Joshua 1:9
What does Joshua 1:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Joshua 1:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joshua 1:9 means
This verse powerfully culminates God's commissioning of Joshua, prefacing the final admonition with a rhetorical question: "Have not I commanded thee?" This reinforces the divine origin and authority of the previous instructions. The third command to "Be strong and of good courage" is immediately followed by reassurance against fear and dismay, grounded in the ultimate truth: "Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." This divine presence is the ultimate guarantee against failure and the source of all true strength for the mission.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Have 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Have I not given you your orders? Take heart and be strong; have no fear and do not be troubled; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Have not I commanded thee? be strong and courageous; be not terrified nor affrighted, for with thee <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah thy God in every <FI>place<Fi> whither thou goest.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Behold I command thee, take courage, and be strong. Fear not, and be not dismayed: because the Lord thy God is with thee in all things whatsoever thou shalt go to.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Have I not commanded thee: Be strong and courageous? Be not afraid, neither be dismayed; for Jehovah thyGod is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Context
This verse serves as a powerful summary and final encouragement from God to Joshua. Coming after the detailed instructions about the land, God's presence, and adherence to the Law, it re-emphasizes the core message of courage and assures Joshua of divine companionship, providing the ultimate foundation for his confidence before Joshua begins to act.
v.8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
v.9This passage
v.10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 28:15
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
- Deuteronomy 31:7
And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage: for thou shalt go with this people into the land which Jehovah hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
- Joshua 1:6
Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
- Deuteronomy 20:1
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
- Judges 6:14
And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?
- Psalms 46:7
Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah
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