Deuteronomy 31:6-8 is Moses’ final charge to Israel and to Joshua, his successor, as the people stand on the edge of the promised land. Its core message is that courage rests not on Israel’s strength but on the presence of God, who goes ahead of them and will never abandon them.
These words come near the end of Moses’ life, after forty years in the wilderness. The people are about to cross the Jordan River into Canaan, where they will face established nations. Moses is not able to go with them, so he speaks to them and then commissions Joshua in front of everyone.
6 Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.” 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.”
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 (WEB)
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Summary
Moses begins by telling the people to be strong and courageous and not to fear the nations they will face. His reason is not their own ability but the fact that the LORD their God is the one who goes with them. He will not fail them or forsake them.
Then Moses turns to Joshua in full view of all Israel and repeats the same charge, adding that Joshua will lead the people into the land God promised their ancestors. The passage ends with the same assurance restated: the LORD goes before Joshua, will be with him, and will not fail or forsake him. The command is repeated twice, and each time it rests on God’s presence.
Context of Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Deuteronomy is presented as the words Moses spoke to Israel on the plains of Moab before they entered Canaan. Tradition attributes the book to Moses, and it is framed as a series of speeches that recall the law, the wilderness journey, and the covenant. Its first audience is the generation that grew up after the exodus, and it prepares them to live faithfully in a land they have not yet seen.
The verses just before this passage (Deuteronomy 31:3-5) explain that the LORD himself will clear the way and that Joshua will lead, so the charge in verses 6-8 is a direct response to that promise. The verses that follow describe Moses writing the law and commanding its public reading every seven years. The passage thus sits between a promise of God’s action and a call to keep God’s word before the people.
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Verse by Verse
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)
Joshua receives this charge directly after Moses’ death. It repeats the call to be strong and courageous and grounds it again in the LORD’s presence, showing how the promise made to Joshua in Deuteronomy carries forward into his leadership of Israel.
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
(WEB)
Isaiah speaks to a people facing uncertainty and tells them not to fear because God is with them. The promise of strength and help echoes the assurance in Deuteronomy that God’s presence is the basis for courage.
A Prayer Based on Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Lord, you are the one who goes before me into every unfamiliar place. When I look at what lies ahead and feel my courage slipping, help me remember that you have not promised me my own strength but your presence. Keep me from fear and discouragement, and steady my heart where I feel least able.
Thank you that you will not fail me or forsake me. Let that truth shape the way I walk into tomorrow, and help me trust that you are already there. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is speaking in Deuteronomy 31:6-8?
Moses is speaking first to the whole people of Israel, and then directly to Joshua in front of them. He is near the end of his life and about to be succeeded in leadership.
Why does Moses tell Israel not to be afraid?
The people are about to enter the land and face nations already living there. Moses grounds his command in God’s presence, so their courage rests on God’s faithfulness rather than their own ability.
What does it mean that the LORD will not fail or forsake them?
It means God will remain faithful and will not abandon his people in the challenge ahead. The promise is about God’s steady commitment to be with them throughout the journey.
