Deuteronomy 31:6 Explained
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." — Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)
Deuteronomy 31:6 is Moses' farewell charge to Israel — courage grounded not in their strength but in God's unfailing presence.
Read it in context: The Book of Deuteronomy. Also gathered under verses about anxiety.
Deuteronomy 31:6 in context
What does Deuteronomy 31:6 mean?
The command ('be strong, be courageous, fear not') rests entirely on the reason ('for the LORD thy God... go with thee'). Courage in Scripture is never self-generated bravado; it is the reasonable response to God's presence. 'He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee' is the promise Hebrews later applies to every believer.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 31:6?
Moses is about to die; Israel is about to enter Canaan without him. He gathers them and Joshua and gives this charge. The same words echo through Joshua 1 and are quoted in Hebrews 13:5 — a thread of courage running through Scripture.
How do I pray Deuteronomy 31:6?
Pray this facing something daunting. Read it twice: once for the command, once for the reason. Say: 'You go with me; you will not fail me.' Let the promise do the work the command alone cannot.
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