Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Bible Verses. Also called Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Deut. 31:6–8, Be strong and of a good courage.
6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
Deuteronomy 31:6–8 records the words of encouragement Moses spoke shortly before his death to the people of Israel and to his successor Joshua, urging them to "be strong and of a good courage" and assuring them that God would not fail them nor forsake them. The passage is frequently cited at changes of leadership and at new beginnings.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
Chapter 31 of Deuteronomy deals with the final period of Moses' life. Moses states that he is one hundred and twenty years old and that he will not cross the Jordan (Deuteronomy 31:2). He then declares that God will go over before the people and destroy the nations of Canaan (Deuteronomy 31:3–5). Verse 6 belongs to this sequence as an exhortation addressed to the whole people. Although some translations, such as the Korean Revised Version, render the address in the singular, the imperatives in the Hebrew original are plural, so verse 6 is read as spoken to the people as a whole. In verses 7–8, Moses calls Joshua and repeats the same words "in the sight of all Israel," charging him to lead the people into the land that the LORD swore unto their fathers. The scene is a public transfer of leadership, and God Himself later gives Joshua the same charge (Deuteronomy 31:23).
Interpretation
- Historical and contextual reading: The passage is a promise given to Israel on the eve of the conquest of Canaan. The courage it calls for is not personal self-confidence; it rests on God's presence: "the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee." The promise is grounded in the covenant made with the patriarchs.
- Reading as leadership succession: The transition from Moses to Joshua is read as an illustration that, even when leaders change, it is God who leads His people. This theme is taken up again in chapter 1 of Joshua.
- New Testament application: Hebrews 13:5–6 quotes the promise, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews uses this promise as the reason Christians should be free from the love of money and content with what they have. On this basis, many interpreters hold that the promise may also be applied to believers today.
Questions Concerning Application
There is little denominational controversy over this passage. Interpreters differ in emphasis, however, on how far a promise given to Israel and to Joshua may be applied to individuals. Some argue that the specific promise of conquering the land should be distinguished from the general promise of God's presence. In addition, voices critical of prosperity theology have objected to citing the passage together with the theme of "prosperity" as though it guaranteed worldly success.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, the phrase "be strong and of a good courage" is widely used, together with Joshua 1. It is frequently cited on occasions marking new beginnings or succession to office, such as the first sermon of the new year, ordination and installation services, and services marking the departure and installation of senior pastors.
Related Passages
See also 8
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