The Meaning of Joshua 1:17 Explained

Joshua 1:17

KJV: According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

YLT: according to all that we hearkened unto Moses in, so we hearken unto thee; surely Jehovah thy God is with thee as He hath been with Moses.

Darby: According as we hearkened to Moses in all things, so will we hearken to thee; only may Jehovah thy God be with thee as he was with Moses.

ASV: According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only Jehovah thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

According as we hearkened  unto Moses  in all things, so will we hearken  unto thee: only the LORD  thy God  be with thee, as he was with Moses. 

What does Joshua 1:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 1:10-18 - Provisioned And United For Conquest
It was enough that God had spoken and promised. Nothing more was necessary. Joshua took immediate steps, dictated by sanctified common-sense, to prepare the people for the great step in advance to which God was calling them. We are not to throw away prudent foresight when we go forth on God's errands. Faith does not supersede precaution and preparation, where these are possible; although she does not rely on them, but on the living God.
When Joshua addressed the two tribes and a half, there was no faltering in his tone. He was absolutely certain that God would fulfill His promise, Joshua 1:15. This inspired the people with similar courage. It was very helpful to have the reassurance of those who were least likely to be enthusiastic, since the campaign must sever them from their families. God often speaks to us through the lips of others. Can we utter Joshua 1:16 to our Lord? [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 1

1  The Lord appoints Joshua to succeed Moses
3  The borders of the promised land
5  God promises to assist Joshua
8  He gives him instructions
10  Joshua prepares the people to pass over Jordan
12  He puts the two tribes and a half in mind of their promise to Moses
16  They promise him allegiance

What do the individual words in Joshua 1:17 mean?

Just as in all things we heeded unto Moses so we will heed you only be Yahweh your God with you as He was with Moses
כְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־ שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֵּ֖ן נִשְׁמַ֣ע אֵלֶ֑יךָ רַ֠ק יִֽהְיֶ֞ה יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־ מֹשֶֽׁה

כְּכֹ֤ל  Just  as  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁר־  things 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙  we  heeded 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
כֵּ֖ן  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
נִשְׁמַ֣ע  we  will  heed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
רַ֠ק  only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עִמָּ֔ךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
הָיָ֖ה  He  was 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מֹשֶֽׁה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.