New English Translation
Joshua 4:18
18The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the middle of the Jordan, and as soon as they set foot on dry land, the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage.
Joshua 4:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
- New International Version (NIV)And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before.
Context of Joshua 4:18
16“Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenantal laws to come up from the Jordan.” 17So Joshua instructed the priests, “Come up from the Jordan!” The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the middle of the Jordan, and as soon as they set foot on dry land, the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage. 19The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20Now Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan.
Read all of Joshua 4Joshua 4:18 word by word
וַ֠יְהִי כַּעֲל֨וֹת הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים נֹשְׂאֵ֨י אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן נִתְּק֗וּ כַּפּוֹת֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים אֶ֖ל הֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֤בוּ מֵֽי־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לִמְקוֹמָ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ כִתְמוֹל־שִׁלְשׁ֖וֹם עַל־כָּל־גְּדוֹתָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass, when the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- that bareנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
- of the covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- were come upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- out of the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- of Jordanיַרְדֵּןyardên · JordanH3383
- the solesכַּףkaph · palm: soleH3709
- feetרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
- were lifted upנָתַקnâthaq · to tearH5423
- unto the dry landחָֽרָבָהchârâbâh · dry groundH2724
- that the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- unto their placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
- and flowedיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- over all his banksגָּדָהgâdâh · bankH1415
- asתְּמוֹלtemôl temôl · yesterdayH8543
- beforeשִׁלְשֹׁםshilshôm shilshôm · three days agoH8032
Cross-references for Joshua 4:18
- Joshua 3:13When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the Lord, the Ruler of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up.”
- Exodus 14:26The Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward the sea, so that the waters may flow back on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen!”
- Joshua 3:15When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water – (the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time) –
- 1 Chronicles 12:15They crossed the Jordan River in the first month, when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west.
- Isaiah 8:8It will spill into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel.”
Commentaries on Joshua 4:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The waters of Jordan returned unto their place - It is particularly remarked by the sacred historian, that as soon as the soles of the priests' feet touched the water, the stream of the Jordan was cut off, Joshua 3:15, and the course of the river continued to be inverted all the time they continued in its channel; and that as soon as the soles of their feet had touched the dry land, on their return from the bed of the river, the waters immediately resumed…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-19Verses 10-19 The priests with the ark did not stir till ordered to move. Let none be weary of waiting, while they have the tokens of God's presence with them, even the ark of the covenant, though it be in the depths of adversity. Notice is taken of the honour put upon Joshua. Those are feared in the best manner, and to the best purpose, who make it appear that God is with them, and that they set him before them.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18After Israel crossed the river, the Jordan overflowed its banks as before. These events could not occur without God’s intervention.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark ... were come out of the midst of Jordan ... that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place--Their crossing, which was the final act, completed the evidence of the miracle; for then, and not till then, the suspended laws of nature were restored, the waters returned to their place, and the river flowed with as full a current as before.Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 4:18
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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