Joshua 4:5

Verse

and 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,

American Standard Version (1901)

and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;

Bible in Basic English

And he said to them, Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of Jordan, and let every one of you take up a stone on his back, one for every tribe of the children of Israel:

Free Bible Version

and told them, “Go back into the middle of the Jordan, right in front of the Ark of the Agreement of the Lord your God, and each of you pick up a stone and carry it on your shoulder, one for each of the tribes of Israel.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Ioshua said vnto them, Go ouer before the Arke of the Lord your God, euen through the middes of Iorden, and take vp euery man of you a stone vpon his shoulder according vnto the nomber of the tribes of the children of Israel,

King James (Authorized) Version

And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

Translation for Translators

“Go into the middle of the Jordan riverbed, to where the priests are standing, holding the chest that Yahweh, your God, gave you. Each of you must pick up a large stone, one for each tribe, and carry it on your shoulder to our camp.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Joshua said to them, “Go over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel.

Noah Webster Bible

And Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

World English Bible

Joshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;

Young's Literal Translation

and Joshua saith to them, 'Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God unto the midst of the Jordan and lift up for you each, one stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel,

Context

Twelve Stones from the Jordan

⁴So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe,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?’

Sermons

In His Presence

Don Courville

1.1K

Summary

In Joshua 4:5, the Israelites are commanded to take twelve stones from the Jordan River as a memorial of God's miraculous parting of the waters. These stones were to serve as a reminder for future generations of God's faithfulness and mighty deeds on their behalf. The act of setting up the stones was a tangible way for the Israelites to recount God's deliverance and to pass down the story of His power to their children. This verse highlights the importance of remembering God's faithfulness in our lives and sharing our testimonies of His goodness with others.

Commentary

John Gill
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

And Joshua said unto them,.... The twelve men: pass ye over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan; that is, they were to go back to Jordan again, which they had passed over, and go into the midst of it, where were the priests bearing the ark; for it is not to be imagined that the ark went along with them, or followed them, they going before it; but they went where that was, just before it, from whence they were to take the stones, as next directed: and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder; by which it appears they were large stones they were to take, not what they could carry in their hands, but what they were obliged to take upon their shoulders: according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; who had that day passed over Jordan, of which these stones were to be a memorial.