God’s Word Translation
Joshua 4:3
3Order them to pick up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, where the priests’ feet stood firmly. Take the stones along with you, and set them down where you will camp tonight.”
Joshua 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
- New International Version (NIV)and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and command them, saying, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'"
- New King James Version (NKJV)and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”
Context of Joshua 4:3
1The whole nation finished crossing the Jordan River. The Lord had told Joshua, 2“Choose one man from each of the 12 tribes. Order them to pick up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, where the priests’ feet stood firmly. Take the stones along with you, and set them down where you will camp tonight.” 4Joshua called the 12 men whom he had selected (one from each tribe). 5He said to them, “Go to the middle of the Jordan River in front of the ark of the Lord your God. Each man must take a stone on his shoulder, one for each tribe of Israel.
Read all of Joshua 4Joshua 4:3 word by word
וְצַוּ֣וּ אוֹתָם֮ לֵאמֹר֒ שְׂאֽוּ־לָכֶ֨ם מִזֶּ֜ה מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן מִמַּצַּב֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים הָכִ֖ין שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֲבָנִ֑ים וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּ֤ם אוֹתָם֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְהִנַּחְתֶּ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם בַּמָּל֕וֹן אֲשֶׁר־תָּלִ֥ינוּ ב֖וֹ הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And commandצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- ye them, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Takeנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- you hence out of the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- of Jordanיַרְדֵּןyardên · JordanH3383
- out of the place where the priests’כֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- feetרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
- stoodמַצָּבmatstsâb · stationH4673
- firmכּוּןkûn · to establish: establishH3559
- twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
- twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- and ye shall carry them overעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: bringH5674
- with you, and leaveיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
- them in the lodging placeמָלוֹןmâlôn · lodgingH4411
- where ye shall lodgeלוּןlûn lîyn · to lodgeH3885
- this nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
Cross-references for Joshua 4:3
- Joshua 3:13The priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, will stand in the water of the Jordan. Then the water flowing from upstream will stop and stand up like a dam.”
- Joshua 24:27Joshua told all the people, “This stone will stand as a witness for us. It has heard all the words which the Lord spoke to us. It will stand as a witness for you. You cannot deceive your God.”
- Genesis 28:22This stone that I have set up as a marker will be the house of God, and I will surely give you a tenth of everything you give me.”
- Deuteronomy 27:1Moses and the leaders of Israel told the people, “Obey every command I’m giving you today.
- 1 Samuel 7:12Then Samuel took a rock and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer [Rock of Help] and said, “Until now the Lord has helped us.”
- Psalms 103:2Praise the Lord, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done:
- Psalms 11:4The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine Adam’s descendants.
- Luke 19:40Jesus replied, “I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out.”
- Joshua 4:18The priests who carried the ark of the Lord’s promise came out of the middle of the Jordan. When their feet stepped onto dry land, the water of the Jordan returned to its seasonal flood level.
Commentaries on Joshua 4:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Where ye shall lodge this night - This was in the place that was afterwards called Gilgal. See Joshua 4:19.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81-3. the Lord spake unto Joshua, Take you twelve men--each representing a tribe. They had been previously chosen for this service (Jos 3:12), and the repetition of the command is made here solely to introduce the account of its execution. Though Joshua had been divinely instructed to erect a commemorative pile, the representatives were not apprised of the work they were to do till the time of the passage.Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 4:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Joshua 4
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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