Joshua 1:7 kjv
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:7 nkjv
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
Joshua 1:7 niv
"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Joshua 1:7 esv
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
Joshua 1:7 nlt
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Joshua 1 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 31:6 | Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified... | God's prior command to Joshua via Moses. |
| Deut 31:7 | Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous..." | Moses passing the divine mandate. |
| Deut 31:23 | The Lord commissioned Joshua... and said, "Be strong and courageous..." | Direct divine commissioning. |
| Josh 1:6 | Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit... | Earlier divine instruction to be courageous. |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night... | The importance of meditating on the Law. |
| Deut 5:32 | You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. | Explicit command not to deviate from the Law. |
| Deut 6:25 | And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God... | Righteousness linked to complete obedience. |
| Deut 28:13 | The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will be above only, and you will not be underneath, if you pay attention to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully... and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. | Covenant blessings for full obedience and not deviating. |
| Prov 4:27 | Do not turn to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil. | Wisdom literature's echo of not deviating. |
| Ps 1:2-3 | But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. | Prosperity linked to delighting and meditating on the Law. |
| 1 Chr 22:13 | Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous... | Solomon receives similar command concerning the Law. |
| Matt 5:17 | Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. | Jesus affirms the Law's divine origin and purpose. |
| Matt 7:24 | Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. | Wisdom and stability linked to hearing and doing. |
| Jas 1:22 | But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. | Emphasis on being a doer of God's Word. |
| Eph 6:10 | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. | New Testament concept of spiritual strength. |
| 2 Tim 2:1 | You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. | Strength found in Christ's grace. |
| Heb 4:1-2 | Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it... the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. | Faith as a necessary component for the word to profit. |
| 1 Cor 16:13 | Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. | Admonition for strength in faith. |
| Col 2:6-7 | Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith... | Firmness and steadfastness in Christ. |
| Ps 119:104-105 | From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. | God's word guides from deviation. |
| Isa 30:21 | Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. | God's guidance against turning from the path. |
| Jer 21:8 | You shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death." | Choice between ways, reinforced by deviation. |
Joshua 1 verses
Joshua 1 7 Meaning
Joshua 1:7 is a foundational divine instruction to Joshua for leading Israel into the Promised Land. It commands him to be exceptionally strong and courageous, to diligently observe and obey all of the Law given through Moses, and to never deviate from its teachings in any way. This absolute adherence to God's instruction is presented as the essential condition for achieving God-ordained success and wise action in every endeavor Joshua undertakes.
Joshua 1 7 Context
Joshua 1:7 is situated at a pivotal moment in the history of Israel. Moses, their long-time leader, has died, and God is commissioning Joshua to succeed him and lead the nation across the Jordan River into the Promised Land of Canaan. The preceding verses (Josh 1:1-6) established God's promise to Joshua and Israel concerning the land and God's unwavering presence. Verse 7, along with verse 8, forms the core of God's directive to Joshua, outlining the indispensable prerequisites for their success in this immense task. The Law (Torah) given through Moses is presented as the foundational blueprint for their national life, their worship, their conquest, and their sustained blessing within the land. Historically and culturally, Israel was about to enter a land inhabited by polytheistic peoples with practices abhorrent to God (e.g., idolatry, child sacrifice), hence the extreme emphasis on strict adherence to their God's law without any deviation to external customs or beliefs.
Joshua 1 7 Word analysis
Only: Hebrew: רַק (raq). This word emphasizes exclusivity and singularity. It sets "be strong and very courageous" as the singular, critical condition for success, linking it inextricably to strict adherence to the Law. It signals a severe warning against relying on anything else or any other strategy.
be strong: Hebrew: חֲזַק (ḥāzaq). This verb means to be firm, strengthen, bind, be powerful. It denotes inner strength, resolve, and steadfastness in the face of daunting challenges. In the Bible, it's often linked to God's enablement rather than solely human might (e.g., Psa 27:14, Hag 2:4).
and very courageous: Hebrew: וּמְאֹד וְאֻמַּצְתָּ (wəʼummatzta məʼōd).
- ʼāmaṣ (אמץ): To be strong, bold, resolute, firm. It speaks of moral fortitude, mental resilience, and not shrinking back from fear or opposition.
- məʼōd (מאד): "very" or "exceedingly." This adverb intensifies the previous verb, signifying a high degree of courage beyond ordinary resolve. It demands an extraordinary, divinely empowered boldness necessary for the leader of a nation undertaking the conquest of an entrenched enemy.
be careful to do: Hebrew: לִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת (lišmōr laʻăśōt).
- shāmar (שָׁמַר): To watch, guard, keep, observe carefully, protect. It implies diligent attention, vigilance, and strict adherence. It’s not a passive reception but an active, watchful observance.
- ʻāśâ (עָשָׂה): To do, make, perform. This is the executive action. It clarifies that merely knowing the Law is insufficient; it must be put into practice. The command is not just to observe what the Law is, but to actively perform it.
according to all the law: Hebrew: כְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה (kəḵol haTôrâ).
- Tōrâ (תּוֹרָה): Instruction, teaching, law. This refers to God's revealed will and instructions given through Moses. It is not just a collection of rules, but divine guidance for life, ethical living, and worship. It encompasses the covenant God made with Israel.
- kəḵol (כְּכָל): "According to all," "the whole." This highlights the comprehensive nature of the required obedience. There are no exceptions, no partial compliance; every aspect of the Law must be observed.
which Moses My servant commanded you: This phrase authenticates the origin and authority of the Law. It emphasizes that the Torah is not Moses’ invention but God's divine revelation communicated through His chosen mediator, Moses. Moses' "servant" status highlights his faithfulness and unique role.
do not turn from it: Hebrew: לֹא־תָסוּר מִמֶּנּוּ (lōʼ tāṣûr mimmennû).
- sûr (סוּר): To turn aside, depart, remove. This is a strong negative command against any deviation, indicating that straying from the Law would have dire consequences.
to the right or to the left: A common biblical idiom signifying any form of deviation whatsoever, no matter how small. It implies a precise, unswerving adherence to the divinely prescribed path, resisting temptations to add to or subtract from the Law, or to adopt practices from surrounding cultures. It implicitly polemicizes against syncretism or seeking guidance from sources other than God's revealed will.
so that you may have success wherever you go: Hebrew: לְמַעַן תַּשְׂכִּיל בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ (ləmaʻan taśkîl bəḵol ʼăšer tēlēḵ).
- ləmaʻan (לְמַעַן): "So that," "in order that." This introduces the intended outcome or purpose of the preceding commands.
- śāḵal (שָׂכַל): To act circumspectly, be wise, understand, prosper, have insight. This is a comprehensive term for achieving well-being and successful accomplishment according to God's definition. It implies not just material prosperity, but intelligent action, spiritual discernment, and effectiveness in one's mission—all rooted in God's wisdom. This is "covenantal success," success within the framework of God's plan and blessing (Deut 29:9).
- bəḵol ʼăšer tēlēḵ: "wherever you go," "in everything you do." This indicates the comprehensive scope of God's blessing when His conditions are met; it extends to all aspects of Joshua’s leadership and life.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Only be strong and very courageous": This foundational imperative highlights the internal disposition required. It's a divine enabling command for Joshua's spirit and will, recognizing the overwhelming task ahead (conquering Canaan). This strength is not self-derived but is rooted in God's presence and promise (Josh 1:5).
- "be careful to do according to all the law... do not turn from it to the right or to the left": This is the core of the instruction – absolute, meticulous obedience to God's revealed will. The vigilance ("be careful") and the scope ("all the law," "right or left") underscore the zero-tolerance policy for spiritual drift. It sets strict boundaries for Joshua’s conduct and leadership, preventing idolatry, injustice, or adoption of Canaanite customs.
- "so that you may have success wherever you go": This is the divinely guaranteed consequence or promise of obedience. This success is not merely human achievement or worldly fortune but is divinely engineered "success" or "wise understanding" in executing God's purposes for Israel. It’s effective, Spirit-led leadership leading to covenant blessing and victory.
Joshua 1 7 Bonus section
The injunction "be strong and very courageous" appears frequently in the transition from Moses to Joshua, emphasizing God's role in empowering His chosen leaders. It speaks to a fortitude that comes from trusting in God's promise and presence, not inherent human strength. The phrase "turning to the right or to the left" served as a crucial polemic against the surrounding Canaanite religions, which constantly tempted Israel away from monotheistic obedience. Any deviation was seen as an embracing of their practices. Furthermore, this verse establishes a deep theological link between careful adherence to God's instruction (the "doing" in verse 7) and sustained meditation on it (the "not depart from your mouth, meditate day and night" in verse 8). The practice of meditation leads to the insight and discernment necessary for vigilant obedience and true success in fulfilling God’s calling. This pattern (hear, meditate, obey, prosper) is central to biblical wisdom.
Joshua 1 7 Commentary
Joshua 1:7 encapsulates the vital components for divine success in God's service. It is not enough to have a divine calling (Josh 1:2-5); one must also cultivate the internal fortitude ("be strong and very courageous") and demonstrate external faithfulness through diligent obedience. The repeated emphasis on courage indicates that fear and discouragement were real temptations for Joshua facing such an immense challenge. Yet, this courage is not recklessness but a God-given confidence anchored in His presence and His unchanging Word. The command to obey "all the Law" without "turning to the right or to the left" stresses that God's plan requires comprehensive submission; partial obedience is still disobedience. This absolute fidelity prevents syncretism with worldly values or humanistic wisdom that deviates from God’s perfect will. The promised "success" (śāḵal) is not merely material gain but wise action, understanding, and achieving God’s purpose, which for Joshua meant leading Israel to conquer and inherit the Promised Land according to God's will. For believers today, this means walking wisely in Christ, allowing God’s Word (the Bible) to be the singular and unwavering guide for life and mission, ensuring spiritual fruitfulness and alignment with God's Kingdom purposes.
- Practical Examples:
- A student preparing for exams relying not just on study methods but also on ethical study habits and God-given diligence.
- A church leader making difficult decisions based strictly on biblical principles rather than popular opinion or pragmatic concerns.
- An individual seeking guidance for life decisions, meticulously studying God's Word for principles instead of merely following human traditions or desires.