Deuteronomy 1:38 kjv
But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38 nkjv
Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38 niv
But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38 esv
Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38 nlt
Instead, your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will lead the people into the land. Encourage him, for he will lead Israel as they take possession of it.
Deuteronomy 1 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:18-23 | "...take Joshua the son of Nun... lay your hand on him... appoint him." | God commissions Joshua publicly. |
| Deut 3:28 | "But charge Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him..." | God commands Moses to encourage Joshua. |
| Deut 31:7-8 | "Moses summoned Joshua... 'The Lord will go before you.'" | Moses publicly charges Joshua. |
| Josh 1:1-9 | "Moses My servant is dead... Joshua, My servant... I will be with you..." | God personally charges Joshua, promises His presence. |
| Exod 17:8-16 | "...Moses said to Joshua, 'Choose for us men... fight with Amalek.'" | Joshua's early military leadership and obedience. |
| Exod 33:11 | "...his attendant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man..." | Joshua as Moses' dedicated servant. |
| Gen 12:7 | "...To your offspring I will give this land." | God's initial promise of land to Abram. |
| Gen 13:15 | "...all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring..." | Promise of land reiterated as an eternal possession. |
| Gen 15:18 | "On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying..." | Formal covenant regarding the land boundaries. |
| Num 14:31 | "...your little ones... I will bring them in, and they shall know the land." | God confirms the next generation will inherit. |
| Deut 1:39 | "...your little ones, who you said would become a prey... they will enter." | Reiteration of God bringing the children into the land. |
| Deut 9:5 | "...not because of your righteousness... but that he may fulfill the word." | Inheritance is by God's faithfulness to covenant, not Israel's merit. |
| Josh 11:23 | "So Joshua took the whole land... and Joshua gave it for an inheritance." | Fulfillment of the promise to inherit and possess the land. |
| Neh 9:15 | "...and you gave them the land that you swore to give them." | Acknowledgment of God's faithful provision of the land. |
| Isa 35:3-4 | "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees." | Prophetic call to encourage those who are faint-hearted. |
| 1 Thess 5:11 | "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." | New Testament command to mutually encourage. |
| Heb 3:13 | "But exhort one another every day... that none of you may be hardened..." | Continual mutual encouragement in the faith. |
| Heb 12:12 | "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees..." | Encouragement to endure in faith, spiritual strengthening. |
| Gen 26:3 | "...I will be with you and will bless you..." | God's promise of presence and blessing to Isaac. |
| Exod 3:12 | "...I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you..." | God's promise of presence to Moses. |
| Deut 20:4 | "For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you..." | God's active presence in battle. |
| Num 20:12 | "...you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of..." | Reason for Moses' exclusion from the land. |
| Deut 3:23-27 | "...let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan..." | Moses' plea to enter the land, which was denied. |
| Heb 4:8-10 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of..." | Typological connection of Joshua to Christ as the giver of true rest. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading..." | Believers' spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
Deuteronomy 1 verses
Deuteronomy 1 38 Meaning
This verse highlights God's definitive appointment of Joshua, son of Nun, as Moses' divinely chosen successor. It explicitly states that Joshua, who has served Moses, will be the one to lead Israel into the Promised Land. The verse also issues a command to Moses to encourage and strengthen Joshua for this monumental task, clarifying that Joshua is God's instrument through whom Israel will possess their promised inheritance, despite the preceding generation's rebellion and Moses' own inability to enter.
Deuteronomy 1 38 Context
Deuteronomy 1 marks the beginning of Moses' significant valedictory address to the new generation of Israelites, assembled on the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan River from the Promised Land. This generation stands ready to enter Canaan, unlike their parents who perished in the wilderness due to disobedience. Moses recounts their forty-year wilderness journey, beginning with the command to leave Horeb (Sinai) and enter the land, and recounting the disastrous rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea. Within this retelling, Moses explains God's judgment that prevented the rebellious generation, and even Moses himself (due to his own sin at Meribah), from entering the land (Deut 1:37). In contrast to this divine judgment, Deuteronomy 1:38 presents God's direct, merciful provision of Joshua as the new leader, ensuring that the covenant promise of inheritance will indeed be fulfilled through him. This sets the stage for the crucial leadership transition from Moses to Joshua.
Deuteronomy 1 38 Word analysis
- Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua): A deeply significant name, meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." It identifies him as God's chosen instrument to lead Israel to their deliverance and possession of the land. The name itself anticipates the greater fulfillment in Yeshua (Jesus), who brings eternal salvation and leads believers into their heavenly inheritance.
- son of Nun: This clear paternal identification establishes Joshua's lineage and rightful identity within the Israelite community, vital for recognition of his authority and legitimacy.
- who stands before you: Implies Joshua's long-standing, active role as Moses' assistant and faithful servant, highlighting his visible presence and experience in leadership before the people (e.g., Exod 24:13; 33:11). It shows he is a known and prepared figure for this transition.
- he shall enter there: "There" unequivocally refers to the Promised Land. This is a definitive statement of divine decree, indicating God's unchangeable plan for Joshua, contrasting starkly with Moses' exclusion. It underscores the certainty of God's word and the specific path of its fulfillment.
- encourage him (חַזְּקֵהוּ, hazak-kehu): Literally meaning "strengthen him," "make him strong." This is a divine command to Moses, implying the need for not just verbal affirmation but commissioning, fortifying, and preparing Joshua mentally and spiritually for the immense and challenging task of leading Israel in conquest and settlement. This command echoes the later divine charge directly to Joshua himself.
- for he will cause Israel to inherit it: This explains the divine purpose behind Joshua's appointment and the command to encourage him. "Inherit" (נָחַל, nachal) denotes possessing or receiving as a lasting gift or portion, specifically through God's distribution of the land. It firmly links Joshua to the fulfillment of the ancestral covenant promise of the land, asserting that he is God's chosen means to achieve this divine end.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you": This phrase precisely identifies the chosen successor by name, lineage, and current role, signifying that God's choice is known, prepared, and publicly acknowledged among the people, making the leadership transition orderly and divinely ordained.
- "he shall enter there": This short, declarative statement emphasizes the absolute certainty of God's plan concerning the land's entry. Despite the failure of the previous generation and Moses' exclusion, God's promise will be fulfilled through Joshua, demonstrating divine sovereignty and faithfulness.
- "encourage him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it": This forms a complete command and its divine justification. The call for encouragement underscores the monumental nature of Joshua's task and the importance of supporting God-appointed leadership, as Joshua's success in leading the nation to possess its promised inheritance is directly linked to divine enablement and human affirmation.
Deuteronomy 1 38 Bonus section
This verse reinforces the principle of divine sovereignty in appointing leadership. It underscores that God does not abandon His purposes due to human failure, but faithfully raises up new leaders to continue His work. The act of "encouraging" is not merely emotional support, but an affirmation of divine authority and a strengthening for the difficult mission ahead. Joshua's appointment directly counters any idea that the future of Israel was in doubt or dependent solely on Moses; instead, it affirmed God's continuous and active involvement in their destiny. This leadership transition from Moses (Law) to Joshua (Entry/Inheritance) also presents a significant theological type, pointing to the shift from the old covenant to the new, where Christ (the ultimate "Joshua") leads His people into their spiritual inheritance and true rest.
Deuteronomy 1 38 Commentary
Deuteronomy 1:38 serves as a pivotal statement regarding leadership succession and God's covenant faithfulness. Following the tragic account of Israel's rebellion and God's judgment, which included Moses' exclusion from the Promised Land, this verse reveals God's gracious provision of Joshua as the chosen one to lead the people forward. The naming of Joshua ("Yahweh is salvation") itself is prophetic, aligning his person with God's redemptive work. The instruction to "encourage him" highlights the significant responsibility placed on Joshua's shoulders and underscores the necessity of divine empowerment and communal support for those in leadership, emphasizing that God's chosen instruments must be upheld for the successful execution of His plans. Through Joshua, the long-standing divine promise of inheritance of the land would finally be realized, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant.