Bible Strands
Joshua 4:10
Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until the people had completed everything the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell them, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried across,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the priests holding the ark while the Israelites cross the Jordan during the conquest. This occurs immediately after the waters part and before the people finish crossing.
The words — עֹמְדִים (‘o.me.Dim) translates literally as "standing," and תֹּם (tom) means "was finished." These terms emphasize the priests' stationary obedience until the crossing was fully complete.
The thread — The priests' stationary position at the Jordan mirrors Joshua 3:13, where their feet touching the water halts the flow. The command structure also recalls Moses' earlier instructions to Joshua, linking the conquest to the Exodus generation's obedience.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine provision requires human obedience to specific commands. Readers must acknowledge that completion of the task depends on waiting for the commanded signal, not on premature action.
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
For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
Cross-references
- Joshua 3:13 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.”
- Exodus 12:39 Since their dough had no leaven, the people baked what they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves. For when they had been driven out of Egypt, they could not delay and had not prepared any provisions for themselves.
- Numbers 27:21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
- Deuteronomy 31:9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
- Joshua 3:16 the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
- Psalms 119:60 I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
- Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!