Joshua 4:17
New International Version
So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”

New Living Translation
So Joshua gave the command.

English Standard Version
So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”

Berean Standard Bible
So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.”

King James Bible
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

New King James Version
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.”

New American Standard Bible
So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.”

NASB 1995
So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.”

NASB 1977
So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.”

Amplified Bible
So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan.”

Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.”

American Standard Version
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of the Jordan.

English Revised Version
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Joshua ordered the priests, "Come out of the Jordan."

Good News Translation
Joshua did so,

International Standard Version
So Joshua ordered the priests, "Come up from the Jordan River."

Majority Standard Bible
So Joshua commanded the priests, ?Come up from the Jordan.?

NET Bible
So Joshua instructed the priests, "Come up from the Jordan!"

New Heart English Bible
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up out of the Jordan."

Webster's Bible Translation
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

World English Bible
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joshua commands the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Joshua commandeth the priests, saying, 'Come ye up out of the Jordan.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua will command the priests, saying, Come up out of Jordan.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he commanded them, saying: Come ye up out of the Jordan.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he commanded them, saying, “Ascend from the Jordan.”

New American Bible
Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan,”

New Revised Standard Version
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come up out of the Jordan.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yeshua commanded the Priests and he said to them: “Come up from within the Jordan!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying: 'Come ye up out of the Jordan.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua charged the priests, saying, Go up out of Jordan.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Twelve Stones from the Jordan
16“Command the priests who carry the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.” 17So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the Jordan and their feet touched the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their course and overflowed all the banks as before.…

Cross References
Exodus 14:26-29
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” / So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea. / The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. ...

Joshua 3:13-17
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.” / So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them. / Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ...

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.

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 114:3-5
The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back; / the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. / Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back,

Isaiah 43:16-17
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, / who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

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.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

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.

Nehemiah 9:11
You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.

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

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?

Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

Romans 9:17-18
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come you up out of Jordan.

Come ye up

Genesis 8:16-18
Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee…

Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

Acts 16:23,35-39
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: …

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Commanded Commandeth Jordan Joshua Orders Priests
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Commanded Commandeth Jordan Joshua Orders Priests
Joshua 4
1. Twelve men are appointed to take twelve memorial stones from Jordan
9. Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of Jordan
10. The people pass over
14. God magnifies Joshua
15. The priests commanded to come out of Jordan
20. The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal














So Joshua commanded the priests
Joshua, as the leader of Israel, acts with authority given by God. His command reflects obedience to God's instructions, as seen throughout the book of Joshua. The priests, who carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolize God's presence among His people. This moment highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and obedience to divine guidance. Joshua's role as a leader can be seen as a type of Christ, who leads His people into the promises of God.

“Come up from the Jordan.”
The Jordan River represents a boundary between the wilderness and the Promised Land. The command to "come up" signifies a transition from wandering to entering into God's promises. This act is a fulfillment of God's promise to bring Israel into the land He swore to their ancestors. The crossing of the Jordan parallels the crossing of the Red Sea, both miraculous events that demonstrate God's power and faithfulness. The Jordan River is also significant in the New Testament, as it is the site of Jesus' baptism, marking the beginning of His public ministry and symbolizing a new beginning for humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. His name in Hebrew, "Yehoshua," means "Yahweh is salvation," which is significant as he leads the people into a new chapter of God's promise.

2. The Priests
These were the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant. Their role was crucial as they represented God's presence among the people.

3. The Jordan River
A significant geographical and spiritual landmark for the Israelites. Crossing it symbolized entering into the promises of God.

4. The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Law, representing God's covenant with Israel and His presence among them.

5. The Israelites
The people of God, who were transitioning from a nomadic life in the wilderness to settling in the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Command
Joshua's command to the priests highlights the importance of obedience in leadership and following God's instructions precisely.

God's Faithfulness
The crossing of the Jordan is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to His people.

Symbolism of the Jordan
The Jordan River represents transitions in our spiritual journey, where we leave behind the old and step into the new promises of God.

Role of Spiritual Leaders
The priests carrying the Ark show the importance of spiritual leaders in guiding and supporting the community in their faith journey.

Remembering God's Acts
This event encourages us to remember and commemorate God's mighty acts in our lives, just as the Israelites set up memorial stones.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Joshua
יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

commanded
וַיְצַ֣ו (way·ṣaw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

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

“Come up
עֲל֖וּ (‘ă·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

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


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OT History: Joshua 4:17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests saying Come (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 4:16
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