What Does Deuteronomy 1:38 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Joshua’s name means “YHWH delivers,” and the verse shows that deliverance carrying a whole people into their inheritance.
THE MEANING
A promise can outlast the person who first carries it: one stands before you, another goes in, and an entire people receives the inheritance through him. Joshua’s name carries the nature of deliverance, while the command to strengthen him prepares him to carry that promise forward.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The promise depends on its first bearer personally completing it. This verse shows the inheritance continuing through another, strengthened to carry it onward.
THE ROOT
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
Yehoshua
GROWS FROM
ישע
Deliver; bring out to safety.
Joshua’s name carries the root of deliverance: the name means “YHWH delivers.” The verse joins that name to a concrete movement: Joshua goes in, and Israel receives its inheritance through him.
ALSO GROWS
yasha: Deliver, bring out to safety.
יָשַׁע
This verb reveals the deliverance carried in Joshua’s name.
yeshuah: Deliverance, salvation.
יְשׁוּעָה
The noun names the same root as a state or act of deliverance, linking Joshua’s name to the movement of a people into what is promised.
חַזֵּק
Chazzeq
GROWS FROM
חזק
Be firm or strong; make firm or strengthen.
“Encourage” in this verse is Chazzeq. The command is to make Joshua firm for what lies ahead. The root holds both strength and the act of strengthening, so encouragement here is steadiness given for the work of carrying the promise.
ALSO GROWS
chazaq: Become strong, grow firm, prevail.
חָזַק
This branch shows the firmness that the command is meant to establish in Joshua.
chizzeq: Strengthened, made firm.
חִזֵּק
This causative form brings out the command’s force: another person is to supply Joshua with steadiness.
יַנְחִילֶנָּה
Yanchilenna
GROWS FROM
נחל
Inherit or receive an allotted possession; cause someone to inherit.
“Cause Israel to inherit” in this verse is Yanchilenna. The verb does not merely say that Joshua receives the land: it says he causes Israel to inherit it. The root shifts the focus from one person’s possession to a people receiving what has been allotted to them.
ALSO GROWS
nachalah: Inheritance, allotted possession.
נַחֲלָה
This noun names what Israel receives through Joshua.
hinchil: Cause to inherit; hand down as an inheritance.
הִנְחִיל
This causative form makes Joshua the one through whom the people receive their inheritance.
THE PATTERN
A promise can pass beyond its first bearer and be entrusted onward so others can receive it.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.THE THREAD
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.Joshua’s name carries the same root that appears here as “salvation”: deliverance. That root connection lets the name illuminate the handoff, the people’s movement into inheritance comes through one whose name carries the nature of deliverance.
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