Joshua 3:8
New International Version
Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

New Living Translation
Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’”

English Standard Version
And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

Berean Standard Bible
Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’ ”

King James Bible
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

New King James Version
You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
So you shall command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

NASB 1995
“You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

NASB 1977
“You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Moreover, you shall command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

Amplified Bible
You shall command the priests who carry the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

Christian Standard Bible
Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the water, stand in the Jordan.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.”

American Standard Version
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, ye shall stand still in the Jordan.

Contemporary English Version
Now, tell the priests who are carrying the chest to go a little way into the river and stand there."

English Revised Version
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the waters of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Order the priests who carry the ark of the promise, 'When you step into the water of the Jordan River, stand there.'"

Good News Translation
Tell the priests carrying the Covenant Box that when they reach the river, they must wade in and stand near the bank."

International Standard Version
Give this command to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: 'When you arrive at the water of the Jordan River, stand still in the Jordan.'"

Majority Standard Bible
Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’”

NET Bible
Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, 'When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.'"

New Heart English Bible
You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye have come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

World English Bible
You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you, command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, saying, When you come to the extremity of the waters of the Jordan, stand in the Jordan.”

Young's Literal Translation
and thou, thou dost command the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye come unto the extremity of the waters of the Jordan -- in the Jordan ye stand.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou shalt command the priests lifting up the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye come to the extremity of the water of Jordan ye shall stand in Jordan.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And do thou command the priests that carry the ark of the covenant, and say to them: When you shall have entered into part of the water of the Jordan, stand in it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now instruct the priests, who are carrying the ark of the covenant, and say to them, ‘When you will have entered into a part of the water of the Jordan, stand still in it.’ ”

New American Bible
Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, “When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, there take your stand.”

New Revised Standard Version
You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall command the priests who carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, When you are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you command the Priests who bear the ark of the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH and say to them: “Whenever you have come to the head of the waters of Jordan, stand in the Jordan!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying: When ye are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, ye shall stand still in the Jordan.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now charge the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, As soon as ye shall enter on a part of the water of Jordan, then ye shall stand in Jordan.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Crossing the Jordan
7Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. 8 Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’” 9So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”…

Cross References
Exodus 14:15-16
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. / And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

2 Kings 2:8
And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

Psalm 114:3
The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back;

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

2 Kings 2:14
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

Psalm 77:16
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.

Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Matthew 14:29
“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Exodus 15:8
At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

Psalm 66:6
He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him.

Isaiah 11:15-16
The LORD will devote to destruction the gulf of the Sea of Egypt; with a scorching wind He will sweep His hand over the Euphrates. He will split it into seven streams for men to cross with dry sandals. / There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.

John 6:19
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified.

Exodus 14:29
But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan.

command

Joshua 3:3
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

1 Chronicles 15:11,12
And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, …

2 Chronicles 17:8,9
And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests…

ye shall stand

Joshua 3:17
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Exodus 14:13
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Lamentations 3:26
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Agreement Ark Bear Bearing Brink Carry Carrying Command Covenant Edge Extremity Jordan Jordan's Moreover Orders Priests Reach River Stand Thou Water Waters When
Jump to Next
Agreement Ark Bear Bearing Brink Carry Carrying Command Covenant Edge Extremity Jordan Jordan's Moreover Orders Priests Reach River Stand Thou Water Waters When
Joshua 3
1. Joshua come to Jordan
2. The officers instruct the people for their passage
7. The Lord encourages Joshua
9. Joshua encourages the people
14. The water of Jordan are divided














Command the priests
In this phrase, the directive is given to Joshua to instruct the priests, who are the spiritual leaders and mediators between God and the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "command" is "tsavah," which implies a strong, authoritative order. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's instructions, especially for those in leadership. The priests, being from the tribe of Levi, were set apart for sacred duties, and their role in this event underscores the necessity of spiritual leadership in guiding the people according to God's will.

who carry the ark of the covenant
The "ark of the covenant" is central to Israel's worship and represents God's presence among His people. The Hebrew word for "ark" is "aron," which means a chest or box, and it contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna. The ark symbolizes God's covenant with Israel, His promises, and His guidance. The priests carrying the ark signifies that God's presence leads the way, and it is a reminder that the journey and battles ahead are under divine guidance and protection.

When you reach the edge of the waters of the Jordan
The Jordan River is a significant geographical and spiritual boundary for the Israelites. The phrase "reach the edge" indicates a moment of transition and faith. The Jordan River, at this time, was at flood stage, making it a formidable barrier. Historically, crossing the Jordan represents a step of faith into the promises of God, leaving behind the wilderness wanderings and entering the Promised Land. It is a call to trust in God's provision and timing, even when circumstances seem impossible.

go and stand in the river
The command to "go and stand" in the river is an act of faith and obedience. The Hebrew word for "stand" is "amad," which means to remain, endure, or take a position. This action required the priests to trust in God's promise that He would make a way through the waters. It is a powerful image of stepping into the unknown, relying on God's word, and witnessing His miraculous power. This act prefigures the believer's call to step out in faith, trusting in God's promises and presence in the midst of life's challenges.

Verse 8. - And thou shalt command the priests. We have not here the whole command. That is to be found in ver. 13. To the brink עַד־קְצֵה. Literally, to the end, i.e., the end or brink of the waters at the eastern side. There they halted, and as long as the ark remained there, the waters of Jordan ceased to flow.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Command
תְּצַוֶּה֙ (tə·ṣaw·weh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

the priests
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

carrying
נֹשְׂאֵ֥י (nō·śə·’ê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the ark
אֲרֽוֹן־ (’ă·rō·wn-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the covenant:
הַבְּרִ֖ית (hab·bə·rîṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

‘When you reach
כְּבֹאֲכֶ֗ם (kə·ḇō·’ă·ḵem)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the edge
קְצֵה֙ (qə·ṣêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7097: End, extremity

of the waters,
מֵ֣י (mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

stand
תַּעֲמֹֽדוּ׃ (ta·‘ă·mō·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

in the Jordan.’”
בַּיַּרְדֵּ֖ן (bay·yar·dên)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine


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OT History: Joshua 3:8 You shall command the priests who bear (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 3:7
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