Bible Strands
Joshua 4:5
and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua addresses the twelve tribal representatives he summoned in the preceding verse, ordering them to step into the Jordan River ahead of the ark while the waters stand firm.
The words — The directive hinges on עִבְרוּ ('Iv.ru), meaning "pass over" or "cross," and אֶל־ ('el-), denoting motion "into" the river's midst.
The thread — This command advances the narrative of Israel’s physical entry into the land, directly following the appointment of the twelve men in Joshua 4:4 and establishing the physical basis for the memorial sign described in Joshua 4:6.
Why it lands — The text requires immediate, coordinated action that ties collective identity to a specific geographic location and moment.
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 Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: