Deuteronomy 31:6-8 is Moses’ final charge to Israel and to Joshua, his successor, just before the people enter the Promised Land. Its core message is that God himself goes ahead of His people, so they can be strong and courageous instead of afraid, because He will never fail or forsake them.
Moses speaks these words near the end of his life, on the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Canaan. Israel has wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and now a new generation stands ready to cross into a land occupied by other nations. The fear is understandable, and Moses addresses it directly.
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 first speaks to the whole nation, telling them to be strong and not to dread the peoples they will face. His reason is not their own military strength but the presence of the LORD their God, who goes with them and will not abandon them. The courage he calls for rests entirely on God’s character and promise.
Then Moses turns to Joshua in front of all Israel and gives him the same charge personally. Joshua is commissioned to lead the people into the land, and the passage closes by repeating the assurance that the LORD goes before them, will be with them, and will neither fail nor forsake them. The repetition drives home that the leader and the people share the same divine promise.
Context of Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Deuteronomy is presented as the speeches of Moses to Israel as they prepare to enter Canaan, and tradition has long credited Moses with its authorship. Its original audience is the second generation of the Exodus, the people who were children when the first generation refused to enter the land and were sentenced to die in the wilderness. Chapter 31 marks the moment of handover from Moses to Joshua.
The verses just before and after this passage fill in the picture. Verses 3 through 5 explain that the LORD will drive out the nations ahead of them, and Joshua will lead the crossing. Verses 9 through 11 show Moses writing the law and charging the priests to read it aloud every seven years, so the promise and the covenant stay in the people’s hearing.
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)
This verse picks up Moses’ charge to Joshua and repeats the command to be strong and courageous, adding that the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. It shows how the commission given at the end of Deuteronomy becomes the opening word of Joshua’s own story.
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 overwhelming threats, reminding them not to fear because God is with them and will strengthen and uphold them. The language of divine presence as the source of courage echoes the logic of Deuteronomy 31:6-8 centuries later.
A Prayer Based on Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Lord, you have said that you go before me and that you will not fail or forsake me. I bring you the things I am afraid of today, the decisions I am unsure about, and the people I feel responsible for. Help me to name my fears honestly and not hide them from you. Make me strong and courageous, not because I trust my own ability, but because I trust your presence with me in every step. Go before me into this day, and let me rest in your faithfulness. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main point of Deuteronomy 31:6-8?
The main point is that God Himself goes before His people and will never fail or abandon them. Because of that promise, they can face difficult challenges with courage rather than fear. The passage grounds courage in God’s faithfulness, not in human strength.
Who is speaking in Deuteronomy 31:6-8?
Moses speaks in the first part of the passage, addressing all of Israel, and then turns to Joshua and charges him in front of the people. The speech takes place just before Israel enters the Promised Land. Moses is at the end of his life and passing leadership to Joshua.
How can I apply Deuteronomy 31:6-8 when I feel afraid?
Start by naming your fear honestly before God rather than pretending it is absent. Then remember the promise that the LORD goes with you and will not forsake you. Take the next faithful step in front of you, trusting that His presence is enough for it.
