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Joshua 1:5

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There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

There shall not any man {H376} be able to stand {H3320} before {H6440} thee all the days {H3117} of thy life {H2416}: as I was with Moses {H4872}, so I will be with thee: I will not fail {H7503} thee, nor forsake {H5800} thee.

No one will be able to withstand you as long as you live. Just as I was with Moshe, so I will be with you. I will neither fail you nor abandon you.

No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Commentary

Joshua 1:5 KJV

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Commentary

Joshua 1:5 is a powerful promise from God to Joshua as he takes leadership of Israel after Moses' death. This verse encapsulates divine assurance and the basis for Joshua's success in leading the people into the Promised Land. It highlights God's unwavering support and presence.

Context

This verse is part of God's direct instruction and encouragement to Joshua in the opening chapter of the book bearing his name. Moses, the great leader who brought Israel out of Egypt, has died (Deuteronomy 34:5), and the immense task of conquering Canaan and settling the tribes falls to Joshua. God initiates this conversation to commission Joshua, provide necessary commands (like meditating on the law, Joshua 1:8), and offer foundational promises to strengthen his resolve and faith in the face of daunting challenges.

Key Themes

  • God's Presence: The assurance "as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee" guarantees God's active involvement and guidance, mirroring the intimate relationship and support He provided to Moses. This divine presence is the source of Joshua's strength and authority.
  • God's Faithfulness: The emphatic promise, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee," underscores God's absolute reliability and commitment. This is a promise of enduring support, regardless of the circumstances Joshua might face.
  • Invincibility Through God: "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee" signifies that no human opposition will ultimately prevail against Joshua, not because of his own might, but because of God's power working through him.
  • Continuity of Divine Support: God's relationship with His chosen leaders is consistent. His support for Joshua is presented as a direct continuation of His support for Moses, demonstrating His unchanging nature.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" uses strong Hebrew negation. The word for "fail" (רָפָה - raphah) means to slacken, let go, drop, or fail. The word for "forsake" (עָזַב - `azab) means to leave, abandon, or desert. The double negative construction powerfully emphasizes the certainty and permanence of God's commitment to never abandon Joshua. This same promise is echoed for all believers in the New Testament, assuring us that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Practical Application

While spoken directly to Joshua, this promise holds profound significance for believers today. It reminds us that as we step into tasks God has for us, especially those that seem overwhelming, we do not go alone. God's presence and faithfulness are the foundation of our confidence. When facing challenges, transitions, or opposition, we can trust that God, who was with biblical figures like Moses and Joshua, is with us, providing the strength and assurance that He will not fail or abandon us. This promise encourages boldness and reliance on God's power rather than our own.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 8:31 (52 votes)

    ¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

  • Deuteronomy 31:6 (48 votes)

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 31:8 (48 votes)

    And 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.

  • Matthew 28:20 (45 votes)

    Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

  • Isaiah 41:10 (37 votes)

    ¶ Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • Isaiah 41:14 (37 votes)

    Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

  • Joshua 1:9 (36 votes)

    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.