Joshua 4:18

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“Command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to come up out of the riverbed.” 17So Joshua gave the command. As soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant came up out of the riverbed and their feet were on high ground, the water of the Jordan returned and overflowed its banks as before. 19The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. 20It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.

Joshua 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 3:13The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”
• Exodus 14:26When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.”
• Joshua 3:15It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge,
• 1 Chronicles 12:15These were the men who crossed the Jordan River during its seasonal flooding at the beginning of the year and drove out all the people living in the lowlands on both the east and west banks.
• Isaiah 8:8and sweep into Judah until it is chin deep. It will spread its wings, submerging your land from one end to the other, 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

• Miracles
• Priest
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• Jordan
• Jordan River, Jordan
• Ark of the Covenant
• Ark
• Bank
• Joshua (2)
• Joshua, Book of
• Number
• Priests and Levites

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