Bible Strands
Joshua 3:8
Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God instructs Joshua to direct the priests carrying the ark at the Jordan River crossing to halt at the water's edge. Joshua serves as the mediator between the divine command and the priestly and Israelite responses recorded in the surrounding verses.
The words — תְּצַוֶּה (te.tza.Veh) translates literally as "you will command," establishing the imperative nature of the instruction. נֹשְׂאֵי (no.se.'Ei) means "bearers of," identifying the specific group tasked with transporting the ark of the covenant.
The thread — The command to position the priests and the ark at the water's edge echoes the earlier directive to the people in Joshua 3:3 and resolves in Joshua 3:17 when the priests stand firm on dry ground. This sequence mirrors Moses' instruction to stand firm in Exodus 14:13, linking the Jordan crossing to the Red Sea deliverance.
Why it lands — The text requires immediate obedience to a specific positional command before any miraculous intervention occurs. Readers must recognize that divine action follows precise human positioning, not the other way around.
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 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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 3:3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
- 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.
- Exodus 14:13 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
- 1 Chronicles 15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
- 2 Chronicles 17:8 accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
- 2 Chronicles 29:4 Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the square on the east side.
- 2 Chronicles 29:15 When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the command of the king by the words of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 29:27 And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 29:30 Then King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.
- 2 Chronicles 30:12 Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.