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.
• 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

2Now it came about after three days that the officials went through the camp 3and they charged the people saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of Adonai your God and the Levitical kohanim carrying it, then you must set out from your place and follow it. Yet keep a distance between you and it of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Don’t come near it, so you may know the way by which you should go, for you haven’t travelled this way before.” 5Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow Adonai will do wonders in your midst.” 6Joshua spoke to the kohanim saying: “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.

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 3:5Then He said, “Come no closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
• Exodus 19:12You are to set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Be very careful not to go up onto the mountain, or touch the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death.
• Psalms 89:7For who in the skies can compare to Adonai? Who is like Adonai among the sons of gods?
• Hebrews 12:28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude—through this we may offer worship in a manner pleasing to God, with reverence and awe.
• Genesis 31:2Then Jacob saw Laban’s face, and he noticed that his expression wasn’t the same as it was just a day or two before.
• Exodus 4:10But Moses said to Adonai, “Adonai, I am not a man of words—not yesterday, nor the day before, nor since You have spoken to Your servant—because I have a slow mouth and a heavy tongue.”
• 1 Chronicles 11:2In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one that led out and brought in Israel. Adonai your God also said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel and you shall be ruler over My people Israel.’”
• Isaiah 30:33For Topheth has long been ready, prepared for the king, its fire pit made deep and wide, a pyre of fire with plenty of wood. The breath of Adonai, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it aflame.

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