage Moses commissions him publicly to lead the people into the promised land. Joshua later leads the conquest described in the book that bears his name.
Does Deuteronomy 31:6-8 mean that Christians will never feel afraid?
The passage commands courage in the face of fear, which assumes that fear is a real and present experience. Its promise is that God’s presence is the ground for facing fear, not that fear will disappear. Scripture elsewhere shows believers feeling afraid while still trusting God.
Why does Moses repeat the same words to Joshua?
The repetition emphasizes how important the moment is, since Israel is about to enter a new stage without Moses. Hearing the charge again in public gives both Joshua and the people a clear, memorable assurance. It also reinforces that the success of the mission rests on God rather than on any single leader.
