Deuteronomy 31:1-8 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 31:1-8 Commentary: Moses' Farewell
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Moses' final charge to Israel and Joshua: God's presence, the call to courage, and the transfer of leadership in Deuteronomy 31:1-8.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Moses' final public charge before his death, transferring leadership to Joshua and grounding courage in God's faithful presence.
- Key words: “Be strong and courageous” (חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ, chizku v'imtzu); “He will not fail you nor forsake you” (לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ).
- Main debate: The meaning of “Moses went” (וַיֵּלֶךְ), whether he physically moved or the phrase idiomatically signals a new address (so Keil, Lange).
- Theological theme: God's presence alone secures Israel's future; human leaders are servants of that greater reality.
- Best use: A foundation text for commissioning services, sermons on transition, and pastoral encouragement in times of uncertainty.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel,
2he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’
3The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said.
4And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, when He destroyed them along with their land.
5The LORD will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you.
6Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
7Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance.
8The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
1Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
2He said to them, “I am one hundred twenty years old today. I can no more go out and come in. Yahweh has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’
3Yahweh your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua will go over before you, as Yahweh has spoken.
4Yahweh will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them.
5Yahweh will deliver them up before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandment which I have commanded you.
6Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”
7Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which Yahweh has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it.
8Yahweh himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”
KJV King James Version 1769
1And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.
2And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
3The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.
4And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.
5And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.
6Be 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.
7And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
8And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.
2And he said unto them, I am a hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: and Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
3Jehovah thy God, he will go over before thee; he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt dispossess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as Jehovah hath spoken.
4And Jehovah will do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and unto their land; whom he destroyed.
5And Jehovah will deliver them up before you, and ye shall do unto them according unto all the commandment which I have commanded you.
6Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them: for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
7And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage: for thou shalt go with this people into the land which Jehovah hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
8And Jehovah, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And Moses goeth and speaketh these words unto all Israel,
2and he saith unto them, `A son of a hundred and twenty years am I to-day; I am not able any more to go out and to come in, and Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou dost not pass over this Jordan,
3`Jehovah thy God He is passing over before thee, He doth destroy these nations from before thee, and thou hast possessed them; Joshua--he is passing over before thee as Jehovah hath spoken,
4and Jehovah hath done to them as he hath done to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorite, and to their land, whom He destroyed.
5And Jehovah hath given them before your face, and ye have done to them according to all the command which I have commanded you;
6be strong and courageous, fear not, nor be terrified because of them, for Jehovah thy God is He who is going with thee; He doth not fail thee nor forsake thee.'
7And Moses calleth for Joshua, and saith unto him before the eyes of all Israel, `Be strong and courageous, for thou--thou dost go in with this people unto the land which Jehovah hath sworn to their fathers to give to them, and thou--thou dost cause them to inherit it;
8and Jehovah is He who is going before thee, He himself is with thee; He doth not fail thee nor forsake thee; fear not, nor be affrighted.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel;
2and he said unto them, I am a hundred and twenty years old this day, I can no more go out and come in; and Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
3Jehovah thy God, he will go over before thee, he will destroy these nations from before thee, that thou mayest take possession of them: Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as Jehovah hath said.
4And Jehovah will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land; whom he destroyed.
5And when Jehovah giveth them up before you, ye shall do to them according to all the commandment which I have commanded you.
6Be strong and courageous, fear them not, neither be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God, he it is that goeth with thee; he will not leave thee, nor forsake thee.
7And Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and courageous, for thou must go with this people into the land which Jehovah hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
8And Jehovah, he it is that goeth before thee: he will be with thee; he will not leave thee, nor forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And Moses went, and spoke all these words to all Israel,
2And he said to them: I am this day a hundred and twenty years old, I can no longer go out and come in, especially as the Lord also hath said to me: Thou shalt not pass over this Jordan.
3The Lord thy God then will pass over before thee: he will destroy all these nations in thy sight, and thou shalt possess them: and this Josue shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.
4And the Lord shall do to them as he did to Sehon and Og the kings of the Amorrhites, and to their land, and shall destroy them.
5Therefore when the Lord shall have delivered these also to you, you shall do in like manner to them as I have commanded you.
6Do manfully and be of good heart: fear not, nor be ye dismayed at their sight: for the Lord thy God he himself is thy leader, and will not leave thee nor forsake thee.
7And Moses called Josue, and said to him before all Israel: Take courage, and be valiant: for thou shalt bring this people into the land which the Lord swore he would give to their fathers, and thou shalt divide it by lot.
8And the Lord who is your leader, he himself will be with thee: he will not leave thee, nor forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 31:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Deuteronomy 31:1-8 forms a transition scene. Moses, at 120 years old, publicly hands leadership to Joshua and charges the whole nation to trust God. The core message is clear: Yahweh himself will lead them into Canaan, so they need not fear. Calvin notes that Moses consoles the people by pointing away from himself to God, who remains their guide even after Moses dies. Barnes and Clarke both emphasize that the passage marks a formal transfer of office, Moses lays down his work while affirming that God’s help will not cease. The debated point is the precise meaning of ‘Moses went and spoke’ in verse 1. Some, like Keil and Delitzsch, read vayelekh as ‘he prepared himself’ or ‘rose up,’ while the Septuagint and commentators such as Lange suggest it means ‘he finished speaking’ or withdrew and then returned. Yet all agree that the phrase signals a new public address, not a geographical move. The shared certainty is that God’s presence, not any human leader, is the nation’s real security.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The central message — that God himself leads his people, enabling courage in the face of change — is undisputed across traditions and commentaries.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'Moses went and spoke' | The phrase marks a transition to a new public address or scene. | Some (Keil, Delitzsch) read it as 'he prepared himself'; the Septuagint reads 'he finished speaking,' implying a break in the discourse. The precise action, whether he moved physically or simply began, is unclear. |
| Cause of Moses not entering Canaan | Moses was forbidden by God because of the rebellion at Meribah (Numbers 20:12). | Moses also cites his age (v2). Some commentators (Barnes) see this as a recognition of approaching death; others (Keil) regard the age as a reason he can no longer lead, though his strength remained. |
| Nature of the courage commanded | Courage is grounded in trust that God goes before and will not abandon his people. | Churches in the Reformed tradition often emphasize God's sovereign enabling; Wesleyan traditions highlight the human response to 'play the man' (as Clarke notes from the Septuagint). Both affirm that courage is both gift and command. |
| Role of Joshua vs. the people | Joshua leads, but God fights. The people must obey the commandment (v5). | Catholic and Orthodox readings often highlight the apostolic succession of leadership; Protestant readings stress the priesthood of all believers, though both maintain Joshua's unique commission. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage stands at the end of Moses’ life. He is 120 years old, an age that matches Noah’s generation before the flood (as Clarke notes). His life divides into three forty-year periods: in Egypt, in Midian, and leading Israel through the wilderness. The people are encamped on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan, about to enter Canaan. Moses cannot cross the river because of the incident at Meribah (Numbers 20:12; Deuteronomy 3:26-27). The Lord told him he would not bring the assembly into the land.
The reference to Sihon and Og (v4) recalls the two Amorite kings Israel defeated east of the Jordan, with their territory already allocated to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh. This victory serves as a promise, the same God who gave those kings into Israel’s hands will give the Canaanite nations as well. The command ‘do to them according to all the commandment’ (v5) echoes the herem or ban of total destruction from Deuteronomy 7:2, a practice that set Israel apart from the nations both morally and religiously.
Publicly commissioning Joshua in the sight of all Israel (v7) reinforces the continuity of leadership. Joshua had already been designated in Numbers 27:22-23, but now the entire congregation witnesses the charge. The repeated phrase ‘be strong and courageous’ (used to the people and then to Joshua) binds their courage directly to God’s promise: ‘He will not fail you nor forsake you.’ In the ancient Near East, a leader’s death often sparked political crisis. This public handover, backed by divine oath, was designed to steady the nation for the invasion ahead.
Textual Notes
The chief textual variant in this passage concerns verse 1. The Masoretic Text reads vayelekh Mosheh (‘and Moses went’), but the Septuagint (LXX) reads syNetelesen or ‘he finished speaking’, a translation that likely reflects a different Hebrew Vorlage or an interpretive rendering. Cambridge Bible notes that the LXX reading smoothes the connection from the previous chapter. The Hebrew vayelekh may be an idiom for ‘he proceeded to speak’ rather than a physical departure (Keil, Lange). No other significant textual variants are reported in the supplied sources for these verses.
Reception History
The promise ‘He will not fail you nor forsake you’ (v6, v8) has been taken up in the New Testament, most directly in Hebrews 13:5, where it comforts believers facing persecution. The charge ‘Be strong and courageous’ became a standard element in ordination and commissioning services across many Christian traditions. In rabbinic interpretation, the Targum of Jonathan renders ‘the Word of the Lord’ as the one who goes before Israel, an early window into Jewish thinking about divine agency. The passage has also been sung in hymns that echo the confidence of God’s presence in times of transition, a song of trust for those about to cross their own Jordan, whether literal or metaphorical. Through centuries, readers have found in these verses a pattern for handing on faith from one generation to the next, anchored in a God who does not retire or withdraw.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Acknowledging limits honestly. Moses admits he can no longer lead (v2). He does not pretend his strength is what it used to be. His candor lets the people adjust their expectations and look to God, not to him.
- Trusting God’s faithful presence. Verse 6 repeats the promise: ‘Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you.’ The same God who destroyed Sihon and Og will fight for them. Courage rests on God’s character, not on the size of the army.
- Passing the baton of leadership. Moses calls Joshua forward and gives him the same charge publicly (v7-8). A new leader stands in, but the same God goes before. The congregation watches and learns that God’s work outlasts any one servant.
Five-point outline
- Moses’ personal farewell (v1-2): He states his age and the Lord’s prohibition. He does not leave bitter; he leaves with a blessing.
- God’s promise to go before (v3): Yahweh himself will cross the Jordan first. The true commander leads the charge.
- Past victories as a pattern for trust (v4-5): The defeats of Sihon and Og guarantee that Canaan will fall the same way. Obedience to God’s command is part of the victory.
- Call to courage based on God’s character (v6): ‘Be strong and courageous’ is not a pep talk. It is a command grounded in the fact that God will not fail or forsake them.
- Joshua’s public commission (v7-8): Moses magnifies Joshua before the people. The same promise he gave the nation he repeats to the new leader.
Illustration hooks
- A retiring CEO handing the company to a new executive. The board and staff need to hear that the founder trusts the successor and that the business’s mission continues. Moses does this in public, with God as the real ‘board chair.’
- A coach’s final locker-room speech before the big game. He says, ‘I’m not playing, but the game plan is solid, and the assistant coach will call the plays. Trust the plan, trust each other, and give it everything.’
- A parent letting a teenager drive alone for the first time. The parent says, ‘I can’t be in the car with you, but I’ve taught you what you need. The roads are the same. Call me if you need anything.’
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do we stay confident when a trusted leader steps down, moves away, or dies?
- Does God really go before us into situations that look dangerous, like entering a new job, city, or stage of life?
- What does it mean to ‘be strong and courageous’ without just trying harder in our own strength?
Leading a Discussion
This passage captures a moment when everything is about to change. Moses, the only leader Israel has known for forty years, says goodbye. He cannot enter the land, but the people must cross over. The group discussion will help members see that transitions test our trust in God more than in any human leader.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 1-2. How does Moses describe his own situation? Why do you think he tells the people his age and that he cannot go over the Jordan? (Consider what impact this honesty might have had on their confidence.)
- Moses repeats the phrase “Yahweh your God himself will go over before you” (v3). What difference does the word “himself” make? How does it shift the focus away from Moses or Joshua?
- Verses 4-5 refer back to the defeat of Sihon and Og. Why is it important to remember past victories when facing new challenges? Have you ever drawn courage from remembering how God helped you before?
- The command “Be strong and courageous” appears twice, once to the whole people (v6) and once personally to Joshua (v7). Why do you think Moses says it to both groups? Is courage needed differently by leaders and by followers?
- Verse 6 ends with “He will not fail you nor forsake you.” What fears does that promise address? Can you think of a situation where you needed to hear that promise recently?
- Moses commissions Joshua “in the sight of all Israel” (v7). Why was a public handover important? What does it communicate to the nation and to Joshua about accountability?
- How does this passage apply to our church or group when we face a change in leadership or a new venture? What one action could we take this week to “be strong and courageous” in a specific area God is calling us to trust him for?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 7:7 | Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. |
| Numbers 20:12 | Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” |
| Numbers 27:13 | When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; |
| Numbers 27:14 | because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) |
| Numbers 27:17 | who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of Yahweh may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.” |
| Deuteronomy 1:37 | Also Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, saying, “You also shall not go in there. |
| Deuteronomy 3:26 | But Yahweh was angry with me because of you, and didn’t listen to me. Yahweh said to me, “That is enough! Speak no more to me of this matter. |
| Deuteronomy 3:27 | Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes; for you shall not go over this Jordan. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes sees no contradiction between Moses saying he can no longer lead and the later report of his undimmed eye and strength. Moses judges himself unequal to the active duties of leadership, while the contemporary writer observes from outside that his faculties remained sharp to the end.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Moses delivered these final words as a dying man, giving them the binding force of a last will. He assures the people that God's leadership does not end with Moses, so their confidence should rest on God's unfailing promise, not on any human leader.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary focuses on textual details and variations between the Hebrew, Septuagint and Samaritan versions, noting where they differ in singular or plural forms. The writer also observes that the number 120 follows the Priestly source's pattern of using round numbers for a generation.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight Moses' final charge, where he tells Israel that God himself will go before them and destroy their enemies, and he commands Joshua to be strong because the Lord will never fail or forsake him. The call to courage rests entirely on God's promised presence, not on human ability.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that Moses' statement about no longer being able to go out and come in does not describe physical frailty, since he was still vigorous. Rather, it signals God's decree that Moses' leadership role was ending. This highlights a typological contrast: Moses and the law cannot bring Israel into Canaan; only Joshua, as a type of Christ, can.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Moses was still vigorous in body and mind at 120, yet he knew through direct revelation that his leadership was ending. His farewell speech therefore focuses not on his own strength but on the covenanted presence of God, who would be with Israel as surely as He had been in the past.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observe that Moses did not formally transfer the law out of his own hands by giving it to the priests and elders.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats Deuteronomy 31 as a third pause or Selah in Moses’ discourse, where he
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Moses lingers in his farewell not because he is unwilling to go to God, but because he dreads leaving Israel, fearing they will abandon God once he is gone. So Moses calls them together specifically to give them encouragement for the wars of Canaan ahead.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley points out that the Hebrew phrase "went and spake" implies ongoing, continued speech. He explains that "go out and come in" is an idiom for carrying out the duties of a leader or governor, and the speaker uses it because his death is near.