Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
- BSB Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”
- NKJV Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”
- NASB Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
- NLT Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words and everything you command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The tribes declare that rebellion against Joshua's commands deserves death, and they urge him again to be strong and courageous. They uphold the seriousness of obedience to God-given authority.
Overview
The penalty reflects the gravity of resisting God's appointed leader during a national, covenantal undertaking, not personal tyranny. Notably, the people echo back to Joshua the very encouragement God had given him, surrounding their leader with support. This closing scene shows a unified, willing people, a hopeful beginning to the conquest under God's hand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- Ezra 10:4Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.”
- 1 Cor 16:13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
- Josh 1:9Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Heb 12:25See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
- Heb 10:28–29A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
- 1 Sam 11:12The people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men, that we may put them to death!”
- Josh 1:6–7“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
- Luke 19:27But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’”
- Ps 2:1–6Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
- Deut 17:12The man who does presumptuously, in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before Yahweh your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die. You shall put away the evil from Israel.
- Rom 13:1–5Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 1:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.