The Meaning of Joshua 1:2 Explained

Joshua 1:2

KJV: Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

YLT: 'Moses my servant is dead, and now, rise, pass over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.

Darby: Moses my servant is dead; and now, rise up, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, into the land which I give unto them, to the children of Israel.

ASV: Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Moses  my servant  is dead;  now therefore arise,  go over  this Jordan,  thou, and all this people,  unto the land  which I do give  to them, [even] to the children  of Israel. 

What does Joshua 1:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The nation had mourned Moses" death for30 days ( Deuteronomy 34:8). Now God instructed Joshua to prepare to enter the land. The death of any of His servants never frustrates or limits God, though this causes Him sorrow ( Psalm 116:15).

Context Summary

Joshua 1:1-9 - The New Leader's Commission
Joshua was a prince of the tribe of Ephraim, and was born in Egypt. After the Exodus he became captain of the host, Exodus 17:9. With Caleb he brought back a good report of the land of Canaan, Numbers 14:7. Having been found faithful in the smaller sphere, he was promoted to the wider one. As we have seen, one of Moses' closing acts was to give him a charge. He represents the Lord Jesus, in His risen glory, as the Captain and Leader of the Church.
The land of Canaan was Israel's by deed of gift; but Israel had to go up to possess it. Similarly God's grace is ours, but we must claim it by putting the foot of our faith on God's promises. Though Hittites-our old evil habits-revolt, if we meet them in the power of the Holy Spirit, they must yield. God is with us. Joshua 1:5 is the perquisite of all believers. See Hebrews 13:5-6. But note that the weapon of successful conflict is God's Word. It is our sword, Ephesians 6:17. See also Jeremiah 15:16. [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 1:2 mean?

Moses My servant is dead therefore now arise go over - Jordan this you and all people to the land which I am giving to them the sons of Israel
מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדִּ֖י מֵ֑ת וְעַתָּה֩ ק֨וּם עֲבֹ֜ר אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֗ה אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־ הָעָ֣ם אֶל־ הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

מֹשֶׁ֥ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עַבְדִּ֖י  My  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
מֵ֑ת  is  dead 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וְעַתָּה֩  therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
ק֨וּם  arise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
עֲבֹ֜ר  go  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
הַזֶּ֗ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָעָ֣ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאָ֕רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
נֹתֵ֥ן  am  giving 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לָהֶ֖ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
לִבְנֵ֥י  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.