Deuteronomy 27:2

Verse

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.

American Standard Version (1901)

And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

Bible in Basic English

And on the day when you go over Jordan into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, put up great stones, coating them with building-paste,

Douay-Rheims 1899

And when you are passed over the Jordan into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee, thou shalt set up great stones, and shalt plaster them over with plaster,

Free Bible Version

The day you cross the Jordan into the country the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and paint them with whitewash.

Geneva Bible 1599

And when ye shall passe ouer Iorden vnto the lande which the Lord thy God giueth thee, thou shalt set thee vp great stones, and playster them with plaister,

King James (Authorized) Version

And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:

One Unity Resource Bible

It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan [Descender] to the land which Adonai your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster.

Translation for Translators

Soon you will cross the Jordan River and enter the land that Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped, promised to give to you. There, in that very fertile [IDM] land on the west side of the Jordan River, set up some large stones on Ebal Mountain, and cover them with plaster. Then write on those stones all these laws and teachings/instructions.

Unlocked Literal Bible

On the day when you will pass over the Jordan to the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must set up some large stones and plaster them with plaster.

Noah Webster Bible

And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan to the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

World English Bible

It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster.

Young's Literal Translation

and it hath been, in the day that ye pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, that thou hast raised up for thee great stones, and plaistered them with plaister,

Context

The Altar on Mount Ebal

¹Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all the commandments I am giving you today.²And 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.³Write 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.

Summary

In this verse, Moses instructs the Israelites to set up large stones coated with plaster on Mount Ebal after crossing the Jordan River. These stones were to be inscribed with the words of the law once they entered the Promised Land. This act symbolized the importance of remembering and obeying God's commandments as a foundational aspect of their covenant relationship with Him. The public display of the law on Mount Ebal served as a constant reminder for the Israelites to walk in obedience and reverence towards God.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And it shall be, on the day when you shall pass over Jordan,.... Not the precise day exactly, but about that time, a little after they passed that river, as soon as they conveniently could; for it was not till after Ai was destroyed that the following order was put in execution; indeed as soon as they passed over Jordan, they were ordered to take twelve stones, and did; but then they were set up in a different place, and for a different purpose; see Jos 4:3, unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones; not in Jordan, as Jarchi, but on Mount Ebal, Deu 27:4; nor had the stones set up in Jordan any such inscription as what is here ordered to be set on these: and plaster them with plaster: that so words might be written upon them, and be more conspicuous, and more easily read.