Deuteronomy 1:38 tells Israel that Joshua, Moses’ assistant, will be the one to lead the people into the Promised Land, and that the people should encourage him in that role. Moses is speaking to the new generation of Israelites just before they enter Canaan, and he is reminding them why the older generation was not allowed to go in. The verse is spoken by Moses to the people of Israel as he recounts their history on the plains of Moab.
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 phrase “Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you” points to Joshua as a man already present and already serving among the people. He is not a stranger being appointed from outside. Moses is naming someone the people can see and know, which makes the promise concrete. Joshua is the one who will “go in there,” meaning he will cross the Jordan and enter the land that God had promised to the ancestors.
The second part of the verse asks the people to “encourage him,” a word that means to strengthen or give courage. Moses wants the community to support Joshua’s leadership, not merely tolerate it. The verse then explains the reason: Joshua “shall cause Israel to inherit it.” The verse does not promise that every individual will have an easy journey or that Joshua himself will be free of trouble. It states that God’s purpose for the land will be carried forward through this leader.
The Context of Deuteronomy 1:38
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Torah, presented as a series of speeches Moses gave to Israel near the end of his life. Tradition attributes the book to Moses, though many scholars see later editing. Its first audience was the generation who had grown up in the wilderness, standing on the border of the land their parents had refused to enter decades earlier after the spies brought back a discouraging report.
Just before verse 38, Moses explains that the older generation, except for Caleb, would not see the land because of their unbelief and rebellion. Verse 37 adds that the LORD was angry with Moses too, because of the people’s conduct. Right after verse 38, God promises that the children, the “little ones,” will enter the land. Read in this sequence, Joshua’s commissioning is a sign of continuity: the same God who judged one generation is now preparing the next to receive the promise, with Joshua as the bridge between them.
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 the same theme of courage and leadership in Joshua’s own story. God commands him to be strong and courageous as he takes up Moses’ role, and it shows the divine support behind the encouragement Moses called for in Deuteronomy.
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)
Here Moses publicly commissions Joshua shortly before his death, speaking words of strength to him in front of all Israel. It shows the earlier call to encourage Joshua being carried out in a formal and personal way.
A Short Prayer From Deuteronomy 1:38
Lord, thank you for the leaders you place among your people and for the faithful service that often goes unnoticed. Help me to see the people around me who are carrying responsibility, and give me a willing heart to encourage them with honest words and steady support. When I feel uncertain about the path ahead, remind me that your promises do not depend on my understanding every step. Help me to trust your faithfulness and to keep moving forward with courage. Amen.
