Deuteronomy 3:28 is Moses giving a final charge to Joshua. Moses will not enter the promised land himself, so God tells him to appoint Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, because Joshua will lead the people across the Jordan and into the land. The verse was spoken by Moses to the Israelites on the eastern side of the Jordan, and it is recorded as part of his farewell addresses in the book of Deuteronomy.
But commission Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.”
Deuteronomy 3:28 (WEB)
What Deuteronomy 3:28 Means
The verse begins with “commission Joshua.” To commission someone is to give them a formal task and the authority to carry it out. Moses is not simply recommending Joshua. He is handing over responsibility for the next stage of the journey, and he is doing it publicly so the people will follow Joshua’s lead.
Next come “encourage him, and strengthen him.” These words are about more than a job title. Joshua will face a hostile land, large enemies, and a people who have grumbled for years. Moses asks that Joshua be built up in courage and in resolve, so that he does not shrink from what lies ahead. The verse shows that God’s plan does not depend on one leader alone, and that leaders need support as much as they need instructions.
The verse also promises something specific: Joshua “shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land.” It does not promise an easy crossing or guaranteed success in every battle. It states that the land will be given through Joshua’s leadership, which is a statement about God’s faithfulness to the nation’s future rather than a promise of comfort for any individual reader.
The Context of Deuteronomy 3:28
Deuteronomy is presented as the words Moses spoke to Israel in the plains of Moab just before they entered Canaan. Traditionally Moses is named as its author, and its audience is the new generation who were children when their parents rebelled in the wilderness. Chapter 3 records Israel’s earlier victories over the kings Sihon and Og east of the Jordan, and it is in that setting that Moses recounts his own request to enter the land.
Just before verse 28, Moses says he begged to see the good land, and the LORD refused, telling him to stop asking. Verse 27 tells him to climb Pisgah and look across. Verse 28 turns from Moses’ loss to the people’s future, which is why the verse reads as a handover rather than a rebuke. Moses is still a leader, and he uses his last moments of influence to prepare the nation for what comes next.
Key Phrases in Deuteronomy 3:28
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 charge after Moses dies. God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous and promises to be with him wherever he goes. It shows how the encouragement Moses spoke becomes the Lord’s own word to Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8
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. 8 The LORD himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”
(WEB)
Here Moses speaks to Joshua in front of all Israel, telling him to be strong and not fear, because the Lord goes before him. It echoes the idea of Joshua going ahead of the people and shows the same commissioning in fuller form.
A Short Prayer From Deuteronomy 3:28
Lord, thank you that you raise up leaders and then strengthen them for the work you give. When I am called to step into a role I did not expect, help me trust that you go before me. Give me courage when I feel small, and surround me with people who encourage me in your name. Help me also to encourage others who carry responsibility, so that they can go forward with confidence in you. Amen.
