Joshua Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan.
2
And it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
3
Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
4
and command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.
5
Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
6
and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;
7
that this may be a sign among you, that, when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
8
then ye shall say unto them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
9
And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
10
And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
11
For the priests that bare the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Jehovah commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
12
And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of Jehovah passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
13
And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
14
about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Jehovah unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
15
On that day Jehovah magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
16
And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
17
Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.
18
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of the Jordan.
19
And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned unto their place, and went over all its banks, as aforetime.
20
And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.
21
And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal.
22
And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
23
then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
24
For Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over;
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And it came to pass when the whole nation had completely gone over the Jordan, that Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying,
2
Take you twelve men out of the people, one man out of every tribe,
3
and command them, saying, Take up hence out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place where ye shall lodge this night.
4
And Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had appointed of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe;
5
and Joshua said to them, Pass before the ark of Jehovah yourGod into the midst of the Jordan, and lift up each of you a stone [and put it] upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
6
that this may be a sign in your midst. When your children ask hereafter, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
7
then ye shall say to them, That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it went through the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
8
And the children of Israel did so, as Joshua had commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging-place, and laid them down there.
9
And twelve stones did Joshua set up in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant had stood firm; and they are there to this day.
10
And the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Jehovah had commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. And the people hasted and passed over.
11
And it came to pass, when all the people had completely gone over, that the ark of Jehovah went over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
12
And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, went over in array before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them.
13
About forty thousand armed for military service passed over before Jehovah to the war, unto the plains of Jericho.
14
On that day Jehovah magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15
And Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying,
16
Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.
17
And Joshua commanded the priests, saying, Come up out of the Jordan.
18
And it came to pass when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah had come up out of the midst of the Jordan, [when] the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on to the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and they flowed as previously, over all its banks.
19
And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the eastern extremity of Jericho.
20
And those twelve stones which they had taken out of the Jordan did Joshua set up in Gilgal.
21
And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children hereafter ask their fathers, saying, What [mean] these stones?
22
then ye shall let your children know, saying, On dry land did Israel come over this Jordan;
23
because Jehovah yourGod dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye had passed over, as Jehovah yourGod did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over;
24
that all peoples of the earth might know the hand of Jehovah, that it is mighty; that ye might fear Jehovah yourGod continually.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And when the people had completely passed over Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,
2
Take men from the people, one of each tribe,
3
and charge them; and ye shall take out of the midst of Jordan twelve fit stones, and having carried them across together with yourselves, place them in your camp, where ye shall encamp for the night.
4
And Joshua having called twelve men of distinction among the children of Israel, one of each tribe,
5
said to them, Advance before me in the presence of the Lord into the midst of Jordan, and each having taken up a stone from thence, let him carry it on his shoulders, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel:
6
that these may be to you continually for an appointed sign, that when thy son asks thee in future, saying, What are these stones to us?
7
then thou mayest explain to thy son, saying, The river Jordan was dried up from before the ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth, when it passed it: and these stones shall be for a memorial for you for the children of Israel for ever.
8
And the children of Israel did so, as the Lord commanded Joshua; and they took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, (as the Lord commanded Joshua, when the children of Israel had completely passed over,) and carried these stones with them into the camp, and laid them down there.
9
And Joshua set also other twelve stones in Jordan itself, in the place that was under the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord; and there they are to this day.
10
And the priests that bore the ark of the covenant stood in Jordan, until Joshua [had] finished all that the Lord commanded him to report to the people; and the people hasted and passed over.
11
And it came to pass when all the people had passed over, that the ark of the covenant of the Lord passed over, and the stones before them.
12
And the sons of Ruben, and the sons of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses commanded them.
13
Forty thousand armed for battle went over before the Lord to war, to the city of Jericho.
14
In that day the Lord magnified Joshua before all the people of Israel; and they feared him, as [they did] Moses, as long as he lived.
15
And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,
16
Charge the priests that bear the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the Lord, to go up out of Jordan.
17
And Joshua charged the priests, saying, Go up out of Jordan.
18
And it came to pass when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord were gone up out of Jordan, and set their feet upon the land, [that] the water of Jordan returned impetuously to its place, and went as before over all its banks.
19
And the people went up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month; and the children of Israel encamped in Galgala in the region eastward from Jericho.
20
And Joshua set these twelve stones which he took out of Jordan, in Galgala,
21
saying, When your sons ask you, saying, What are these stones?
22
Tell your sons, that Israel went over this Jordan on dry land,
23
when the Lord our God had dried up the water of Jordan from before them, until they had passed over; as the Lord our God did to the Red Sea, which the Lord our God dried up from before us, until we passed over.
24
That all the nations of the earth might know, that the power of the Lord is mighty, and that ye might worship the Lord our God in every work.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Quibus transgressis, dixit Dominus ad Iosue:
2
Elige duodecim viros singulos per singulas tribus:
3
et præcipe eis ut tollant de medio Iordanis alveo, ubi steterunt pedes sacerdotum, duodecim durissimos lapides, quos ponetis in loco castrorum, ubi fixeritis hac nocte tentoria.
4
Vocavitque Iosue duodecim viros, quos elegerat de filiis Israel, singulos de singulis tribubus,
5
et ait ad eos: Ite ante arcam Domini Dei vestri ad Iordanis medium, et portate inde singuli singulos lapides in humeris vestris, iuxta numerum filiorum Israel,
6
ut sit signum inter vos: et quando interrogaverint vos filii vestri cras, dicentes: Quid sibi volunt isti lapides?
7
respondebitis eis: Defecerunt aquæ Iordanis ante arcam fœderis Domini, cum transiret eum: idcirco positi sunt lapides isti in monimentum filiorum Israel usque in æternum.
8
Fecerunt ergo filii Israel sicut præcepit eis Iosue, portantes de medio Iordanis alveo duodecim lapides, ut Dominus ei imperarat, iuxta numerum filiorum Israel, usque ad locum, in quo castrametati sunt, ibique posuerunt eos.
9
Alios quoque duodecim lapides posuit Iosue in medio Iordanis alveo, ubi steterunt sacerdotes, qui portabant arcam fœderis: et sunt ibi usque in præsentem diem.
10
Sacerdotes autem, qui portabant arcam, stabant in Iordanis medio, donec omnia complerentur, quæ Iosue, ut loqueretur ad populum, præceperat Dominus, et dixerat ei Moyses. Festinavitque populus, et transiit.
11
Cumque transissent omnes, transivit et arca Domini, sacerdotesque pergebant ante populum.
12
Filii quoque Ruben, et Gad, et dimidia tribus Manasse, armati præcedebant filios Israel, sicut eis præceperat Moyses:
13
et quadraginta pugnatorum millia per turmas, et cuneos, incedebant per plana atque campestria urbis Iericho.
14
In die illo magnificavit Dominus Iosue coram omni Israel, ut timerent eum, sicut timuerant Moysen, dum adviveret.
15
Dixitque ad eum:
16
Præcipe sacerdotibus, qui portant arcam fœderis, ut ascendant de Iordane.
17
Qui præcepit eis, dicens: Ascendite de Iordane.
18
Cumque ascendissent portantes arcam fœderis Domini, et siccam humum calcare cœpissent, reversæ sunt aquæ in alveum suum, et fluebant sicut ante consueverant.
19
Populus autem ascendit de Iordane, decimo die mensis primi, et castrametati sunt in Galgalis contra Orientalem plagam urbis Iericho.
20
Duodecim quoque lapides, quos de Iordanis alveo sumpserant, posuit Iosue in Galgalis,
21
et dixit ad filios Israel: Quando interrogaverint filii vestri cras patres suos, et dixerint eis: Quid sibi volunt lapides isti?
22
docebitis eos, atque dicetis: Per arentem alveum transivit Israel Iordanem istum,
23
siccante Domino Deo vestro aquas eius in conspectu vestro, donec transiretis:
24
sicut fecerat prius in mari rubro, quod siccavit donec transiremus:
25
ut discant omnes terrarum populi fortissimam Domini manum, ut et vos timeatis Dominum Deum vestrum omni tempore.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
When all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
2
“Take twelve men out of the people, a man out of every tribe,
3
and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you’ll camp tonight.’”
4
Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe.
5
Joshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;
6
that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’
7
then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the LORD’s covenant. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’”
8
The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel. They carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there.
9
Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.
10
For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over.
11
When all the people had completely crossed over, the LORD’s ark crossed over with the priests in the presence of the people.
12
The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.
13
About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war, passed over before the LORD to battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14
On that day, the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15
The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
16
“Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, that they come up out of the Jordan.”
17
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”
18
When the priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet had been lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.
19
The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.
20
Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.
21
He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22
Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had crossed over,
24
that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD’s hand is mighty, and that you may fear the LORD your God forever.’”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And it cometh to pass, when all the nation hath completed to pass over the Jordan, that Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua, saying,
2
`Take for you out of the people twelve men, one man--one man out of a tribe;
3
and command ye them, saying, Take up for you from this <FI>place<Fi> , from the midst of the Jordan, from the established standing-place of the feet of the priests, twelve stones, and ye have removed them over with you, and placed them in the lodging-place in which ye lodge to-night.'
4
And Joshua calleth unto the twelve men whom he prepared out of the sons of Israel, one man--one man out of a tribe;
5
and Joshua saith to them, `Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God unto the midst of the Jordan and lift up for you each, one stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel,
6
so that this is a sign in your midst, when your children ask hereafter, saying, What <FI>are<Fi> these stones to you?
7
that ye have said to them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off, at the presence of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; in its passing over into the Jordan were the waters of the Jordan cut off; and these stones have been for a memorial to the sons of Israel--to the age.'
8
And the sons of Israel do so as Joshua commanded, and take up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah hath spoken unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, and remove them over with them unto the lodging-place, and place them there,
9
even the twelve stones hath Joshua raised up out of the midst of the Jordan, the place of the standing of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, and they are there unto this day.
10
And the priests bearing the ark are standing in the midst of the Jordan till the completion of the whole thing which Jehovah commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua, and the people haste and pass over.
11
And it cometh to pass when all the people have completed to pass over, that the ark of Jehovah passeth over, and the priests, in the presence of the people;
12
and the sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, pass over, by fifties, before the sons of Israel, as Moses had spoken unto them;
13
about forty thousand, armed ones of the host, passed over before Jehovah for battle, unto the plains of Jericho.
14
On that day hath Jehovah made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel, and they reverence him, as they reverenced Moses, all days of his life.
15
And Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua, saying,
16
`Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony, and they come up out of the Jordan.'
17
And Joshua commandeth the priests, saying, `Come ye up out of the Jordan.'
18
And it cometh to pass, in the coming up of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the midst of the Jordan--the soles of the feet of the priests have been drawn up into the dry ground--and the waters of the Jordan turn back to their place, and go as heretofore over all its banks.
19
And the people have come up out of the Jordan on the tenth of the first month, and encamp in Gilgal, in the extremity east of Jericho;
20
and these twelve stones, which they have taken out of the Jordan, hath Joshua raised up in Gilgal.
21
And he speaketh unto the sons of Israel, saying, `When your sons ask their fathers hereafter, saying, What <FI>are<Fi> these stones?
22
then ye have caused your sons to know, saying, On dry land Israel passed over this Jordan;
23
because Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan at your presence, till your passing over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red Sea which He dried up at our presence till our passing over;
24
so that all the people of the land do know the hand of Jehovah that it <FI>is<Fi> strong, so that ye have reverenced Jehovah your God all the days.'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).