Joshua 1:6 is God’s word of encouragement to Joshua as he takes over leadership of Israel after Moses has died. The core message is simple: be brave and strong, because God himself will bring the people into the land he promised long ago. God speaks these words directly to Joshua, the new leader, just as Israel stands on the edge of the land they have been waiting to enter.
“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Joshua 1:6 (WEB)
What Joshua 1:6 Means
The verse begins with a command: “Be strong and courageous.” This is not a request for Joshua to manufacture confidence out of nothing. It is an instruction that rests on what God is about to do. Courage here means facing a difficult task with steadiness, trusting that the task is not yours alone to finish.
The second half gives the reason. God says Joshua “shall cause this people to inherit the land.” The word “inherit” points to something received as a gift and a promise, not something earned by strength of arms. The land was pledged to their ancestors, and God is now keeping that pledge through the generation that will enter it.
What the verse does not promise is an easy road. It does not say the conquest will be painless or that every battle will be won quickly. It promises that the outcome rests in God’s faithfulness to his word, and that Joshua is called to step forward in that trust.
The Context of Joshua 1:6
The book of Joshua is traditionally attributed to Joshua himself, though much of it was likely shaped and compiled later by others. It records Israel’s entry into Canaan after the forty years in the wilderness. Its first audience was the Israelite people, who needed to know that the leadership had passed from Moses to Joshua without God’s purpose changing.
The verses just before and after make the meaning clearer. In verses 3 and 5, God promises the land and his presence, saying “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Verse 9 then repeats the call to courage and adds, “Don’t be afraid… for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” The courage of verse 6 is therefore anchored in God’s presence, not in Joshua’s temperament.
Key Phrases in Joshua 1:6
Deuteronomy 31:6
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.”
(WEB)
This verse comes just before Joshua’s commissioning and uses nearly the same language of strength and courage. Moses speaks it to the whole people, and it shows that the encouragement given to Joshua rests on God’s constant presence with his people.
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 of God’s strengthening presence centuries later, to a people facing fear and uncertainty. It echoes the theme of Joshua 1:6 that courage flows from God’s faithful companionship rather than from human confidence alone.
A Short Prayer From Joshua 1:6
Lord, you spoke courage into Joshua’s heart when he stood where Moses had stood, and you kept every promise you made to his ancestors. Help me to hear your command to be strong and courageous as a word meant for me today. Where I feel weak or afraid, remind me that you are with me wherever I go, and that the outcome rests in your faithfulness. Give me steady feet for the next step you have placed before me. Amen.
