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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Joshua 4:3 and command them: 'Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.'"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/4-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/06_Jos_04_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 4:3 - Twelve Stones from the Jordan" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="and command them: 'Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/joshua/4-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/joshua/4-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/joshua/">Joshua</a> > <a href="/joshua/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/joshua/4-2.htm" title="Joshua 4:2">◄</a> Joshua 4:3 <a href="/joshua/4-4.htm" title="Joshua 4:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/joshua/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/joshua/4.htm">New International Version</a> and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/joshua/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’” <a href="/esv/joshua/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” <a href="/bsb/joshua/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> and command them: ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.’” <a href="/kjv/joshua/4.htm">King James Bible</a> And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. <a href="/nkjv/joshua/4.htm">New King James Version</a> and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ” <a href="/nasb_/joshua/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firmly, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the encampment where you will spend the night.’” <a href="/nasb/joshua/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> and command them, saying, &#8216Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests&#8217 feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/joshua/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’” <a href="/lsb/joshua/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> and command them, saying, ‘Carry for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’” <a href="/amp/joshua/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> and command them, ‘Pick up for yourselves twelve stones [one each] from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm; carry them over with you and lay them down at the place where you will spend the night tonight.’” <a href="/csb/joshua/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> and command them: Take twelve stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.” <a href="/hcsb/joshua/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> and command them: Take 12 stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.&#8221 <a href="/asv/joshua/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/erv/joshua/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> and command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of 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. <a href="/gwt/joshua/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Order them to pick up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, where the priests' feet stood firmly. Take the stones along with you, and set them down where you will camp tonight." <a href="/gnt/joshua/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> and command them to take twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests were standing. Tell them to carry these stones with them and to put them down where you camp tonight." <a href="/isv/joshua/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> and tell them, 'Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests' feet were standing, bring them along with you, and put them down where you camp tonight.'" <a href="/msb/joshua/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> and command them: ?Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.?? <a href="/net/joshua/4.htm">NET Bible</a> Instruct them, 'Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.'" <a href="/nheb/joshua/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> and command them, saying, "Take up for yourselves from here, from the middle of the Jordan from the place where the feet of the priests stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging place, where you will lodge tonight.'" <a href="/wbt/joshua/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging-place where ye shall lodge this night. <a href="/web/joshua/4.htm">World English Bible</a> 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.’” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/joshua/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and command them, saying, Take up for yourselves from this [place], from the midst of the Jordan, from the established standing-place of the feet of the priests, twelve stones, and you have removed them over with you, and placed them in the lodging-place in which you lodge tonight.” <a href="/ylt/joshua/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and command ye them, saying, Take up for you from this place, 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.' <a href="/slt/joshua/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And command ye them, saying, Take up to you from hence out of the midst of Jordan from the firm standing of the feet of the priests, twelve stones, and pass them over with you, and deposit them in the lodging place where ye shall remain in it the night.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/joshua/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And command them to take out of the midst of the Jordan, where the feet of the priests stood, twelve very hard stones, which you shall set in the place of the camp, where you shall pitch your tents this night. <a href="/cpdv/joshua/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> and instruct them so that they may take from the midst of the channel of the Jordan, where the feet of the priests stood still, twelve very hard stones, which you shall station in the place of the camp, where you will pitch your tents this night.” <a href="/nabre/joshua/4.htm">New American Bible</a> and command them, “Take up twelve stones from this spot in the Jordan riverbed where the priests have been standing. Carry them over with you, and place them where you are to stay tonight.” <a href="/nrsvce/joshua/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> and command them, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.’”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/joshua/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And command them, saying, Take from here out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood, twelve stones, and you shall carry them over with you, and lay them in the lodging place where you lodge this night. <a href="/hpbt/joshua/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And command them and say to them: ‘Take for yourselves from here from within the Jordan, provide twelve stones from under the feet of the Priests and bring them with you and put them among the lodging where you lodge in the night’”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/joshua/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> and command ye them, saying: Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood, twelve stones made ready, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.' <a href="/sep/joshua/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> 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. <a href="/parallel/joshua/4-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=635" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/joshua/4.htm">Twelve Stones from the Jordan</a> …2“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3<a href="/hebrew/6680.htm" title="6680: wə·ṣaw·wū (Conj-w:: V-Piel-Imp-mp) -- To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order. A primitive root; to constitute, enjoin.">and command them:</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: śə·’ū- (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">‘Take up</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">for yourselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: šə·têm- (Number-fd) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">twelve</a> <a href="/hebrew/6240.htm" title="6240: ‘eś·rêh (Number-fsc) -- Ten. For eser; ten, i.e. -teen; also -teenth."></a> <a href="/hebrew/68.htm" title="68: ’ă·ḇā·nîm (N-fp) -- A stone. From the root of banah through the meaning to build; a stone.">stones</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: miz·zeh (Prep-m:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: mit·tō·wḵ (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">the middle</a> <a href="/hebrew/3383.htm" title="3383: hay·yar·dên (Art:: N-proper-fs) -- The principal river of Pal. From yarad; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine.">of the Jordan</a> <a href="/hebrew/4673.htm" title="4673: mim·maṣ·ṣaḇ (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Standing place, station, garrison. From natsab; a fixed spot; figuratively, an office, a military post."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7272.htm" title="7272: raḡ·lê (N-fdc) -- Foot. From ragal; a foot; by implication, a step; by euphem. The pudenda."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: hak·kō·hă·nîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">where the priests</a> <a href="/hebrew/3559.htm" title="3559: hā·ḵîn (V-Hifil-InfAbs) -- A primitive root; properly, to be erect; hence to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal, or figurative.">were standing,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5674.htm" title="5674: wə·ha·‘ă·ḇar·tem (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To pass over, through, or by, pass on. A primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition; specifically, to cover.">carry</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">them</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im·mā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">with you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5117.htm" title="5117: wə·hin·naḥ·tem (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To rest, i.e. settle down">and set them down</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4411.htm" title="4411: bam·mā·lō·wn (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- A lodging place, inn, khan. From luwn; a lodgment, i.e. Caravanserai or encampment.">in the place</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">where</a> <a href="/hebrew/3885.htm" title="3885: tā·lî·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- Or liyn; a primitive root; to stop; by implication, to stay permanently; hence to be obstinate.">you spend</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3915.htm" title="3915: hal·lā·yə·lāh (Art:: N-ms) -- Night. Or leyl; also laylah; from the same as luwl; properly, a twist, i.e. Night; figuratively, adversity.">the night.’”</a> 4So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/12-14.htm">Exodus 12:14</a> And this day will be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, as a permanent statute for the generations to come. <a href="/deuteronomy/27-2.htm">Deuteronomy 27:2-3</a> And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. / Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. <a href="/1_kings/18-31.htm">1 Kings 18:31</a> And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” <a href="/genesis/28-18.htm">Genesis 28:18</a> Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it, <a href="/1_samuel/7-12.htm">1 Samuel 7:12</a> Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” <a href="/2_kings/3-16.htm">2 Kings 3:16-17</a> and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ <a href="/isaiah/43-16.htm">Isaiah 43:16-17</a> Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, / who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: <a href="/psalms/114-3.htm">Psalm 114:3</a> The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back; <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Psalm 78:13</a> He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall. <a href="/psalms/66-6.htm">Psalm 66:6</a> He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him. <a href="/john/1-28.htm">John 1:28</a> All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. <a href="/matthew/3-9.htm">Matthew 3:9</a> And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. <a href="/hebrews/11-29.htm">Hebrews 11:29</a> By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-1.htm">1 Corinthians 10:1-2</a> I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. <a href="/acts/7-44.htm">Acts 7:44-45</a> Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. / And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And command you them, saying, Take you hence out of the middle of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and you shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where you shall lodge this night.the priest's feet<a href="/joshua/3-13.htm">Joshua 3:13</a> And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.twelve stones<a href="/joshua/24-27.htm">Joshua 24:27</a> And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.<a href="/genesis/28-22.htm">Genesis 28:22</a> And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.<a href="/deuteronomy/27-1.htm">Deuteronomy 27:1-26</a> And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day… leave them<a href="/joshua/4-18.htm">Joshua 4:18,19,20</a> 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… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/3-8.htm">Carry</a> <a href="/joshua/3-8.htm">Command</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/9-12.htm">Hence</a> <a href="/joshua/4-1.htm">Jordan</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-41.htm">Lay</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/31-8.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Middle</a> <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/joshua/3-1.htm">Night</a> <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/joshua/1-2.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-8.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/joshua/2-2.htm">Tonight</a> <a href="/joshua/4-2.htm">Twelve</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/4-16.htm">Carry</a> <a href="/joshua/4-16.htm">Command</a> <a href="/judges/6-18.htm">Hence</a> <a href="/joshua/4-5.htm">Jordan</a> <a href="/joshua/15-46.htm">Lay</a> <a href="/joshua/8-17.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/joshua/4-5.htm">Middle</a> <a href="/joshua/4-5.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/joshua/6-11.htm">Night</a> <a href="/joshua/4-9.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/joshua/4-4.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/joshua/4-6.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/joshua/4-9.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/judges/19-6.htm">Tonight</a> <a href="/joshua/4-4.htm">Twelve</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 4</div>1. <a href="/joshua/4-1.htm">Twelve men are appointed to take twelve memorial stones from Jordan</a> 9. <a href="/joshua/4-9.htm">Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of Jordan</a> 10. <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">The people pass over</a> 14. <a href="/joshua/4-14.htm">God magnifies Joshua</a> 15. <a href="/joshua/4-15.htm">The priests commanded to come out of Jordan</a> 20. <a href="/joshua/4-20.htm">The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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It reflects the biblical theme of leadership and the role of God's chosen leaders in guiding His people. This command is part of a larger narrative where God is establishing Joshua's authority, similar to how Moses was commanded by God in the past.‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones: The number twelve is significant in biblical symbolism, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. This act serves as a memorial for the entire nation, signifying unity and collective memory. The stones are a physical representation of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises to the twelve tribes.from the middle of the Jordan: The Jordan River is a significant geographical and spiritual landmark in Israel's history. Crossing the Jordan symbolizes entering into the Promised Land, a pivotal moment for the Israelites. The middle of the river, where the waters were miraculously stopped, highlights God's direct intervention and power. This location underscores the miraculous nature of the event, as the stones are taken from a place that would normally be inaccessible.where the priests were standing: The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stood in the riverbed, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The Ark, representing God's covenant and His throne, signifies that it is by God's power and presence that the Israelites are able to cross. This mirrors the crossing of the Red Sea, where God's presence led the way.carry them with you: This instruction to carry the stones signifies the importance of remembering and bearing witness to God's acts. It is a call to actively participate in the remembrance of God's deliverance. The act of carrying the stones is a tangible way for the Israelites to engage with their history and faith.and set them down in the place where you spend the night.’” The stones are to be set up at the Israelites' first encampment in the Promised Land, Gilgal. This location becomes a place of remembrance and teaching for future generations. It serves as a physical reminder of God's faithfulness and the miraculous crossing, encouraging the Israelites to trust in God's continued guidance and provision.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a> The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a> The people of God, who are crossing the Jordan River into the land promised to them by God. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_jordan_river.htm">The Jordan River</a> A significant geographical and spiritual boundary that the Israelites must cross to enter the Promised Land. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_twelve_stones.htm">The Twelve Stones</a> Stones taken from the Jordan River to serve as a memorial for the miraculous crossing. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_priests.htm">The Priests</a> Those who carried the Ark of the Covenant and stood in the Jordan River, causing the waters to part.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/m/memorials_of_faith.htm">Memorials of Faith</a> Just as the twelve stones served as a physical reminder of God's deliverance, we should establish memorials in our lives to remember God's faithfulness. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a> The Israelites' obedience in taking the stones demonstrates the importance of following God's instructions, even when they may not fully understand the purpose. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership.htm">The Role of Leadership</a> Joshua's leadership in directing the people to take the stones highlights the importance of godly leadership in guiding others to remember and honor God's works. <a href="/topical/t/the_significance_of_community.htm">The Significance of Community</a> The collective action of the Israelites in setting up the stones underscores the importance of community in witnessing and remembering God's acts. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a> The act of taking stones from the riverbed required faith that God would continue to hold back the waters, illustrating the need for faith in God's ongoing provision and protection.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 4</a> <a href="/q/how_did_joshua_lead_the_israelites.htm">How did Joshua lead the Israelites into the Promised Land?</a> <a href="/q/how_did_early_israelites_offer_firstfruits.htm">How did early Israelites fulfill the centralized requirement of bringing firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26) before a formal temple or priesthood was consistently established?</a> <a href="/q/does_joshua_4_18_defy_science.htm">Joshua 4:18: Does the river's instantaneous return defy known natural processes, suggesting a contradiction with scientific norms?</a> <a href="/q/goliath's_sword__how_did_it_reach_nob.htm">How did Goliath's sword end up in the temple at Nob, and is there a historical or archaeological record (1 Samuel 21:8-9)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joshua/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>IV.(3) Out of the midst of Jordan . . . twelve stones--(9) Twelve stones in the midst of Jordan.--It would seem that we are to understand two cairns to have been set up, one on either side the river, to mark the place where the Israelites crossed. The western cairn was in Gilgal, the other on the opposite side, at the edge of the overflow, where the priests had stopped. The only difficulty lies in the words above cited, in the midst of Jordan. The phrase, like many other Hebrew phrases, is used in a different way from that in which we should use it. The words "in the middle of the Jordan" to an English reader appear to mean half-way between the banks. But if the river were divided, and half of it had recoiled many miles towards the north, and the rest flowed away to the south, any one standing between these two parts of the river might be said to stand in the midst of Jordan, the two parts being on either side; and he would be equally in the midst, as regards them, whether he were at the edge of the stream or not. It is contrary to common-sense, as well as to the words of the text, to suppose that a cairn was set up in the midst of the river's bed. "They are there unto this day," the writer adds in <a href="/joshua/4-9.htm" title="And Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bore the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there to this day.">Joshua 4:9</a>. It is perfectly clear from <a href="/joshua/3-8.htm" title="And you shall command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan.">Joshua 3:8</a> that the priests stood at the brim of the overflow. That spot and no other would be the particular spot which it would be most interesting to mark, the place from which Jordan, in full flood, was driven back.Further, the words "in the midst" (Hebrew, Vtholc) do not necessarily mean more than within. In <a href="/joshua/19-1.htm" title="And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.">Joshua 19:1</a>, it is said the inheritance of Simeon was within (b'thok) the inheritance of the children of Judah. Yet it was entirely on one edge of it. May not the ark standing in the midst of Jordan represent that suspension of the power of death which is effected by the interposition of our Saviour, and fills the interval between the reign of death "from Adam to Moses," and the "second death" that is to come?<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 3. - Stood firm. Much discussion has taken place about the proper rendering of the word הָכִין which the LXX. translates ἐτοίμους, and the Vulgate durissimos. It seems best to take it, as our version does, as the infinitive absolute, and to translate as in ch. 'Hi. 17. But the punctuation of the Masorites separates it from מִםמּצַּב. They would apparently render "to set up." <a href="/commentaries/joshua/4-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>and command them: וְצַוּ֣וּ (wə·ṣaw·wū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6680.htm">Strong's 6680: </a> To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order ‘Take up שְׂאֽוּ־ (śə·’ū-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> To lift, carry, take for yourselves לָכֶ֨ם (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> twelve שְׁתֵּים־ (šə·têm-) Number - fd <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> Two (a cardinal number) stones אֲבָנִ֑ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_68.htm">Strong's 68: </a> A stone from מִזֶּ֜ה (miz·zeh) Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that the middle מִתּ֣וֹךְ (mit·tō·wḵ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> A bisection, the centre of the Jordan הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן (hay·yar·dên) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3383.htm">Strong's 3383: </a> Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine where the priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> Priest were standing, הָכִ֖ין (hā·ḵîn) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3559.htm">Strong's 3559: </a> To be erect carry וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּ֤ם (wə·ha·‘ă·ḇar·tem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5674.htm">Strong's 5674: </a> To pass over, through, or by, pass on them with you, עִמָּכֶ֔ם (‘im·mā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5973.htm">Strong's 5973: </a> With, equally with and set them down וְהִנַּחְתֶּ֣ם (wə·hin·naḥ·tem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3240.htm">Strong's 3240: </a> Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place, in the place בַּמָּל֕וֹן (bam·mā·lō·wn) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4411.htm">Strong's 4411: </a> A lodgment, caravanserai, encampment where אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you spend תָּלִ֥ינוּ (tā·lî·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3885.htm">Strong's 3885: </a> To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate the night.’” הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ (hal·lā·yə·lāh) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3915.htm">Strong's 3915: </a> A twist, night, adversity <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/joshua/4-3.htm">Joshua 4:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/joshua/4-3.htm">OT History: Joshua 4:3 And command them saying 'Take from out (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/4-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 4:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 4:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/4-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 4:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 4:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>