Deuteronomy 27:2 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.

Bible > Deuteronomy > Chapter 27 > Verse 2

◄ Deuteronomy 27:2 ►

New International Version
When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.

New Living Translation
When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.

English Standard Version
And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
And it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime.

New American Standard Bible
So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime

NASB 1995
“So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime

NASB 1977
“So it shall be on the day when you shall cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones, and coat them with lime

Legacy Standard Bible
So it will be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime

Amplified Bible
So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to [enter] the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with plaster (lime, whitewash).

Christian Standard Bible
When you cross the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At the time you cross the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must set up large stones and cover them with plaster.

American Standard Version
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:

English Revised 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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The day you cross the Jordan River and enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and cover them with plaster.

Good News Translation
On the day you cross the Jordan River and enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are to set up some large stones, cover them with plaster,

International Standard Version
On the day you cross over the Jordan River to the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
When you cross the Jordan River to the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must erect great stones and cover them with plaster.

New Heart English Bible
It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and it has been, in the day that you pass over the Jordan to the land which your God YHWH is giving to you, that you have raised up great stones for yourself, and plastered 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,

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was in the day which ye shall pass over Jordan to the land that Jehovah thy God gave to thee, and set up to thee great stones, and plaster them with lime.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
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,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when you have crossed over the Jordan, into the land which the Lord your God will give to you, you shall erect immense stones, and you shall coat them with plaster,

New American Bible
On the day you cross the Jordan into the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.

New Revised Standard Version
On the day that you cross over the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and cover them with plaster.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And it shall be on the day that you cross the Jordan into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall set up large stones, and cover them with plaster;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In the day that you pass over the Jordan to the land that LORD JEHOVAH your God gives to you raise great stones for yourselves and plaster them with plaster:

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass in the day when ye shall cross over Jordan into the land which the Lord thy God gives thee, that thou shalt set up for thyself great stones, and shalt plaster them with plaster.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Joshua 8:30-32
At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel, / just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings. / And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

Exodus 24:4
And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

Joshua 4:1-9
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, / “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, / and command them: ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.’” ...

Exodus 20:25
Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.

Joshua 1:11
“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”

1 Kings 8:9
There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt.

Nehemiah 8:1-3
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. / On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. / So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

2 Kings 23:3
So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Isaiah 8:1
Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Hebrews 8:10
For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Romans 2:15
So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them

2 Corinthians 3:3
It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...

Treasury of Scripture

And it shall be on the day when you shall pass over Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set you up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:

on the day

Deuteronomy 6:1
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

Deuteronomy 9:1
Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,

Deuteronomy 11:31
For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.

unto the

Deuteronomy 27:3
And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

Deuteronomy 26:1
And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;

great stones

Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

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Deuteronomy 27

1. The people are commanded to write the law upon stones
5. and to build an altar of whole stones
11. The tribes to be divided on Gerizim and Ebal
14. The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal

Berean Study Bible

And on the day
This phrase sets a specific time frame, indicating a moment of significant action and transition. In the Hebrew context, "day" (יוֹם, yom) often signifies not just a 24-hour period but a divinely appointed time. This highlights the importance of timing in God's plan, reminding believers that God orchestrates events in His perfect timing.

you cross the Jordan
The Jordan River is a critical geographical and spiritual boundary for the Israelites. Crossing it symbolizes entering into the promises of God, a transition from the wilderness into the Promised Land. Historically, the Jordan was a formidable barrier, and crossing it required faith and obedience. This act is a metaphor for believers stepping into their God-given destinies, leaving behind past struggles and embracing new beginnings.

into the land
The "land" refers to Canaan, the Promised Land, a central theme in the Old Testament. It represents God's covenant faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For Christians, it symbolizes the spiritual inheritance and abundant life promised through faith in Christ.

the LORD your God is giving you
This phrase emphasizes the divine origin of the gift. The land is not earned by the Israelites' merit but is a gracious gift from God. The Hebrew word for "giving" (נָתַן, natan) implies a continuous action, suggesting that God's provision is ongoing. This reflects the Christian belief in grace, where salvation and blessings are gifts from God, not based on human effort.

you are to set up
This command involves action and preparation. The Hebrew root (קוּם, qum) means to establish or erect, indicating a deliberate and purposeful act. It underscores the importance of obedience and preparation in receiving God's promises. For believers, it is a call to actively participate in God's work and prepare their hearts for His blessings.

large stones
Stones in biblical times were often used as memorials or altars. These "large stones" serve as a physical reminder of God's covenant and faithfulness. Archaeologically, such stones have been found, confirming the biblical narrative. Spiritually, they represent the enduring nature of God's promises and the importance of remembering His works in our lives.

and coat them with plaster
The act of coating with plaster (שִׂיד, sid) was a common practice to prepare surfaces for writing. This indicates that the stones were to be inscribed with the law, making it visible and permanent. It symbolizes the importance of God's Word being clearly displayed and accessible, a reminder for believers to keep God's commandments at the forefront of their lives.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - On the day when ye shall pass over Jordan; i.e. at the time; "day" is here used in a wide sense (cf. Genesis 2:4; Numbers 3:1; 2 Samuel 22:1; Ecclesiastes 12:3; Isaiah 11:10, etc.). Thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster, The stones, the number of which is not specified, were to be large, because much was to be inscribed upon them, and they were to be covered with a coating of lime or gypsum (שִׂיַד), in order to secure a smooth white surface on which the inscription might be clearly depicted. That the words were not, as Michaelis, Rosenmüller, and others suppose, cut in the stone, and afterwards covered with plaster in order to preserve them, is plain from its being enjoined that they were to be written upon (עַל) the stones so prepared; and besides, as this was intended to be a proclamation of the Law, the main purpose of the erection would have been frustrated had the inscription been concealed by such a covering as that supposed. Among the ancient Egyptians the practice of depicting records on walls or monuments covered with a coating of plaster was common (see Hengstenberg, 'Authentic des Pent.,' 1:464, English translation, 1:433); from them, doubtless, it was borrowed by the Hebrews. It has been suggested by Kennicott that the writing was to be in relieve, and that the spaces between the letters were filled up by the mortar or cement. This is possible, but it is not such a process as this that the words of the text suggest. "A careful examination of Deuteronomy 27:4, 8, and Joshua 8:30-22, will lead to the opinion that the Law was written upon or in the plaster with which these pillars were coated. This could easily be done, and such writing was common in ancient times. I have seen specimens of it certainly more than two thousand years old, and still as distinct as when they were first inscribed on the plaster" (Thomson, 'Land and the Book,' it. p. 204).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And
וְהָיָ֗ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on the day
בַּיּוֹם֮ (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

you cross
תַּעַבְר֣וּ (ta·‘aḇ·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

the Jordan
הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ (hay·yar·dên)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine

into
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the land
הָאָ֕רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is giving you,
נֹתֵ֣ן (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you are to set up
וַהֲקֵמֹתָ֤ (wa·hă·qê·mō·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

large
גְּדֹל֔וֹת (gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

stones
אֲבָנִ֣ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

and coat
וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ (wə·śaḏ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7874: To whitewash

them
אֹתָ֖ם (’ō·ṯām)
Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

with plaster.
בַּשִּֽׂיד׃ (baś·śîḏ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7874: To whitewash

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OT Law: Deuteronomy 27:2 It shall be on the day when (Deut. De Du)