Deuteronomy 1:38 means that Moses will not enter the promised land, but Joshua, his assistant, will go in and lead Israel to possess it. The verse also carries an instruction: the people are to encourage Joshua so he can do the work God has given him. Moses speaks these words to the new generation of Israelites gathered on the plains east of the Jordan River, shortly before they cross over.
Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38 (WEB)
What Deuteronomy 1:38 Means
The verse opens by naming Joshua, the son of Nun, and pointing to him as he stands among the people. That detail matters. Moses is not describing a distant future leader. He is telling the assembly that the man already beside them will be the one to step into the land. The phrase “shall go in there” points to a clear, specific outcome: Joshua will personally enter the territory that God had promised.
The second sentence shifts from Joshua to the community. “Encourage him” is a direct command. Moses knew that leadership is heavy, and that Joshua would need the people’s confidence and support, not only the title. The final clause gives the reason for the encouragement: Joshua “shall cause Israel to inherit it.” Joshua is the instrument through whom God’s promise to Israel moves forward.
What the verse does not do is offer a general promise that every leader will succeed or that every task will be easy. It speaks to one man, one assignment, and one community’s responsibility to support him. It also does not tell us how Joshua will overcome the obstacles ahead. Those details come later in the book that bears his name.
The Context of Deuteronomy 1:38
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Torah and is traditionally attributed to Moses. It consists largely of speeches he gives to Israel on the plains of Moab as they prepare to enter Canaan. The original audience is the generation that grew up in the wilderness, since the adults who left Egypt had died after refusing to enter the land at Kadesh Barnea. Moses is retelling the story so this new generation understands both God’s faithfulness and the consequences of unbelief.
The verses just before this one, in 35 through 37, explain that the wilderness generation will not see the good land and that Moses himself is also barred from entering because of the people’s failure. Caleb is singled out as a faithful exception. Verse 38 then names Joshua as the replacement leader. Verse 39 extends the promise to the children, and verse 40 sends the people back toward the wilderness. Read in this setting, Joshua’s appointment is an act of mercy inside a sober story of judgment, and it shows that God continues to keep his word even when the first generation falls short.
Key Phrases in Deuteronomy 1:38
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 where Deuteronomy leaves off, with God commanding Joshua to be strong and courageous as he leads Israel into the land. It shows the divine word behind the human encouragement that Moses calls for and reveals that God himself is the source of Joshua’s strength.
Deuteronomy 31:7
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.
(WEB)
Written as Moses is about to die, this verse gives the same charge to Joshua in person before the whole nation. Reading it alongside 1:38 shows how Moses repeatedly prepared the people and their new leader for the transition, and how consistently he pointed them to God’s presence.
A Short Prayer From Deuteronomy 1:38
Lord, you are the one who sets leaders in place and who keeps your promises across the generations. Thank you that you did not abandon your people when they failed, and that you raised up someone to carry the work forward. Help me to be an encourager to those you have placed in front of me, to speak courage and not doubt, and to trust that you are faithful to bring about what you have promised. Amen.
