The Meaning of Deuteronomy 3:28 Explained

Deuteronomy 3:28

KJV: But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

YLT: and charge Jehoshua, and strengthen him, and harden him, for he doth pass over before this people, and he doth cause them to inherit the land which thou seest.

Darby: But charge Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land which thou shalt see.

ASV: But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But charge  Joshua,  and encourage  him, and strengthen  him: for he shall go over  before  this people,  and he shall cause them to inherit  the land  which thou shalt see. 

What does Deuteronomy 3:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 3:23-29 - "take Heed To Thyself"
Strong faith was required by the two and a half tribes to leave their wives and children while they went to succor their brethren. But God's commands and assurances foreclosed all arguments. Whenever we are summoned to special service, we may consign the care of our personal interests to God. Seek first the kingdom, and all other things will be added.
Notice that Moses referred to the wondrous acts of the Exodus as only the beginning of God's wondrous works, Deuteronomy 3:24. Probably in the countless ages of eternity we shall always feel that we are witnessing only the beginning of God's self-revelation.
Moses, like Paul afterward, tried to reverse the divine decision. Compare Deuteronomy 3:23-25 and 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. Do not pray against God's will, but with it, 1 John 5:14. When God says No, there are always tender compensations, such as this Pisgah-vision.
Israel's tenure of Canaan depended on obedience to God's will, in statutes, including the ordinances of religion, and in judgments relating to civil matters. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 3

1  The conquest of Og, king of Bashan
11  This size of his bed
12  The distribution of his lands to the two tribes and half
23  Moses prays to enter into the land
26  He is permitted to see it

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 3:28 mean?

But command - Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him for he shall go over before people this and he to inherit shall cause them the land which you will see
וְצַ֥ו אֶת־ יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ וְחַזְּקֵ֣הוּ וְאַמְּצֵ֑הוּ כִּי־ ה֣וּא יַעֲבֹ֗ר לִפְנֵי֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְהוּא֙ יַנְחִ֣יל אוֹתָ֔ם הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה

וְצַ֥ו  But  command 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
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.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ  Joshua 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ  
Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
וְחַזְּקֵ֣הוּ  and  encourage  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
וְאַמְּצֵ֑הוּ  and  strengthen  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמֵץ  
Sense: to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard.
יַעֲבֹ֗ר  shall  go  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
לִפְנֵי֙  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הָעָ֣ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וְהוּא֙  and  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יַנְחִ֣יל  to  inherit 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָחַל  
Sense: to get as a possession, acquire, inherit, possess.
אוֹתָ֔ם  shall  cause  them 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָ֖רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
תִּרְאֶֽה  you  will  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.