Bible Strands
Joshua 3:17
The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The priests carrying the ark stand firm on dry ground in the Jordan while all Israel crosses over. This occurs immediately after the river’s waters stop flowing, positioning the nation to cross opposite Jericho.
The words — The Hebrew בֶּ/חָֽרָבָ֛ה (be./cha.ra.Vah) translates literally to "on the dry ground," and וַ/יַּעַמְד֣וּ (va/i.ya.'am.Du) means "and they stood." These terms emphasize the physical stability of the priests and the ark amid the parted river.
The thread — The pattern of crossing on dry ground recurs in Exodus 14:22, Exodus 14:29, and Psalms 66:6. Each reference documents God halting waters to create a passable path for His people.
Why it lands — The text records a completed crossing dependent on stationary water and a stationary ark, which requires the nation to keep moving until every member passes. A reader must acknowledge that divine provision establishes the path, but the people must still traverse it to completion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Exodus 14:22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.
- 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.
- Psalms 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him.
- Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
- Joshua 4:3 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.’”
- 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.
- 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.