"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
— Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Joshua 1:9 is the "be strong and courageous" verse. This page gives the verse, the moment it was spoken, and a plain reading. For more verses on the theme, see Bible verses about courage, Bible verses about fear, and Bible verses about strength. For the man it was spoken to, see Bible verses about Joshua.
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The verse
Joshua 1:9 (NIV) reads: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
The King James says, "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." "Be strong" is chazaq (H2388), to be strong or firm. "Courageous" is amats (H553), to be bold and steady.
The moment it was spoken
The book opens just after Moses has died. God tells Joshua, "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them" (Joshua 1:2). Joshua is taking over from Moses and leading the people into a land they have never held.
God gives him a promise first: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). Then the command comes three times: "Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:6), "Be strong and very courageous" (Joshua 1:7), and again in verse 9.
What the verse is saying
The courage God asks for rests on his presence, not on Joshua's ability. The reason is in the last line: "for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Verses 7-8 tie that courage to keeping God's law and meditating on it day and night.
Christians read the verse as a word for anyone facing something new and hard. It does not say the road will be easy. It says God goes with his people. For more on that, see Bible verses about God's presence and Isaiah 41:10.
Questions people ask
What does Joshua 1:9 say?
In the NIV it says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Who was Joshua 1:9 spoken to?
God spoke it to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide, after Moses died and just before Israel crossed the Jordan (Joshua 1:1-2).
How many times does God say be strong and courageous in Joshua 1?
God says it three times, in verses 6, 7, and 9. In verse 18 the people say it back to Joshua.
Why should we be strong and courageous according to Joshua 1:9?
Because "the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." The courage rests on God's presence. Joshua 1:5 adds, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
What verse goes well with Joshua 1:9?
Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you." For new seasons, see Bible verses about new beginnings.
