BIBLE VERSE EXPLAINED
Joshua 1:9 is God’s word of encouragement to Joshua just before he leads Israel across the Jordan. “Be strong and of a good courage” is not a call to grit your teeth. The reason for the courage is in the verse itself: the LORD is with you wherever you go.
What does Joshua 1:9 say exactly?
In the King James Version the verse reads:
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
“Of a good courage” means steady, confident, firm on the inside. It describes an attitude you set out with even when the situation is unclear – not a feeling you have to produce first.
When does God say this?
The book of Joshua opens with a break: Moses has died. For forty years he led the people, and now Joshua has to take over. Ahead of him are the Jordan, a land he doesn’t know and a responsibility far too big for one person.
That is when God speaks to him. The call to courage comes several times in the first chapter, in verses 6, 7 and 9. Just before it comes the promise everything rests on:
As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Joshua 1:5 (KJV)
So Joshua isn’t handed a slogan for a good day. He is handed a promise for a road on which he can’t rely on himself.
Why courage here comes from company
The key word in the verse is small: “for”. Joshua is not told to be brave because he is strong enough, but because he isn’t going alone. Courage is the answer to a promise, not the condition for it.
Notice what the verse doesn’t say, too. It doesn’t pretend there is nothing to fear. “Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed” assumes that fear and dismay are very real. God takes fear seriously and sets something greater against it.
- Not the point: you mustn’t be afraid, or your faith is too small.
- Not the point: with enough willpower you can do it all alone.
- The point: you can take the next step with shaking knees, because God goes with you.
What does Joshua 1:9 mean for your everyday life?
The verse was first spoken to one person in one situation. But it shows what God is like: someone who doesn’t send his people off alone. In the New Testament the same promise sounds in Jesus’ last words in Matthew’s Gospel:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Matthew 28:20 (KJV)
Your Jordan may look different: an exam, a move, a hard conversation, a new job, a fresh start after something broke. Here is how you can use the verse in moments like that:
- Name what you’re afraid of. Joshua 1:9 starts with real fear, not a polished version of it.
- Read the verse out loud and stress the “for”. The reason for your courage isn’t inside you.
- Take only the next step. Joshua didn’t have to see the whole land at once – just walk to the riverbank.
- Tell God honestly. “I’m scared, go with me” is a complete prayer.
If fear weighs on you for a long time or you don’t know how to go on, it’s okay to get help – reach out to someone you trust or a local helpline.
The lion on the back
At Source Mode we put Joshua 1:9 on the back of the Fearless Summer Hand of God Shirt: the cross on the front, the Fearless Lion with crown and God’s hand on the back, together with the verse. It’s made of 215 g/m² pre-washed single jersey in organic cotton with a relaxed fit. The hand is the real point: the lion isn’t strong on its own.
The image of the lion comes from the Bible:
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1 (KJV)
If you prefer something heavier and wider, there’s the Fearless Lion Oversized Shirt with GOD on the front and the Fearless Lion on the back, in 240 g/m² cotton. And the Fearless Summer GOD-First Cap carries GOD First and Fearless embroidered on the sides.
If you don’t just want to wear something but want to let something go, try the In God’s Hands experience: let go of what weighs on you and let yourself be held.
Frequently asked questions
What does “of a good courage” mean?
Confident and unshaken. It doesn’t describe a good mood but an inner steadiness that lets you set out despite uncertainty.
Is fear a sign of weak faith?
No. Joshua 1:9 speaks straight into a situation where fear is natural. God doesn’t scold – he promises his presence.
Can I apply the verse to myself?
It was first said to Joshua. But it shows how God deals with people, and Jesus promises his disciples the same presence in Matthew 28:20.
If something weighs on you today, take two minutes for the In God’s Hands experience.
