Deuteronomy 3:28

KJV

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

KJV (with Strong's)

But charge {H6680} Joshua {H3091}, and encourage {H2388} him, and strengthen {H553} him: for he shall go over {H5674} before {H6440} this people {H5971}, and he shall cause them to inherit {H5157} the land {H776} which thou shalt see {H7200}.

Complete Jewish Bible

However, commission Y'hoshua, encourage him and strengthen him; for he will lead this people across and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.'

Berean Standard Bible

But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”

American Standard Version

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 3:28 marks a pivotal divine instruction to Moses, commanding him to formally commission Joshua as his successor. This verse underscores God's sovereign provision of leadership, ensuring the continuity of His redemptive plan for Israel. It highlights Joshua's indispensable role in leading the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land, thereby fulfilling God's ancient covenant promise of inheritance. The emphasis on charging, encouraging, and strengthening Joshua reveals the profound weight of his future responsibilities and God's faithfulness in equipping His chosen instruments.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within Moses' final addresses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, serving as a critical transition point in the narrative of the Pentateuch. It immediately follows God's definitive pronouncement to Moses that he would not enter the Promised Land due to his act of disobedience at Meribah ([Deuteronomy 3:26 "/deuteronomy/3-26" "Deuteronomy 3:26 - Moses Denied Entry"]). Moses had earnestly pleaded with God to be allowed to cross, but the Lord firmly denied his request, instead directing him to ascend Mount Pisgah to view the land he would not physically enter ([Deuteronomy 3:27 "/deuteronomy/3-27" "Deuteronomy 3:27 - Moses Sees the Land"]). In this context of Moses' impending departure, the command to "charge Joshua" is not merely a succession plan but a divine provision, ensuring the continuity of God's covenant purposes for His people. This instruction sets the theological and narrative stage for the subsequent book of Joshua, which meticulously details the conquest and distribution of the promised inheritance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At this juncture, the Israelites stood on the cusp of a monumental transition. After forty years of wilderness wandering, they were encamped on the eastern side of the Jordan River, poised to enter Canaan, a land inhabited by formidable kingdoms. This was a shift from a nomadic, wilderness existence under Moses' unique leadership to a settled, agricultural life requiring military conquest, judicial administration, and spiritual fidelity within a new land. Leadership succession was paramount for the nation's stability and the fulfillment of their divine destiny. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the formal transfer of authority was a solemn event, often involving public affirmation and ritual acts to signify the divine backing of the new leader. The act of "charging" and "strengthening" a successor would have been understood as a comprehensive act of commissioning, imparting not only authority but also the necessary wisdom, courage, and spiritual anointing for the daunting tasks ahead.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 3:28 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty in Leadership**, illustrating God's meticulous orchestration of leadership transitions, from Moses, the great lawgiver, to Joshua, the divinely appointed conqueror. This highlights that God raises up and empowers leaders for His specific purposes, ensuring His plans are fulfilled regardless of human limitations. Another crucial theme is **Covenant Faithfulness and Fulfillment**, as Joshua is explicitly tasked with bringing the people into the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob centuries earlier ([Genesis 12:7 "/genesis/12-7" "Genesis 12:7 - God's Promise to Abraham"]). The verse also underscores the **Necessity of Empowerment and Encouragement** for those in leadership, acknowledging the immense challenges Joshua would face in leading the conquest and settlement of Canaan. Finally, it reinforces the **Principle of Inheritance**, not merely as a physical possession, but as the tangible manifestation of God's promises and the culmination of their arduous journey.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Charge (Hebrew, _tsâvâh'_):** From H6680, a primitive root meaning "to constitute, enjoin, appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order." Its use here signifies a formal, authoritative, and solemn directive from God through Moses to Joshua. It implies a weighty responsibility and a clear mandate, indicating that Joshua's leadership is not self-appointed but divinely ordained and accompanied by specific instructions for the immense task ahead.
* **Encourage (Hebrew, _châzaq'_):** From H2388, a primitive root meaning "to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer; aid, amend, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand." This comprehensive definition encompasses both "encourage" and "strengthen" as translated in the KJV. The command to Moses is to impart not just moral support, but a deep sense of inner fortitude, resilience, courage, and steadfastness to Joshua for the daunting military and administrative tasks ahead. This strengthening is both spiritual and practical, enabling Joshua to face challenges with divine confidence.
* **Inherit (Hebrew, _nâchal'_):** From H5157, a primitive root meaning "to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath, or (generally) distribute, instate; divide, have (inheritance), take as a heritage, (cause to, give to, make to) inherit, (distribute for, divide (for, for an, by), give for, have, leave for, take (for)) inheritance, (have in, cause to, be made to) possess(-ion)." In this context, it refers to Joshua's pivotal role in enabling the Israelites to take possession of the land of Canaan, dispossessing its current inhabitants. This word is central to the covenant promises made to Abraham, signifying the fulfillment of God's long-standing pledge to give the land to His chosen people. Joshua is the human instrument through whom this divine promise will be realized.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But charge Joshua":** This is a direct, authoritative divine command from God to Moses, initiating the formal and solemn transfer of leadership. It underscores the gravity of the moment and the divine backing behind Joshua's appointment. Moses is not merely offering advice but is commanded to impart a weighty responsibility and clear mandate.
* **"and encourage him, and strengthen him":** This phrase specifies the crucial nature of the charge. It's not just a formal appointment but an active impartation of courage, resilience, and inner fortitude. Moses is to build up Joshua, recognizing the immense pressure, fear, and challenges he will inevitably face. The use of two verbs with similar meanings (covered by the single Hebrew root _châzaq_) serves to intensify the emphasis on the profound and vital need for Joshua to receive robust support and divine empowerment.
* **"for he shall go over before this people":** This clause defines Joshua's immediate and primary role: to physically lead the people across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. "Before this people" highlights his position as their vanguard, their guide, and their military commander, taking the lead in the conquest and settlement, demonstrating courageous leadership from the front.
* **"and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see":** This final clause states the ultimate purpose and outcome of Joshua's leadership. He is the divinely appointed instrument who will facilitate the Israelites' actual possession of the land, thereby bringing about the fulfillment of God's covenant promise. The poignant contrast with Moses, who was permitted only to "see" the land from a distance, profoundly emphasizes Joshua's unique and indispensable role in bringing about the physical inheritance and the culmination of Israel's wilderness journey.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 3:28 employs several significant literary devices that amplify its message. The most prominent is **Command/Imperative**, as God issues direct and forceful instructions ("charge," "encourage," "strengthen") to Moses, underscoring the divine authority and the urgency of the leadership transition. There is also clear **Foreshadowing**, as the verse explicitly predicts Joshua's future success and pivotal role in leading the Israelites into the land, effectively setting the narrative stage for the entire book of Joshua. An implicit **Contrast** is powerfully drawn between Moses, who is allowed only to *see* the land from a distance, and Joshua, who will *enter* it and *cause* the people to inherit it. This highlights the distinct yet complementary roles each leader plays in God's overarching redemptive plan. Finally, the **Repetition** of the Hebrew root _châzaq_ (translated as "encourage him, and strengthen him") serves as a potent device for **Emphasis**, stressing the profound and vital need for Joshua's inner fortitude and the essential support he must receive from Moses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 3:28 is rich with theological significance, primarily underscoring God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, even amidst human failure and leadership transitions. Despite Moses' inability to enter the land due to his disobedience, God's grand plan for Israel's inheritance does not falter; instead, He sovereignly raises up and commissions a new leader, Joshua, to bring it to fruition. This demonstrates that God's purposes are not contingent upon any single human agent but are ultimately accomplished through His divine power and provision. The verse also highlights the crucial principle of leadership succession and the profound responsibility of seasoned leaders to mentor, encourage, and empower those who will follow them. It reveals God's consistent method of working through human instruments, equipping them for the specific tasks He calls them to, and ensuring the continuity of His redemptive work through generations.

* [Joshua 1:6](/joshua/1-6 "Joshua 1:6 - God's Charge to Joshua")
* [Numbers 27:18-23](/numbers/27-18-23 "Numbers 27:18-23 - Joshua Appointed as Successor")
* [1 Thessalonians 5:11](/1_thessalonians/5-11 "1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Mutual Encouragement")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 3:28 offers profound insights for believers today, particularly concerning leadership, mentorship, and the enduring nature of God's faithfulness. It serves as a powerful reminder that God's plans for His people always move forward, even through significant transitions and changes in human leadership. For those in positions of influence, this passage underscores the vital responsibility to identify, train, and wholeheartedly encourage the next generation of leaders. This isn't merely about imparting knowledge or delegating tasks, but about actively strengthening their resolve, building their confidence, and praying for their spiritual and emotional resilience in the face of daunting challenges. For those stepping into new roles, especially those with significant responsibility, this verse offers immense comfort and assurance that divine calling often comes with divine empowerment and the promise of support from the community of faith. Just as Joshua was commissioned to lead Israel into a physical inheritance, believers are called to embrace and walk in their spiritual inheritance in Christ, a journey that also requires courage, strength, and mutual encouragement within the body of Christ. We are to be people who "go over before" others, leading them into the fullness of God's promises, trusting that He equips those He calls and empowers those He sends.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage inform our understanding of leadership succession and mentorship within the church or other organizations today?**
* **In what ways can we actively "charge, encourage, and strengthen" those God is raising up for leadership roles around us, both formally and informally?**
* **What "land" or spiritual inheritance is God calling you to "inherit" or help others inherit in your life, and what strength do you need for that task?**
* **How does the contrast between Moses seeing the land and Joshua entering it speak to different forms of faithfulness or service in God's kingdom, and how might this apply to our own callings?**

### FAQ
**Why was Moses specifically commanded to "charge, encourage, and strengthen" Joshua?**

Answer: Moses was commanded to do this because he was the established, divinely appointed leader through whom God had communicated His will for forty years. This public and personal act of commissioning from Moses would lend immense authority, legitimacy, and spiritual weight to Joshua's new role in the eyes of the people. Furthermore, the task of leading the conquest and settlement of Canaan was incredibly daunting, requiring immense courage, resilience, and unwavering faith. Moses, having experienced the challenges of leadership firsthand, was uniquely positioned to understand Joshua's needs and to impart the necessary spiritual and practical support. It was a divine mandate to ensure a smooth, effective, and divinely sanctioned transition of leadership, securing the continuity of God's plan for Israel.

**What was Joshua's significance before this commissioning?**

Answer: Before his formal commissioning here, Joshua had already demonstrated his faithfulness, courage, and leadership potential over many years. He served as Moses' personal aide and minister, often accompanying him to the Tent of Meeting ([Exodus 24:13 "/exodus/24-13" "Exodus 24:13 - Joshua as Moses' Aide"]). He was a military commander who led Israel against the Amalekites, securing victory through God's power ([Exodus 17:9 "/exodus/17-9" "Exodus 17:9 - Joshua Fights Amalek"]). Most notably, he was one of the two faithful spies (along with Caleb) who brought back a positive report from Canaan, trusting in God's ability to give them the land despite the formidable inhabitants, in stark contrast to the ten unfaithful spies ([Numbers 14:6-9 "/numbers/14-6-9" "Numbers 14:6-9 - Joshua and Caleb's Faith"]). His proven loyalty, spiritual discernment, and courageous faith made him God's chosen successor.

**How does this verse demonstrate God's faithfulness despite human limitations?**

Answer: This verse powerfully illustrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, even when His human instruments fall short. Despite Moses' sin at Meribah, which prevented him from entering the Promised Land ([Numbers 20:12 "/numbers/20-12" "Numbers 20:12 - Moses' Disobedience at Meribah"]), God's ultimate plan for Israel to inherit the land remained intact. He did not abandon His people or His promise due to one leader's failure. Instead, He sovereignly and graciously provided a new, capable, and divinely prepared leader in Joshua, ensuring that His divine purpose would be fulfilled. This demonstrates that God's grand redemptive plans are not dependent on the perfection of His human instruments but are secured by His own unchanging character, infinite power, and steadfast love.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 3:28 finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Joshua, whose Hebrew name (Yeshua) is the same as Jesus, serves as a powerful and direct type of Christ. Just as Joshua was divinely commissioned to lead God's people into their physical inheritance in the Promised Land, Jesus is the supremely appointed Leader who brings His people into their spiritual and eternal inheritance. He is the true "Joshua" who "goes over before this people," not merely across a physical river, but through the ultimate Jordan of death and resurrection, pioneering the way into the heavenly sanctuary and eternal life ([Hebrews 6:20 "/hebrews/6-20" "Hebrews 6:20 - Jesus, Our Forerunner"]). Jesus is the one whom the Father "charged, encouraged, and strengthened" for the ultimate task of redemption, empowering Him through the Holy Spirit for His earthly ministry, His atoning sacrifice on the cross, and His glorious resurrection. Through His perfect life, substitutionary death, and triumphant resurrection, Jesus "causes us to inherit" all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places ([Ephesians 1:3 "/ephesians/1-3" "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ"]) and the promise of eternal life in the new heavens and new earth ([Revelation 21:1-7 "/revelation/21-1-7" "Revelation 21:1-7 - New Heavens and New Earth"]). Unlike Moses, who could only see the land but not enter, and unlike Joshua, who led the people into a temporal, earthly inheritance, Jesus not only saw the full scope of God's redemptive plan but perfectly fulfilled it, leading His people into the very presence of God and securing for them an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven ([1 Peter 1:4 "/1_peter/1-4" "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance"]). He is the ultimate Leader, whose commission is eternal, whose strength is infinite, and whose work ensures the complete and glorious fulfillment of all God's promises for His people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 31:3

The 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.

Deuteronomy 31:23

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

Deuteronomy 31:7

And 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.

Deuteronomy 1:38

[But] Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Numbers 27:18

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

Numbers 27:23

And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Acts 7:45

Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;