Joshua 3:11
Joshua 3:11 in Multiple Translations
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into the Jordan.
See, the ark of the agreement of the Lord of all the earth is going over before you into Jordan.
Just watch—the Ark of the Agreement of the Lord of all the earth will cross in front of you through the Jordan.
Beholde, the Arke of the couenant of the Lord of all the worlde passeth before you into Iorden.
lo, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into Jordan;
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
Behold the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth shall go before you into the Jordan.
Keep in mind that Yahweh is the one who rules over all the earth. The chest belongs to him, and it will be carried into the Jordan River ahead of you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Joshua 3:11
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Joshua 3:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הִנֵּה֙
אֲר֣וֹן
הַ/בְּרִ֔ית
אֲד֖וֹן
כָּל
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
עֹבֵ֥ר
לִ/פְנֵי/כֶ֖ם
בַּ/יַּרְדֵּֽן
הִנֵּה֙
hinnêh
H2009
behold
Part
אֲר֣וֹן
ʼârôwn
H727
ark
N-cs
הַ/בְּרִ֔ית
bᵉrîyth
H1285
covenant
Art | N-fs
אֲד֖וֹן
ʼĂdônây
H136
Lord
N-ms
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Art | N-cs
עֹבֵ֥ר
ʻâbar
H5674
to pass
V-Qal
לִ/פְנֵי/כֶ֖ם
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp | Suff
בַּ/יַּרְדֵּֽן
Yardên
H3383
Jordan
Prep | N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Joshua 3:11
הִנֵּה֙
hinnêh
H2009
"behold"
Part
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Definition: behold, lo, see, if
Usage: Occurs in 799 OT verses. KJV: behold, lo, see. See also: Genesis 1:29; Genesis 42:35; Deuteronomy 19:18.
אֲר֣וֹן
ʼârôwn
H727
"ark"
N-cs
The Hebrew word for a box or chest, like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25:10-22. It can also mean a money chest or a coffin. In the Bible, it appears in stories about the Israelites and their sacred objects.
Definition: 1) chest, ark 1a) money chest 1b) Ark of the Covenant 2)(TWOT) coffin
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: ark, chest, coffin. See also: Genesis 50:26; 1 Samuel 6:15; Psalms 132:8.
הַ/בְּרִ֔ית
bᵉrîyth
H1285
"covenant"
Art | N-fs
A covenant is a promise or agreement between people or between God and people, like a treaty or alliance. It is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis, where God makes a covenant with Abraham. This concept is central to the Bible.
Definition: 1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation
Usage: Occurs in 264 OT verses. KJV: confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league. See also: Genesis 6:18; Judges 20:27; Psalms 25:10.
אֲד֖וֹן
ʼĂdônây
H136
"Lord"
N-ms
Adonay is a title used to refer to God, spoken in place of Yahweh as a sign of reverence and respect. It is used throughout the Bible to address God or refer to Him in a formal way. Adonay is a term of worship and devotion.
Definition: Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 430 OT verses. KJV: (my) Lord. See also: Genesis 15:2; Isaiah 3:17; Psalms 2:4.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Art | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
עֹבֵ֥ר
ʻâbar
H5674
"to pass"
V-Qal
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Definition: 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish 1a6c) to perish, cease to exist 1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree) 1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands 1b) (Niphal) to be crossed 1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote 1d2) to cause to pass through 1d3) to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by 1d4) to cause to pass away, cause to take away 1e) (Hithpael) to pass over
Usage: Occurs in 493 OT verses. KJV: alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. See also: Genesis 8:1; Deuteronomy 27:2; 1 Samuel 25:19.
לִ/פְנֵי/כֶ֖ם
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp | Suff
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
בַּ/יַּרְדֵּֽן
Yardên
H3383
"Jordan"
Prep | N-proper
The Jordan River, which runs from Lebanon to the Dead Sea, is a key location in the Bible, including in the stories of Jesus and the Israelites.
Definition: Jordan = "descender" the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km) Also named: Iordanēs (Ἰορδάνης "Jordan" G2446)
Usage: Occurs in 164 OT verses. KJV: Jordan. See also: Genesis 13:10; Joshua 12:1; Psalms 42:7.
Study Notes — Joshua 3:11
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Joshua 3:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Joshua 3:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 3:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
- Cambridge Bible on Joshua 3:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
- Sermons on Joshua 3:11
Context — Crossing the Jordan
9So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”
10He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.
12Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13When 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.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zechariah 6:5 | And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth. |
| 2 | Zechariah 4:14 | So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.” |
| 3 | Psalms 24:1 | The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein. |
| 4 | Joshua 3:13 | 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.” |
| 5 | Micah 4:13 | Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth. |
| 6 | Job 41:11 | Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. |
| 7 | Isaiah 3:12 | Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths. |
| 8 | Isaiah 54:5 | For your husband is your Maker— the LORD of Hosts is His name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. |
| 9 | Zechariah 14:9 | On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone. |
| 10 | Joshua 3:3–6 | and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.” Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them. |
Joshua 3:11 Summary
[Joshua 3:11 tells us that the ark of the covenant, which represents God's presence and power, will go ahead of the Israelites into the Jordan River. This means that God is leading the way and will guide them through the challenges they will face, just as He guides us today (Psalm 32:8). The verse also reminds us that God is the ruler of the whole world, and we can trust in His sovereignty and power (Psalm 24:1). As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves where we need to trust God's power and presence in our own lives.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the ark of the covenant in Joshua 3:11?
The ark of the covenant represents God's presence and power, as seen in Exodus 25:22 and Numbers 7:89, and its presence ahead of the Israelites in the Jordan River signifies God's leadership and guidance in their conquest of Canaan.
Why is the Lord referred to as the 'Lord of all the earth' in this verse?
This title emphasizes God's sovereignty over all creation, as stated in Psalm 24:1 and Isaiah 66:1, and reminds the Israelites that their God is not just a local deity, but the ruler of the entire world.
How does this verse relate to the Israelites' faith and trust in God?
The ark's presence ahead of the Israelites requires them to trust in God's power and promises, much like the people of God are called to trust in Hebrews 11:6 and Proverbs 3:5-6, and demonstrates that faith is not just about knowing God's Word, but also about obeying and following Him.
What can we learn from the Israelites' experience in Joshua 3:11 about our own relationship with God?
We can learn that God often calls us to step out in faith, just as the Israelites did, and that He will be with us and guide us, as promised in Isaiah 41:10 and Matthew 28:20, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or challenging.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God's power and presence, just as the Israelites did in Joshua 3:11?
- How can I apply the principle of trusting in God's sovereignty, as seen in this verse, to my daily life and decisions?
- What are some ways I can 'follow' God, just as the Israelites followed the ark, in my own spiritual journey?
- How does the title 'Lord of all the earth' shape my understanding of God's character and my place in the world?
Gill's Exposition on Joshua 3:11
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth,.... Some both Jewish and Christian interpreters, because there is a distinguishing accent on the word "covenant", read the words "the ark
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 3:11
And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites,
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
Into part of the river.
Trapp's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
Joshua 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.Ver. 11. Behold the ark of the covenant, even the Lord of heaven and earth.] Where the ark is, and where the ordinances are, there God is: hence the ark is called God’ s face, yea, God’ s self.
Ellicott's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
(11) The ark of the covenant.—The ten commandments are presented throughout this narrative as a covenant. So Exodus 34:28, “the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” It must be remembered that a promise precedes all the commandments. “I am Jehovah thy God.” The “ten words” that follow are the testimony to His character who commanded the covenant. (See Silver Sockets, p. 28.) The thing signified by the dividing of Jordan does indeed exhibit the law as a covenant in a way that those who followed Joshua can hardly have conceived. But history must come before prophecy, if prophecy is to be understood.
Cambridge Bible on Joshua 3:11
11. the Lord of all the earth] A significant title of the Most High, at a time when the conquest of the Land was contemplated.
Whedon's Commentary on Joshua 3:11
11. The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth — Here are four words grammatically dependent on one another, though slightly separated by the disjunctive accent.
Sermons on Joshua 3:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Ark of the Covenant: Crossing Jordan Part Ii by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the journey of the Israelites as they finally reach the promised land after 40 years of discipline. However, they face a great obstacle in t |
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Hebrews 4:1-11 by Don McClure | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of finding rest in God amidst the burdens and struggles of life. He highlights that God desires to give us a spiritual rest th |
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Mid South Conference 1978-12 Zechariah's Visions by Bob Clark | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of God's preparation conduct in relation to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The sermon emphasizes the need for believers to |
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(Through the Bible) Zephaniah & Haggai by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Zechariah, specifically chapter four. The preacher describes a vision in which an angel wakes him up and shows him a golden candl |
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Recovery Through the Prophets: Isaiah by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon on Zechariah chapter 4, the speaker emphasizes the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit rather than human might or power in building the house of God and maintai |
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Reform or Revival, Which Shall It Be by Richard Sipley | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the book of Zechariah, specifically chapter 4. He highlights three important questions asked in this chapter: "Who art thou a great mountain |
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Two Olive Trees by David Davis | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the increasing number of Jews and Arabs getting saved, comparing it to the early days of the church in the Book of Acts. He urges the audienc |