Joshua 3:8

Joshua 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
• New International Version (NIV)Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ”

Context of Joshua 3:8

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. 7Now Adonai said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. You are to command the kohanim who are carrying the ark of the covenant saying: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you are to stand still in the Jordan.’” 9So Joshua said to Bnei-Yisrael, “Come here, and listen to the words of Adonai your God.” 10Joshua said, “By this you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will certainly drive out from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite and the Jebusite.

Joshua 3:8 word by word

וְאַתָּ֗ה תְּצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֥י אֲרֽוֹן־הַבְּרִ֖ית לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּבֹאֲכֶ֗ם עַד־קְצֵה֙ מֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בַּיַּרְדֵּ֖ן תַּעֲמֹֽדוּ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And thou shalt commandצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• that bearנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
• of the covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• When ye are comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to the brinkקָצֶהqâtseh qêtseh · endH7097
• of the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• of Jordanיַרְדֵּןyardên · JordanH3383
• ye shall stand stillעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975

Cross-references for Joshua 3:8

• Joshua 3:3and 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.
• 1 Chronicles 15:11David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the kohanim, along with the Levites, Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab.
• 2 Chronicles 17:8With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-adonijah and with them Elishama and Jehoram the kohanim.
• 2 Chronicles 29:4He brought in the kohanim and the Levites and assembled them into the eastern square.
• 2 Chronicles 30:12The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the officials commanded by the word of Adonai.
• 2 Chronicles 31:9Hezekiah asked the kohanim and the Levites about the heaps.
• 2 Chronicles 35:2He reinstated the kohanim to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the House of Adonai.
• Nehemiah 12:24So the leaders of the Levites were: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, with their brothers facing them, to give praise and thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, one section responding to the other.
• Nehemiah 13:22Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves, and to come and guard the gates in order to sanctify Yom Shabbat. Remember this also on my behalf, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of your lovingkindness.
• Joshua 3:17Yet the kohanim carrying the ark of the covenant of Adonai stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan.
• Exodus 14:13But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see the salvation of Adonai, which He will perform for you today. You have seen the Egyptians today, but you will never see them again, ever!
• Lamentations 3:26It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of Adonai.

Commentaries on Joshua 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Ye shall stand still in Jordan - The priests proceeded first with the ark, and entered into the bed of the river the course of which was immediately arrested, the waters collecting above the place where the priests stood, while the stream fell off towards the Dead Sea; so that the whole channel below where the priests were standing became dry. The whole camp, therefore, passed over below where the priests were standing, keeping at the distance of two…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 7-13 The waters of Jordan shall be cut off. This must be done in such a way as never was done, but in the dividing of the Red sea. That miracle is here repeated; God has the same power to finish the salvation of his people, as to begin it; the WORD of the Lord was as truly with Joshua as with Moses. God's appearances for his people ought to encourage faith and hope. God's work is perfect, he will keep his people. Jordan's flood cannot keep out…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8As they crossed the Jordan River, the ark led the way until the feet of the priests entered the water. The priests were to stand in the Jordan River, not on dry land. By carrying the ark into the water first, the obedient priests demonstrated their faith (compare James 2:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-87-8. the Lord said to Joshua, This day will I ... magnify thee in the sight of all Israel--Joshua had already received distinguished honors (Ex 24:13; De 31:7). But a higher token of the divine favor was now to be publicly bestowed on him, and evidence given in the same unmistakable manner that his mission and authority were from God as was that of Moses (Ex 14:31).Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Jordan
• Jordan River, Jordan
• Ark of the Covenant
• Brim
• Clean
• Fail
• Brink
• Exodus, the Book of
• Joshua (2)
• Joshua, Book of

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