Joshua 1:5 kjv

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.

Joshua 1:5 nkjv

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua 1:5 niv

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua 1:5 esv

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Joshua 1:5 nlt

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

Joshua 1 verses

Joshua 1 5 Meaning

Joshua 1:5 communicates God's profound promise of unwavering support and assured victory to Joshua, the newly appointed leader of Israel. It affirms that no adversary will succeed in standing against Joshua throughout his life, paralleling the constant divine presence and aid God provided to Moses. The core message is a double assurance: God's unfailing personal presence with Joshua ("As I was with Moses, so I will be with you") and His absolute commitment to never abandon him ("I will not leave you or forsake you"). This promise serves as the divine guarantee for Joshua's challenging mission of conquering the Promised Land.

Joshua 1 5 Context

Joshua 1:5 appears at a critical juncture in the history of Israel. Moses, the revered leader who brought the Israelites out of Egypt and led them for forty years, has died. His successor, Joshua, is tasked with the daunting responsibility of leading the vast Israelite nation into the Promised Land and conquering its powerful inhabitants. This task requires immense courage, unwavering faith, and strategic leadership. In this transitional period, with a new leader facing unprecedented challenges, God initiates this powerful commissioning. The divine promises in this verse are foundational to instilling confidence in Joshua, reassuring him, and affirming that the success of the mission rests not on his human capabilities alone, but on the continuing, active presence and power of the Almighty God who was with Moses. It sets the tone for the entire Book of Joshua, highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Joshua 1 5 Word analysis

• "No man"

  • Implies that no human, no matter how mighty or numerous, will succeed against Joshua. This includes kings, armies, or any individual adversary. It underscores the overwhelming nature of the divine assistance.

• "shall be able to stand before you"

  • Hebrew: יִתְיַצֵּב (yityatsēḇ) from the root יָצַב (yatsav), meaning 'to take one's stand, position oneself, withstand, or resist'.
  • Significance: Denotes an inability to offer effective opposition, to confront successfully in battle, or to even hold their ground. It forecasts absolute victory and the rout of all enemies. It is a declaration of invincibility under divine patronage.

• "all the days of your life"

  • Significance: This promise is not temporary or contingent upon a specific battle; it encompasses the entirety of Joshua's leadership tenure, extending as long as he lives. It speaks to the continuous nature of God's covenant loyalty and presence.

• "As I was with Moses"

  • Significance: Establishes a profound continuity between God's relationship with Moses and His relationship with Joshua. Moses was a monumental figure through whom God performed incredible miracles. This phrase guarantees Joshua the same caliber of divine presence, power, and support, reassuring both Joshua and the people of Israel that God's plan is continuous and His power undiminished. It directly echoes God's initial promise to Moses in Exodus 3:12.

• "so I will be with you"

  • Significance: A direct, personal affirmation of God's immediate and active presence for Joshua. It emphasizes divine companionship and enablement for the tasks ahead. This promise is the ultimate source of strength and courage. It resonates with the divine name "I AM" (Exodus 3:14), signifying God's self-existence and active presence.

• "I will not leave you"

  • Hebrew: אֶרְפְּךָ (erpekha), from רָפָה (rāphāh), meaning 'to relax, sink, let go, abandon, slacken one's grip'.
  • Significance: Implies that God will not let go of Joshua, cease to support him, or abandon His grip. It's a promise of active, ongoing engagement, not mere passive presence. God will not loosen His hand from guiding and strengthening Joshua.

• "or forsake you"

  • Hebrew: אֶעֶזְבֶךָּ (eʿezveka), from עָזַב (ʿāzaḇ), meaning 'to leave, abandon, desert, relinquish, leave behind completely'.
  • Significance: A stronger term than "leave," emphasizing total desertion or complete abandonment. The double negative ("not leave or forsake") emphatically underscores God's permanent, unwavering commitment and fidelity to Joshua. This robust assurance is crucial for a leader undertaking such an overwhelming task. It speaks to the steadfast and immutable character of God.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life": This entire phrase functions as an absolute guarantee of success in conflict. It means all adversaries will fail and be utterly defeated, marking God's omnipotence working through Joshua. The duration specified ("all the days of your life") reinforces the permanence of this divine protection and enablement, making it a complete assurance against any and all forms of opposition throughout his mission.
  • "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you": This crucial comparative clause links Joshua directly to Moses' unique experience of divine fellowship and power. It conveys a seamless continuation of God's favour and active involvement with His chosen leader. It mitigates any sense of inadequacy Joshua might feel in following such a revered figure by emphasizing that the same God who empowered Moses will empower him.
  • "I will not leave you or forsake you": This potent double negative clause is the bedrock of the entire promise. It speaks to God's inherent nature of steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness (emunah). It means God's presence is not just effective but also enduring and unwavering. This comprehensive pledge addresses both physical desertion and emotional abandonment, assuring Joshua of complete and continuous divine support, irrespective of challenges or personal failings (within the bounds of his covenant obedience outlined subsequently).

Joshua 1 5 Bonus section

• This verse serves as a key theological statement on the attributes of God: His unchanging nature, faithfulness, omnipresence, and omnipotence, which are consistently portrayed throughout Scripture.
• The promise "I will not leave you or forsake you" transcends Joshua's immediate context and becomes a universal principle of divine commitment to all believers, particularly evident in its direct quotation in the New Testament (Hebrews 13:5) as a source of comfort and contentment for God's people.
• The assurance of divine presence eliminates the need for fear or reliance on human strength, shifting the focus from the magnitude of the task to the greatness of the God who commands and enables it.
• The successful conquest under Joshua (recounted throughout the book) serves as historical validation and empirical evidence of the absolute truthfulness of this divine promise.

Joshua 1 5 Commentary

Joshua 1:5 stands as a profound declaration of God's faithfulness and absolute sovereignty over history. In the face of daunting challenges, God directly addresses Joshua, not with advice on strategy or military tactics, but with the foundational promise of His unwavering presence and power. The promise of "no man shall be able to stand before you" is not a testament to Joshua's personal might, but a direct consequence of God's active involvement. By drawing a parallel to His presence with Moses, God highlights His unchanging character and continuity of purpose, reassuring Joshua that the divine support crucial for past triumphs will remain constant. The powerful double negation "I will not leave you or forsake you" underscores God's unbreakable covenant fidelity. This promise is the ultimate source of Joshua's confidence and success, affirming that the ultimate victory belongs to the Lord. It teaches that when God commissions, He also equips and sustains, guaranteeing triumph not through human strength, but through His abiding presence.