Deuteronomy 31:6 — What Does It Mean?
"Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid, nor be scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6, World English Bible
Who is speaking, and when?
Moses speaks this near the very end of his life, at 120 years old (Deuteronomy 31:2), knowing he won't be the one to lead Israel into the promised land. It's addressed to the whole nation, gathered to hear his final instructions before Joshua takes over — the same charge God gives Joshua individually a few verses into the next book (Joshua 1:9).
What does it actually mean?
"Them" refers to the nations Israel was about to encounter in the land they were entering — real, specific opponents, not abstract fears. The promise "he will not fail you nor forsake you" directly answers the natural fear of facing that transition without Moses' leadership, replacing dependence on one man with a stated dependence on God's continued presence.
Common questions about this verse
How is this different from Joshua 1:9?
This verse is Moses speaking to the whole nation; Joshua 1:9 is God speaking to Joshua individually shortly after. The near-identical wording across both passages underscores how central this promise was to that entire transition of leadership.
What does "he will not forsake you" promise?
It's a promise of continued presence through a real transition and real conflict ahead — not a guarantee the conflict itself would be easy, since the chapters that follow describe genuine battles Israel still had to fight.