Joshua 3:4

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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”

Context of Joshua 3:4

2After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 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.” 5Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” 6Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

Joshua 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 any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
• Exodus 19:12Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.
• Psalms 89:7In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.
• Hebrews 12:28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
• Genesis 31:2And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.
• Exodus 4:10Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
• 1 Chronicles 11:2In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ”
• Isaiah 30:33Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.

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

• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• Brim
• Clean
• Fail
• Ark of the Covenant
• Exodus, the Book of
• Heretofore
• Joshua (2)
• Joshua, Book of
• Priests and Levites
• Sabbath Day's Journey

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