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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 3:12 Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/3-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/06_Jos_03_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 3:12 - Crossing the Jordan" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.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/3-11.htm" title="Joshua 3:11">◄</a> Joshua 3:12 <a href="/joshua/3-13.htm" title="Joshua 3:13">►</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"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/joshua/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/joshua/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So now, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So now take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now choose 12 men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Choose one man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Now choose twelve men, one from each of the tribes of Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now select for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now therefore take twelve men from the children of Israel, one man for each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and now, take for yourselves twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, one man—one man for a tribe;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and now, take for you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, one man -- one man for a tribe;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And now take to you twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man, one man to a tribe.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Prepare ye twelve men of the tribes of Israel, one of every tribe. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Prepare twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Now choose twelve men, one from each of the tribes of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Now therefore take twelve men from all the tribes of Israel, a man out of each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Therefore take to you twelve men from all the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Choose for yourselves twelve men of the sons of Israel, one of each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/3-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=555" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/joshua/3.htm">Crossing the Jordan</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: wə·‘at·tāh (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: qə·ḥū (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">choose</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: šə·nê (Number-mdc) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">twelve</a> <a href="/hebrew/6240.htm" title="6240: ‘ā·śār (Number-msc) -- Ten. For eser; ten, i.e. -teen; also -teenth."></a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">men</a> <a href="/hebrew/7626.htm" title="7626: miš·šiḇ·ṭê (Prep-m:: N-mpc) -- Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe. From an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. a stick Or a clan.">from the tribes</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel,</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš- (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term."></a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first."></a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš- (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7626.htm" title="7626: laš·šā·ḇeṭ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe. From an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. a stick Or a clan.">from each tribe.</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-4.htm">Exodus 24:4</a></span><br />And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/1-4.htm">Numbers 1:4-16</a></span><br />And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you. / These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; / from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/13-2.htm">Numbers 13:2-4</a></span><br />“Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.” / So at the command of the LORD, Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran. All the men were leaders of the Israelites, / and these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-23.htm">Deuteronomy 1:23</a></span><br />The plan seemed good to me, so I selected twelve men from among you, one from each tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/31-9.htm">Deuteronomy 31:9</a></span><br />So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-31.htm">1 Kings 18:31</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-16.htm">1 Chronicles 27:16-22</a></span><br />These officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: Over the Reubenites was Eliezer son of Zichri; over the Simeonites was Shephatiah son of Maacah; / over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron was Zadok; / over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar was Omri son of Michael; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/6-17.htm">Ezra 6:17</a></span><br />For the dedication of the house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and a sin offering for all Israel of twelve male goats, one for each tribe of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/7-6.htm">Nehemiah 7:6-7</a></span><br />These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, / accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/66-21.htm">Isaiah 66:21</a></span><br />“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-2.htm">Matthew 10:2-4</a></span><br />These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; / Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; / Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-28.htm">Matthew 19:28</a></span><br />Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-13.htm">Luke 6:13-16</a></span><br />When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles: / Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; / Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-30.htm">Luke 22:30</a></span><br />so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-70.htm">John 6:70-71</a></span><br />Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” / He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/4-2.htm">Joshua 4:2,9</a></b></br> Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/31-11.htm">Choose</a> <a href="/joshua/3-9.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/joshua/1-12.htm">Tribe</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-5.htm">Tribes</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-23.htm">Twelve</a> <a href="/joshua/3-5.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/4-2.htm">Choose</a> <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/joshua/4-2.htm">Tribe</a> <a href="/joshua/4-5.htm">Tribes</a> <a href="/joshua/4-2.htm">Twelve</a> <a href="/joshua/4-2.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/3-1.htm">Joshua come to Jordan</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/3-2.htm">The officers instruct the people for their passage</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/3-7.htm">The Lord encourages Joshua</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/3-9.htm">Joshua encourages the people</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/3-14.htm">The water of Jordan are divided</a></span><br></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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/joshua/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel,</b><br>The selection of twelve men from the tribes of Israel is significant as it represents the unity and collective identity of the nation. The number twelve is symbolic throughout the Bible, often representing completeness and God's authority. This mirrors the twelve tribes of Israel, which are foundational to the nation's identity. The act of choosing men from each tribe underscores the importance of communal participation in God's plans and the shared responsibility among the tribes.<p><b>one from each tribe.</b><br>Selecting one man from each tribe ensures that all tribes are equally represented, emphasizing the unity and equality among them. This act of representation is crucial in maintaining the cohesion of the nation as they enter the Promised Land. It also prefigures the New Testament, where Jesus chooses twelve apostles, symbolizing the new people of God. The twelve stones that these men will later carry from the Jordan River serve as a memorial for future generations, reminding them of God's faithfulness and the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, similar to the crossing of the Red Sea.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the book of Joshua and is known for his faithfulness and obedience to God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/twelve_men.htm">Twelve Men</a></b><br>Representatives chosen from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their selection signifies unity and collective responsibility among the tribes.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/tribes_of_israel.htm">Tribes of Israel</a></b><br>The descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, each tribe represents a distinct group within the nation of Israel. Their involvement highlights the communal aspect of Israel's journey and inheritance.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jordan_river.htm">Jordan River</a></b><br>The river that the Israelites must cross to enter the Promised Land. It represents a barrier to be overcome through faith and divine intervention.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/promised_land.htm">Promised Land</a></b><br>The land of Canaan, promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It symbolizes God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_in_diversity.htm">Unity in Diversity</a></b><br>The selection of one man from each tribe underscores the importance of unity among God's people, despite their diverse backgrounds and roles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithful_leadership.htm">Faithful Leadership</a></b><br>Just as the twelve men were chosen for a specific purpose, God calls each of us to serve in unique ways within the body of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_god's_work.htm">Preparation for God's Work</a></b><br>The act of choosing the twelve men was a preparatory step for a significant event. We must be ready and willing to step into the roles God has prepared for us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_promises.htm">Trust in God's Promises</a></b><br>The crossing of the Jordan River is a testament to God's faithfulness. We are called to trust in His promises, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_are_the_israelites.htm">What is the identity of the Israelites?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/will_i_show_mercy.htm">Why is Dan excluded from Revelation's 144,000 list?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_men,_mankind,_and_brothers_differ.htm">How do "men," "mankind," and "brothers" differ?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/joshua_4_1-24__how_to_reconcile_timeline_conflicts.htm">Joshua 4:1–24: How do we reconcile this account with conflicting timelines or details in other biblical narratives?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joshua/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) <span class= "bld">Take you twelve men.</span>--These were selected beforehand and kept in readiness, that there might be no delay in the work which they had to do (<a href="/joshua/4-3.htm" title="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.">Joshua 4:3</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Take you twelve men.</span> Joshua commands the election of twelve men previous to the passage of the Jordan, and in pursuance of the command he had already (<a href="/joshua/4-2.htm">Joshua 4:2</a>; cf. note on ver. 2) received from God. The reason for which they were to be chosen was probably not communicated to the Israelites till after the passage had taken place. Masius thinks that it would make the narrative clearer, "si proximum is versiculum sequeretur." But see note on Joshua 4:1. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/3-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַתָּ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">choose</span><br /><span class="heb">קְח֤וּ</span> <span class="translit">(qə·ḥū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">twelve</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(šə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - mdc<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> </span><span class="str2">Two (a cardinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">men</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֔ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from the tribes</span><br /><span class="heb">מִשִּׁבְטֵ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(miš·šiḇ·ṭê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7626.htm">Strong's 7626: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Israel,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶחָ֥ד</span> <span class="translit">(’e·ḥāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from each tribe.</span><br /><span class="heb">לַשָּֽׁבֶט׃</span> <span class="translit">(laš·šā·ḇeṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7626.htm">Strong's 7626: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/3-12.htm">Joshua 3:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/3-12.htm">OT History: Joshua 3:12 Now therefore take twelve men out (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/3-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 3:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 3:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/3-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 3:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 3:13" /></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>