Focused Passage

Joshua 3:14-17

Crossing the Jordan by the Presence of the LORD

Israel consecrates itself, follows the ark of the covenant, and crosses the Jordan on dry ground as the LORD exalts Joshua and confirms His presence among His people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

14So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.

15Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,

16the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

17The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 14

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 9:3Classic cross-references Psalms 111:6Classic cross-references 2 Kings 2:8Classic cross-references Acts 7:44Classic cross-references Psalms 66:6Classic cross-references

Original words

Soוַיְהִ֗יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwhen the peopleהָעָם֙H5971Article | Noun - masculine singularbroke campבִּנְסֹ֤עַH5265Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct. . .מֵאָ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔םH168Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralto crossלַעֲבֹ֖רH5674Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularthe priestsוְהַכֹּהֲנִ֗יםH3548Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine pluralcarriedנֹֽשְׂאֵ֛יH5375Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructthe arkהָאָר֥וֹןH727Article | Noun - common singularof the covenantהַבְּרִ֖יתH1285Article | Noun - feminine singularahead ofלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct[them]הָעָֽם׃H5971Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Isaiah 43:2Classic cross-references Joshua 4:18Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 12:15Classic cross-references Psalms 77:16Classic cross-references Jeremiah 12:5Classic cross-references

Original words

Now the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularoverflowsמָלֵא֙H4390Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .עַל־H5921Preposition. . .כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructits banksגְּדוֹתָ֔יוH1415Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularthroughoutכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe harvestקָצִֽיר׃H7105Noun - masculine singularseasonיְמֵ֥יH3117Noun - masculine plural constructBut as soon as the priestsהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙H3548Article | Noun - masculine plural. . .נֹשְׂאֵ֣יH5375Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct. . .הָֽאָר֔וֹןH727Article | Noun - common singularcarryingנֹשְׂאֵ֤יH5375Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructthe arkהָֽאָרוֹן֙H727Article | Noun - common singularreachedוּכְב֞וֹאH935Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct. . .עַד־H5704Prepositionthe Jordanוְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ןH3383Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular[and] their feetוְרַגְלֵ֤יH7272Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine dual constructtouchedנִטְבְּל֖וּH2881Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralthe water’sהַמָּ֑יִםH4325Article | Noun - masculine pluraledgeבִּקְצֵ֣הH7097Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct

Verse 16

Cross-references

Isaiah 50:2Classic cross-references Psalms 33:7Classic cross-references Ezekiel 47:8Classic cross-references Joshua 3:13Classic cross-references Psalms 66:6Classic cross-references

Original words

the flowingהַיֹּרְדִ֨יםH3381Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural. . .מִלְמַ֜עְלָהH4605Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singularwaterהַמַּיִם֩H4325Article | Noun - masculine pluralstood stillוַיַּעַמְד֡וּH5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralIt backed upקָ֣מוּH6965Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural. . .אֶחָ֗דH259Number - masculine singular. . .נֵד־H5067Noun - masculine singularas far upstreamהַרְחֵ֨קH7368Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute. . .מְאֹ֜דH3966Adverbas AdamבָאָדָםH121Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singulara cityהָעִיר֙H5892Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁר֙H834Pronoun - relativein the areaמִצַּ֣דH6654Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof Zarethanצָֽרְתָ֔ןH6891Noun - proper - feminine singularwhile the water flowingוְהַיֹּרְדִ֗יםH3381Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluraltowardעַ֣לH5921Prepositionthe Seaיָ֧םH3220Noun - masculine singular constructof the Arabahהָעֲרָבָ֛הH6160Article | Noun - feminine singularthe Salt Seaיָם־H3220Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הַמֶּ֖לַחH4417Article | Noun - masculine singularwas completelyתַּ֣מּוּH8552Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralcut offנִכְרָ֑תוּH3772Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralSo the peopleוְהָעָ֥םH5971Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularcrossed overעָבְר֖וּH5674Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraloppositeנֶ֥גֶדH5048PrepositionJerichoיְרִיחֽוֹ׃H3405Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

That is, the Dead Sea

Verse 17

Cross-references

Exodus 14:22Classic cross-references Exodus 14:29Classic cross-references Matthew 2:13Classic cross-references Numbers 33:51Classic cross-references Psalms 66:6Classic cross-references

Original words

The priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֡יםH3548Article | Noun - masculine pluralcarryingנֹ֠שְׂאֵיH5375Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructthe arkהָאָר֨וֹןH727Article | Noun - common singularof the covenantבְּרִית־H1285Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularstoodוַיַּעַמְד֣וּH5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralfirmהָכֵ֑ןH3559Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteon dry groundבֶּחָֽרָבָ֛הH2724Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularin the middleבְּת֥וֹךְH8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֖ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularwhile allוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularcrossed overעֹֽבְרִים֙H5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralthe dry groundבֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔הH2724Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularuntilעַ֤דH5704Preposition-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativethe entireכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructnationהַגּ֔וֹיH1471Article | Noun - masculine singularvvvתַּ֙מּוּ֙H8552Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralhad crossedלַעֲבֹ֖רH5674Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃H3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular

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