Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be Strong and of a Good Courage

Deuteronomy 31:6 is Moses' parting exhortation to Israel on the plains of Moab as the nation prepares to cross the Jordan into Canaan. The KJV reads: "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." Two Hebrew verbs drive the command: chazaq ("be strong") denotes firmness, resolve, and seizing hold, and amats ("be of good courage") means to be alert, steadfast, and determined. The combined phrase chazaq ve'amats becomes a refrain throughout Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1, transferring covenant responsibility from Moses to Joshua and the nation. "Fail" renders raphah ("to sink down, let drop") and "forsake" translates azab ("to abandon, leave behind"). The negation is emphatic: God will neither release His grip nor walk away. Historically, Moses is 120 years old, barred from entering the land (Deuteronomy 3:27), yet he insists that the victory does not depend on his presence but on YHWH's. The verse is cited in Hebrews 13:5 as a foundation for contentment and freedom from the love of money, proving its enduring covenant force for the New Testament church.

Chapter Context

Deuteronomy 31 opens the final section of Moses' ministry. Having completed his great sermons (chapters 1-30), Moses now addresses succession. Verses 1-2 announce that he can no longer lead Israel and that the Lord has said he will not cross the Jordan. Verses 3-5 assure the nation that the Lord Himself will cross before them, destroy the nations, and give them the land. Verse 6 addresses all Israel; verses 7-8 repeat the charge specifically to Joshua in the sight of the people. The chapter continues with the writing and depositing of the law, a command for public reading every seven years, and warnings about future apostasy. Verse 6 therefore sits at the transition point between Moses and Joshua, grounding national confidence in God's presence rather than human leadership.

How to Apply This Verse

1. Root courage in God's presence, not circumstances. The command to be strong is not a call to self-generated optimism but a response to the fact that God Himself goes ahead. When facing unknown terrain at work, home, or in ministry, rehearse who is with you before calculating what is against you.
2. Lead transitions with this promise. Whether handing off a role, mentoring a successor, or sending a child into a new season, pass on the same charge Moses gave Joshua. Emphasize the constancy of God rather than the indispensability of any human leader.
3. Pair the verse with Hebrews 13:5 for financial anxiety. The New Testament applies this promise to contentment and freedom from covetousness. When tempted to define security by bank balance, recall that the One who will never leave nor forsake you is Himself the guarantee of provision.