Joshua 1:6
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Having promised Joshua His presence and victory over every enemy, God now commissions him to lead Israel into Canaan. The repeated charge to be strong and courageous frames the entire conquest, reminding Joshua that the land is a sworn inheritance, not a doubtful conquest.
What Does Joshua 1:6 Mean?
Joshua 1:6 issues the call that defines Joshua's leadership: "Be strong and of a good courage." This command is not a demand to manufacture bravery from within; it rests on a reason God immediately supplies -- Joshua will lead the people to inherit the very land God swore to give their fathers. The courage God commands is anchored in God's promise, not in Joshua's circumstances. The conquest of Canaan would be a long, demanding campaign against well-defended cities, and any leader might be tempted to shrink back. So God grounds Joshua's strength in two certainties: the inheritance is already promised, and God Himself swore the oath. Because the outcome rests on God's faithfulness, Joshua can move forward boldly. The phrase "be strong and of a good courage" recurs through this chapter like a drumbeat (vv. 6, 7, 9), underscoring how central courage is to Joshua's calling -- and how much God knows the human heart is prone to fear. Significantly, the courage commanded is courage to obey and to lead, to take hold of what God has already given. It is faith expressed in action.
Biblical courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to trust and act on God's word despite fear. God does not promise Joshua an easy path; He promises a sure outcome and His own presence along the way. That is enough. The believer is likewise called to be strong, not by self-confidence, but by confidence in God's promises. When God calls us to a task, He also secures the end. Our part is to take courage and move forward in obedience, trusting that the One who swore the promise will keep it. Fear loses its grip when our eyes move from the size of the obstacle to the faithfulness of God.
In the Original Language
The Hebrew 'chazaq' (be strong) means to be firm, resolute, and to take hold, while 'amats' (be of good courage) means to be bold and steadfast -- together a call to firm, fearless resolve.
Cross References
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.”
- Joshua 1:9
“Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them.”
- Deuteronomy 31:23
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Application
When God calls you to a hard but God-given task, take courage from His promise rather than your circumstances. Move forward in bold obedience, trusting that the One who calls you also secures the outcome, so that fear gives way to faith expressed in action.