Joshua 1:3

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

Every place {H4725} that the sole {H3709} of your foot {H7272} shall tread upon {H1869}, that have I given {H5414} unto you, as I said {H1696} unto Moses {H4872}.

I am giving you every place you will step on with the sole of your foot, as I said to Moshe.

I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses.

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses.

Commentary

Joshua 1:3 serves as a powerful declaration of God's unwavering commitment to His people, Israel, as they stand on the cusp of entering the Promised Land under the new leadership of Joshua.

Context

This verse is part of God's direct address to Joshua, immediately following the death of Moses. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites are finally poised to cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of Canaan. God is commissioning Joshua, empowering him for the monumental task ahead. This specific promise echoes and reaffirms earlier covenants and assurances made to Moses and the patriarchs, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His word despite the change in leadership.

Key Themes

  • Divine Promise & Inheritance: The core message is God's unilateral gift of the land. It is not something Israel earns, but something God has already "given unto you." This highlights the concept of divine inheritance, a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament.
  • God's Faithfulness: The phrase "as I said unto Moses" underscores God's consistency and reliability. His promises are not fleeting; they are sure and certain, spanning generations.
  • Active Possession: While the land is given, Israel must still "tread upon" it. This signifies that faith requires action. They must step out in obedience and actively claim what God has already provided. This isn't about earning the gift, but about possessing it through courageous steps of faith.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon" is a direct echo of earlier stipulations given through Moses, notably in Deuteronomy 11:24. It delineates the extent of the promised territory, indicating that the boundaries would be established by their physical presence and conquest. The Hebrew word for "given" (נָתַתִּי, natati) is in the perfect tense, signifying a completed action from God's perspective – it is already a done deal, a settled reality.

Practical Application

For believers today, Joshua 1:3 offers profound encouragement. Just as God promised the physical land to Israel, He has given spiritual promises and an eternal inheritance in Christ. This verse reminds us that:

  • God's promises are secure and trustworthy, even when circumstances change or new challenges arise.
  • Possessing God's promises often requires active faith and courageous obedience. We must "tread upon" the ground He has given us, stepping out in reliance on His word.
  • Our spiritual inheritance is not earned but freely given by God's grace, yet we are called to actively live in light of it.

It's a call to move forward in faith, trusting that where God guides, He also provides and secures the victory.

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 11:24 (40 votes)

    Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.

  • Joshua 14:9 (31 votes)

    And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

  • Titus 1:2 (4 votes)

    In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;