Christian Standard Bible
Joshua 3:4
4But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between yourselves and the ark. Don’t go near it, so that you can see the way to go, for you haven’t traveled this way before.”
Joshua 3:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
- New International Version (NIV)Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Context of Joshua 3:4
2After three days the officers went through the camp 3and commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God carried by the Levitical priests, you are to break camp and follow it. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between yourselves and the ark. Don’t go near it, so that you can see the way to go, for you haven’t traveled this way before.” 5Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow.” 6Then he said to the priests, “Carry the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.
Read all of Joshua 3Joshua 3:4 word by word
אַ֣ךְ׀ רָח֣וֹק יִהְיֶ֗ה בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙ וּבֵינָ֔יו כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם אַמָּ֖ה בַּמִּדָּ֑ה אַֽל־תִּקְרְב֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו לְמַ֤עַן אֲשֶׁר־תֵּֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֧א עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ מִתְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yet there shall be a spaceרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
- between you and it, about two thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- cubitsאַמָּה'ammâh · cubitH520
- by measureמִדָּהmiddâh · measureH4060
- come not nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
- unto it, that ye may knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
- by which ye must goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- for ye have not passedעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- heretoforeשִׁלְשֹׁםshilshôm shilshôm · three days agoH8032
- heretoforeתְּמוֹלtemôl temôl · yesterdayH8543
Cross-references for Joshua 3:4
- Exodus 3:5“Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
- Exodus 19:12Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death.
- Psalms 89:7God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround him.
- Hebrews 12:28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
- Genesis 31:2And Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same as before.
- Exodus 4:10But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent — either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant — because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:2Even previously when Saul was king, you were leading Israel out to battle and bringing us back. The Lord your God also said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.’”
- Isaiah 30:33Indeed! Topheth has been ready for the king for a long time. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the Lord, like a torrent of burning sulfur, kindles it.
Commentaries on Joshua 3:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4About two thousand cubits - This distance they were to keep, For the greater respect, because the presence of the ark was the symbol and pledge of the Divine presence. 2. That the ark, which was to be their pilot over these waters, might be the more conspicuous which it could not have been had the people crowded upon it.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The ark, which was since the making of the covenant the special shrine and seat of God‘s presence, went before to show the people that God, through its medium, was their leader. They were to follow at a distance that they might the better observe and mark how the miracle was accomplished. This they would do to the greatest advantage while coming down the heights, the ark going on before them into the ravine.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark: God did this so they would not become careless about his presence. They were to respond to God with deep respect and awe, because God is holy.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. the officers went through the host; And they commanded the people--The instructions given at this time and in this place were different from those described (Jos 1:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 3:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Joshua 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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