Joshua 1:9 in Context
Joshua 1:9 read in its full chapter context. See the verses before and after, plus historical setting and flow of thought.
"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."
— Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
Where This Verse Sits
Joshua 1:9 appears in Joshua chapter 1, verse 9. God spoke these words to Joshua around 1406 BC, immediately after Moses' death. Joshua faced the enormous task of leading two million Israelites across the Jordan River into Canaan, a land fortified by warlike nations. He had already scouted the land 40 years earlier and seen both its promise and its formidable inhabitants.
The Verse Itself
"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."
— Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
Flow of the Passage
To grasp Joshua 1:9 fully, read it inside the surrounding paragraph. The verses before set up the argument, and the verses after show its outworking. Joshua 1 as a whole carries forward the theme of courage, and this single verse is one beat in that larger movement.
God spoke these words to Joshua as he prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land after Moses' death. The command to be courageous is grounded in God's constant presence.
Cross-References
Download the Complete KJV Bible — Free PDF
All 66 books, 1,189 chapters — printable and ready to read offline.