Deuteronomy 31:6-8 is Moses’ final charge to Israel and to his successor Joshua, telling them to be strong and courageous as they enter the promised land. The reason they can be brave is not their own strength but the fact that the LORD goes ahead of them and will never leave them.
These words come near the end of Moses’ life, on the plains of Moab just east of the Jordan River. Israel has wandered for forty years, and now a new generation stands ready to cross into Canaan, a land occupied by nations far stronger in their own eyes than the desert people they have just left behind.
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 speaks first to the whole nation, urging them not to fear the peoples ahead of them, because the LORD their God is the one walking with them. He promises that God will not fail them or abandon them. The command is repeated and aimed at the nation as a whole.
Then Moses turns to Joshua in front of all Israel and gives him the same charge: be strong and courageous. Joshua will lead the people in, and he is to know that the Lord himself goes before him. The passage closes by pressing the same promise and command home: do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.
Context of Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Deuteronomy presents itself as a series of addresses Moses gave to Israel before his death, and it is traditionally attributed to him. Its original audience is the generation that was born in the wilderness and is about to receive the land God swore to their ancestors. The book repeatedly calls them to remember the covenant and to live faithfully once they are settled.
Verses 3-5 set up the situation by declaring that the LORD will drive out these nations just as he defeated Sihon and Og earlier. Verses 9-11 move forward in the narrative, when Moses commands that the law be read aloud every seven years. Verses 6-8 sit between these two movements as the emotional and spiritual center: the people are told that victory depends on God’s presence, not on their numbers or skill.
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 echoes Moses’ charge and shows Joshua receiving it directly from God after Moses’ death. The same call to be strong and courageous is repeated, now with the promise that the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
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 later generation facing a different threat, but the heart of the message is the same. Fear is answered by God’s presence and his promise to strengthen and help his people.
A Prayer Based on Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Lord, you are the one who goes before me into every unfamiliar place. When I feel afraid of what is ahead, help me remember that you have not left me and will not fail me. Give me the strength to take the next step, even when my hands are shaking and my plans feel thin.
Steady my heart when discouragement settles in. Let the sure knowledge of your presence be stronger than my fear, and help me trust that you are already at work in the places I cannot yet see. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is speaking in Deuteronomy 31:6-8?
Moses is speaking, first to the whole nation of Israel and then directly to Joshua in front of all the people. He is near the end of his life and about to die before the people enter the promised land.
Why does the passage repeat “be strong and courageous”?
The repetition emphasizes how essential courage is for the task ahead, both for the nation and for their new leader. It also reinforces that this courage rests on the LORD’s presence rather than on the people’s own abilities.
Does this promise mean God will make life easy for believers?
The passage speaks of God’s presence and faithfulness, not of an absence of difficulty. Israel still faced real battles, and the promise is that God stays with his people through them rather than that the battles will disappear.
