Isaiah 41:10 in the KJV
Isaiah 41:10 is one of the most loved verses in the Bible. Here it is in the King James Version, then in the NIV, followed by a companion promise three verses later.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
The verse is built on promises, each one answering a fear. “I am with thee” answers loneliness. “I am thy God” answers the fear that we belong to no one. Then come three verbs: “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10, KJV). To be dismayed is to lose heart in alarm, and God's answer is to take hold of His people: “I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand” (Isaiah 41:13, KJV).
Isaiah first spoke these words to Israel, whom God calls “my servant” (Isaiah 41:8, KJV), in a chapter where whole nations tremble (Isaiah 41:5). Christians read them as God's word to His people in every age, because the same God makes the same promise in Christ: “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20, KJV).
Be strong and of a good courage (Joshua 1:9)
Joshua 1:9 was spoken to a man stepping into very big shoes. Moses was dead, and Joshua had to lead a whole people across the Jordan into a land of walled cities (Joshua 1:1-2; Numbers 13:28).
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
God tells Joshua to be strong three times in one short speech (Joshua 1:6, 7 and 9), and the people say it back to him in verse 18. In the KJV the exact phrase “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:9, KJV) appears six times, all in Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1, and Joshua heard it from Moses (Deuteronomy 31:7) before he heard it from God. Notice what the courage is for: not personal glory, but keeping God's word and leading others well (Joshua 1:7-8). And notice what it rests on: “for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9, KJV). Psalm 27:14 brings the same command into a quieter setting: be strong while you wait.
Not a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
Paul wrote 2 Timothy from prison, near the end of his life, to a younger friend whose tears he remembered (2 Timothy 1:4, 8; 4:6).
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
The fear Paul means is timidity: shrinking back from what God has called you to do, or being ashamed of Jesus (2 Timothy 1:8). The Spirit God gives is the opposite. Power to act. Love that thinks of others before itself. And a sound mind: the clear head and self-control to think straight when emotions run high. Courage is not a personality type; it is a gift of the Spirit, to be stirred up (2 Timothy 1:6). Hebrews 13:6 shows what it sounds like out loud: “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6, KJV).
Courage to do the right thing
Some courage is needed to face danger. Another kind is needed to do what is right when it will cost you. The Bible's examples of the second kind are some of its best stories.
“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
Esther could have stayed quiet in the palace; going to the king without being called could cost her life (Esther 4:11). Mordecai's question, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, KJV), moved her to act, and she went in saying, “if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16, KJV). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted God to save them, but decided in advance to obey even “if not” (Daniel 3:18, KJV). And Peter and John, fishermen with no formal training, spoke so boldly before the council that the leaders could only conclude “that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13, KJV).
Courage like this rarely starts in the big moment. It grows from time spent with Jesus, and from small choices to do right when nobody is watching.
How to pray these verses when you are afraid
The verses on this page are meant to be prayed, not only read. Here are three short prayers built on them. Fill in your own words where you see the parentheses, and pray them out loud if you can.
When you are afraid
Lord, You have promised to be with Your people. I am afraid of (name the fear). Be with me in it. Strengthen me where I am weak, help me where I cannot help myself, and hold me up when I feel like falling. I choose to trust You with this today. Amen.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God”
Before something hard
God, I have to (name what is ahead), and I do not feel strong. You told Joshua to be strong because You would go with him. Go with me today. Give me courage for the next right step, and help me remember that I am not walking into this alone. Amen.
“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
For courage to speak and do right
Lord Jesus, You see what I am facing. Give me boldness to say what is true and to do what is right, with love and without fear of what people will think. Make me like Peter and John, people others could tell had been with You. Amen.
“grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word”
For more, see our prayers for protection. In Faithero you can bookmark Isaiah 41:10 or Joshua 1:9, so the verse you need is one tap away when fear rises.
Frequently asked
What does the Bible say about fear?
The Bible treats fear as a normal human response and answers it with God's presence. Its most repeated command on the subject is not to be afraid, usually followed by a reason: God is with you, He has redeemed you, He will help you (Isaiah 41:10; 43:1). Scripture also speaks of a good fear, the reverent fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), which puts every other fear in its place.
How many times does the Bible say "fear not"?
In the King James Version, the exact words "fear not" appear 62 times, and "be not afraid" 28 more. You may have heard that the Bible says "fear not" 365 times, once for every day of the year, but that number does not match a count of the phrase in the KJV. What matters more is what usually follows the command: a reason to trust God.
What does Isaiah 41:10 mean?
Isaiah 41:10 is God's promise to His people that they do not need to fear, because He is with them and He is their God. He promises to strengthen them, help them and uphold them "with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10, KJV). It was first spoken to Israel, God's servant (Isaiah 41:8), and Christians take it as God's word to His people in every age, echoed in Christ's promise to be with us always (Matthew 28:20).
What does Joshua 1:9 mean?
Joshua 1:9 is God's command to Joshua as he took over from Moses: "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed" (Joshua 1:9, KJV). The reason given is God's presence wherever he goes. Christians apply it to any new or frightening calling: courage is not self-confidence but confidence that God goes with you.
Is it a sin to be afraid?
No. Fear is a normal human emotion, and many faithful people in the Bible felt it, including David (Psalm 56:3) and Paul (1 Corinthians 2:3). Jesus Himself was in agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). Fear becomes a problem when it rules us and keeps us from trusting or obeying God. The Bible's answer is not shame but trust: "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee" (Psalm 56:3, KJV).
How do I pray when I am afraid?
Be honest and specific: tell God exactly what you fear. Then pray one of His promises back to Him, such as Isaiah 41:10 or Psalm 56:3, and ask for courage for the next step rather than the whole road. When the first Christians were threatened, they prayed for boldness (Acts 4:29). If fear is constant or overwhelming, talk to someone you trust, and consider a doctor or counselor as well.
Courage is borrowed
No one in the Bible was brave on their own. Joshua leaned on God's promise, Esther on her people's fasting (Esther 4:16), Peter and John on the time they had spent with Jesus. You can borrow courage the same way.
Pick the verse on this page that names your fear most closely. Say it out loud when the fear rises. Then take one small step you have been putting off. God has not promised that you will never be afraid. He has promised that you will never be alone (Hebrews 13:5).
Bible verses about fear: “Fear not”
“Fear not” is one of the Bible's most repeated commands. In the King James Version the exact words appear 62 times, spoken to Abraham, Hagar, Joshua, Mary, the shepherds near Bethlehem, Paul and many more. Most of the time, the command comes with a reason.
The reasons are worth noticing. To Israel God says, “I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1, KJV). To His frightened disciples Jesus says it is the Father's good pleasure to give them the kingdom (Luke 12:32). God does not tell frightened people to try harder. He tells them who He is and whose they are. Psalm 56:3 is the honest version for the rest of us: not a promise never to be afraid, but “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3, KJV). And 1 John 4:18 shows where fear finally loses its grip: in being loved by God.
If fear has turned into constant worry, see our Bible verses about anxiety, and consider talking to a doctor or counselor as well.