Joshua 1 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Joshua 1 (Old Testament)
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.
12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
Joshua 1 (Old Testament)
13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
15 Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| עֶבֶד — eved | Verse 1 — “Moses the servant of the LORD…” | “Servant,” bond-servant. | Eved (“servant”) denotes one wholly devoted to God’s service (“servant”). It expresses Moses’ unique status as God’s trusted representative. The term sets a covenantal framework for Joshua’s commission. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament |
| קֻם — qum | Verse 2 — “Arise, go over this Jordan…” | “Arise,” stand up, take action. | Qum (“to arise”) signals decisive action demanded by God (“arise”). It expresses urgency in Joshua’s transition into leadership. The term marks the beginning of the conquest movement. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament |
| נָתַתִּי — natatti | Verse 3 — “Every place… I have given you.” | “To give,” grant. | Natatti (“to give”) denotes sovereign bestowal of land (“give”). It expresses God’s unilateral covenant faithfulness. The word anchors Israel’s inheritance in divine promise, not human strength. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament |
| מְקוֹם — makom | Verse 3 — “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread…” | “Place,” location, territory. | Makom (“place”) conveys divinely assigned territory (“place”). It expresses concreteness of the land promise. The term underscores geographical scope guaranteed by God. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| גָּבוּל — gavul | Verse 4 — “From the wilderness… shall be your territory.” | “Boundary,” border. | Gavul (“boundary”) highlights legal and territorial definition (“border”). It marks the extent of the divinely sanctioned inheritance. The word emphasizes Israel’s land as God-given and God-defined. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| לֹא־יִתְיַצֵּב — lo-yityatzev | Verse 5 — “No man shall be able to stand before you…” | “To stand firm,” withstand. | Lo-Yityatzev (“to stand against”) signifies inability of enemies to resist (“stand against”). It expresses divine assurance of victory. The term reinforces God’s presence as the source of conquest success. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| חָזַק — chazak | Verse 6 — “Be strong…” | “To be strong,” courageous. | Chazak (“to be strong”) calls for boldness deriving from divine promise (“strong”). It highlights leadership rooted in faith rather than force. The word becomes a thematic anchor for the entire chapter. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| אָמַץ — amatz | Verse 6 — “…and of good courage.” | “To be resolute,” steadfast. | Amatz (“to be courageous”) portrays inward firmness (“courage”). It complements chazak by stressing moral determination. The term emphasizes spiritual strength over physical might. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| הַגָּה — hagah | Verse 8 — “This Book of the Law… you shall meditate in it…” | “To meditate,” utter, ponder. | Hagah (“to meditate”) describes deep, reflective murmuring of Scripture (“meditate”). It implies continual internalizing of God’s Word. The term links success to covenant obedience grounded in Scripture. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| הִצְלִיחַ — hitzli’ach | Verse 8 — “…then you will make your way prosperous.” | “To succeed,” cause to prosper. | Hitzli’ach (“to prosper/succeed”) reflects God-enabled flourishing (“prosper”). It emphasizes success as the fruit of obedience, not military strategy. The word concludes the charge with covenantal assurance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Alte Testament | Joshua is commissioned to lead Israel with courage, emphasizing obedience and trust in God. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, United States, 1867–1925) | The Bible and Modern Scholarship | Kent highlights the ethical responsibility of leadership and fidelity to the covenant. |
| Johann Peter Lange (University of Bonn, Germany, 1802–1884) | Commentarius in Sacram Scripturam | The text stresses moral resolve and adherence to divine commands. |
| William Robertson Smith (University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 1846–1894) | The Old Testament in the Jewish Church | Smith interprets the commissioning as both historical and theological, focusing on Israel’s national continuity. |
| Karl Budde (University of Strasbourg, France, 1850–1935) | Die Weisheit des Alten Testaments | Leadership principles are established in the context of obedience and divine guidance. |
Chapter 1
Verse: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9
Lesson: God's promises are always true and trustworthy, and He calls us to be strong and courageous in the face of fear and uncertainty. When we place our trust in Him, He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Conclusion: In the face of challenges, we must remember that God is with us and will help us to overcome. We must trust in His promises and be strong and courageous, relying on Him to guide us through whatever difficulties we may face.
Prayer Points: Thank God for His promises and for His presence with us always. Ask Him to give us strength and courage in the face of fear and uncertainty, and to guide us through any challenges we may encounter.
