Joshua

Joshua 4:5–9

5and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, 6to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”

8Thus the Israelites did as Joshua had commanded them. They took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each tribe of Israel, just as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them to the camp, where they set them down.

9Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan,a in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day.

Footnotes

  • a 4:9 Some translators And Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan

Read all of Joshua 4

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Joshua 4:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
and saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
to themלָהֶם֙lā·hemPreposition; third person masculine plural
Cross overעִ֠בְרוּ‘iḇ·rūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
beforeלִפְנֵ֨יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
the arkאֲר֧וֹן’ă·rō·wnNoun - common singular constructH727 chest, ark
of the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵemNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine pluralH430 God
intoאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the middleתּ֣וֹךְtō·wḵNoun - masculine singular constructH8432 midst
of the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןhay·yar·dênArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3383 Jordan
Eachאִ֣ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
of you is to takeוְהָרִ֨ימוּwə·hā·rî·mūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralH7311 be high, exalted, rise
aאַחַת֙’a·ḥaṯNumber - feminine singularH259 one
stoneאֶ֤בֶן’e·ḇenNoun - feminine singularH68 stone
uponעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
his shoulderשִׁכְמ֔וֹšiḵ·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7926 shoulder
according to the numberלְמִסְפַּ֖רlə·mis·parPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH4557 number, tale
of the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֥יšiḇ·ṭêNoun - masculine plural constructH7626 rod, staff, club, sceptre
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel

Joshua 4:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
toלְמַ֗עַןlə·ma·‘anConjunctionH4616 purpose, intent
serve asתִּֽהְיֶ֛הtih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a signא֖וֹת’ō·wṯNoun - common singularH226 sign
among youבְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑םbə·qir·bə·ḵemPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH7130 inward part, midst
In the futureמָחָר֙mā·ḥārAdverbH4279 tomorrow, in time to come
whenכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
your childrenבְּנֵיכֶ֤םbə·nê·ḵemNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine pluralH1121 son
askיִשְׁאָל֨וּןyiš·’ā·lūnVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; Paragogic nunH7592 ask, inquire
Whatמָ֛הmāhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
do theseהָאֵ֖לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
stonesהָאֲבָנִ֥יםhā·’ă·ḇā·nîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH68 stone
mean to youלָכֶֽם׃lā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine plural

Joshua 4:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
you are to tellוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣םwa·’ă·mar·temConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
themלָהֶ֗םlā·hemPreposition; third person masculine plural
The watersמֵימֵ֤יmê·mêNoun - masculine plural constructH4325 water, juice, urine
of the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּן֙hay·yar·dênArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3383 Jordan
were cut offנִכְרְת֜וּniḵ·rə·ṯūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3772 cut off, cut down
beforeמִפְּנֵי֙mip·pə·nêPreposition-m; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
the arkאֲר֣וֹן’ă·rō·wnNoun - common singular constructH727 chest, ark
of the covenantבְּרִית־bə·rîṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH1285 covenant
of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
When it crossedבְּעָבְרוֹ֙bə·‘ā·ḇə·rōwPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the Jordanבַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ןbay·yar·dênPreposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3383 Jordan
watersמֵ֣יmêNoun - masculine plural constructH4325 water, juice, urine
were cut offנִכְרְת֖וּniḵ·rə·ṯūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3772 cut off, cut down
Therefore theseהָאֵ֧לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
stonesהָאֲבָנִ֨יםhā·’ă·ḇā·nîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH68 stone
will beוְ֠הָיוּwə·hā·yūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a memorialלְזִכָּר֛וֹןlə·zik·kā·rō·wnPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH2146 memorial, remembrance
to the Israelitesלִבְנֵ֥יliḇ·nêPreposition-l; Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
foreverעוֹלָֽם׃‘ō·w·lāmNoun - masculine singularH5769 long duration, antiquity, futurity

Joshua 4:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thus the Israelitesבְּנֵי־bə·nê-Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
didוַיַּעֲשׂוּ־way·ya·‘ă·śū-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6213 do, make
asכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַ֒yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH3091 Jehoshua
had commanded themצִוָּ֣הṣiw·wāhVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
They took upוַיִּשְׂא֡וּway·yiś·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5375 lift, take, carry
twelveשְׁתֵּֽי־šə·tê-Number - feminine dual constructH8147 two
stonesאֲבָנִ֜ים’ă·ḇā·nîmNoun - feminine pluralH68 stone
from the middleמִתּ֣וֹךְmit·tō·wḵPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH8432 midst
of the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ןhay·yar·dênArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3383 Jordan
one for eachלְמִסְפַּ֖רlə·mis·parPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH4557 number, tale
tribeשִׁבְטֵ֣יšiḇ·ṭêNoun - masculine plural constructH7626 rod, staff, club, sceptre
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
just asכַּאֲשֶׁ֨רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
had toldדִּבֶּ֤רdib·berVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1696 speak
Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַyə·hō·wō·šu·a‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH3091 Jehoshua
and they carriedוַיַּעֲבִר֤וּםway·ya·‘ă·ḇi·rūmConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine pluralH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
themעִמָּם֙‘im·māmPreposition; third person masculine pluralH5973 with
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the campהַמָּל֔וֹןham·mā·lō·wnArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4411 lodging-place, inn, khan
where they set them downוַיַּנִּח֖וּםway·yan·ni·ḥūmConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine pluralH5117 rest

Joshua 4:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Joshua alsoיְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH3091 Jehoshua
set upהֵקִ֣יםhê·qîmVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
twelveוּשְׁתֵּ֧יםū·šə·têmConjunctive waw; Number - fdH8147 two
stonesאֲבָנִ֗ים’ă·ḇā·nîmNoun - feminine pluralH68 stone
in the middleבְּת֣וֹךְbə·ṯō·wḵPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH8432 midst
of the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּן֒hay·yar·dênArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3383 Jordan
in the placeתַּ֗חַתta·ḥaṯPrepositionH8478 the under part
where the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֔יםhak·kō·hă·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3548 priest
who carriedנֹשְׂאֵ֖יnō·śə·’êVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH5375 lift, take, carry
the arkאֲר֣וֹן’ă·rō·wnNoun - common singular constructH727 chest, ark
of the covenantהַבְּרִ֑יתhab·bə·rîṯArticle; Noun - feminine singularH1285 covenant
stoodמַצַּב֙maṣ·ṣaḇNoun - masculine singular constructH4673 standing-place, station, garrison
Andוַיִּ֣הְיוּway·yih·yūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
thereשָׁ֔םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither
toעַ֖ד‘aḏPrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
thisהַזֶּֽה׃haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
dayהַיּ֥וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Joshua 4:6 Exodus 13:14 · Joshua 4:21 · Psalm 44:1 · Deuteronomy 6:20–21 · Joshua 22:27 · Deuteronomy 11:19 · Isaiah 38:19 · Isaiah 55:13 · Psalm 71:18 · Exodus 12:26–27 · Psalm 78:3–8

Joshua 4:7 Exodus 12:14 · Exodus 28:12 · Numbers 16:40 · Psalm 111:4 · Joshua 3:13–16

Joshua 4:9 1 Samuel 7:12

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.