Joshua 1:11 kjv

Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.

Joshua 1:11 nkjv

"Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.' "

Joshua 1:11 niv

"Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'?"

Joshua 1:11 esv

"Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, 'Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.'"

Joshua 1:11 nlt

"Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you."

Joshua 1 verses

Joshua 1 11 Meaning

Joshua 1:11 presents Joshua's immediate instruction to the Israelite officers, relaying God's command to the people. It details the requirement to prepare sustenance for an imminent journey, specifying a precise timeframe of three days. This preparation is for crossing the Jordan River and entering the promised land to take possession of it, highlighting that this land is a divine gift from the LORD. The verse encapsulates a critical moment of transition, requiring both human obedience in practical preparation and faith in God's impending fulfillment of His covenant promise.

Joshua 1 11 Context

Joshua 1:11 appears immediately after the LORD’s specific commissioning of Joshua following Moses’ death. God charges Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land, reiterates His presence and power, and emphasizes the importance of adhering to the Law. This verse marks Joshua's first official act of leadership in relaying these divine commands to the Israelite people. Historically, Israel had spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness due to their disobedience. They now stand poised on the east bank of the Jordan, a physical barrier, before entering Canaan, the land promised to their patriarchs for centuries. Culturally, this was a community that lived communally in "the camp" and understood the need for organized provisions for any significant journey or military campaign. The immediate readiness indicates that divine promises, while certain, often require human cooperation and practical preparation.

Joshua 1 11 Word analysis

• Pass through the camp (עברו בקרב המחנה, `avaru beqerev ha-makhaneh`):
  • `Avaru` (עברו): From `avar` (עבר), meaning "to pass over," "cross," or "go through." It signifies movement and transition. Here, it is a directive for the officers to move amongst the assembled multitude.
  • `Makhaneh` (מחנה): Refers to the "camp" of Israel, encompassing the entire nation gathered. This indicates a general command for all the people, not just a select few.
  • Significance: A command for efficient dissemination of information within the large Israelite encampment.
• and command the people (וצוו את-העם, `vetsavvu et-ha-am`):
  • `Tsavvu` (צוו): From `tsavah` (צוה), meaning "to command," "to charge," "to order." It's a strong imperative, emphasizing authority and directness.
  • Significance: Underscores the authoritative nature of Joshua's leadership, which is directly from God. It’s not a suggestion but a clear instruction.
• saying, ‘Prepare provisions (לאמר הכינו לכם צידה, `le'mor hakinu lakhem tsidah`):
  • `Hakinu` (הכינו): From `kun` (כון), meaning "to establish," "to prepare," "to make ready." It's an active command for them to make preparations.
  • `Tsidah` (צידה): Meaning "provision," "food for a journey," "supply." This refers to basic sustenance needed for travel.
  • Significance: While God promised to fight for them, human responsibility for practical readiness is required. It balances divine power with human agency.
• for yourselves (לכם, `lakhem`):
  • Significance: Emphasizes the personal responsibility of each household or individual to make these preparations for their own journey.
• for within three days (כי בעוד שלשת ימים, `ki be'od sheloshet yamim`):
  • `Shloshet yamim` (שלשת ימים): "Three days." A specific and short timeframe.
  • Significance: This precise time indicates God's set plan and urgency. Biblically, "three days" often signifies a critical period of transition, preparation, or culmination (e.g., Exod 19, Jonah, Christ's resurrection), suggesting a divinely orchestrated moment.
• you are to cross over this Jordan (אתם עברים את-הירדן הזה, `atem ovrim et-ha-Yarden ha-zeh`):
  • `Ovar` (עבר): From `avar` (עבר), again, "to cross over." Here specifically crossing the river.
  • `Ha-Yarden ha-zeh` (הירדן הזה): "This Jordan." Emphasizes the visible, tangible geographical barrier that stood between them and the promised land.
  • Significance: Highlights the imminent and defining obstacle that will be supernaturally overcome, akin to the Red Sea crossing.
• to go in to possess the land (לבוֹא לרֶשת את-הארץ, `lavo lareshet et-ha-aretz`):
  • `Lavo` (לבא): "To go in," "to enter."
  • `Lareshet` (לרשת): From `yarash` (ירש), meaning "to inherit," "to take possession," "to dispossess." It implies both receiving an inheritance and actively conquering/displacing existing inhabitants.
  • Significance: The primary purpose of the crossing; Israel is to take physical and legal control of the territory given to them. This involves both divine gift and human effort.
• which the LORD your God is giving you to possess (אשר יהוה אלהיכם נתן לכם לרשתה, `asher YHWH Eloheikhem noten lakhem lareshetah`):
  • `YHWH Eloheikhem` (יהוה אלהיכם): "The LORD your God." Reinforces the covenant relationship. This emphasizes God's personal relationship with Israel and His divine faithfulness.
  • `Noten` (נתן): "Is giving." Present tense emphasizes God's active, ongoing role as the Giver.
  • `Lareshetah` (לרשתה): "To possess it." A restatement of `lareshet`, confirming the purpose is for their taking possession.
  • Significance: Despite their effort in preparation and conquest, the land is ultimately a sovereign gift from God, counteracting any human pride or claim of earning it.

Joshua 1 11 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of human "preparation" (tsidah) and God "giving" (noten) for "possession" (yarash) reveals a significant theological truth: divine sovereignty does not preclude human responsibility, nor does human effort earn God's blessings. Rather, our obedience to simple, practical commands becomes the avenue through which God's magnificent promises are realized. This verse also serves as a polemic against reliance on self-sufficiency or any other god, firmly establishing YHWH as the sole Giver of the land and the source of strength for its possession. The Israelite camp's unity in response to this single command underscores their collective destiny and corporate identity under God's appointed leader.

Joshua 1 11 Commentary

Joshua 1:11 encapsulates a crucial hinge point in Israel's history, emphasizing a blend of divine command, human responsibility, and absolute trust in God's faithfulness. The direct order from Joshua, prompted by God, to "pass through the camp and command" shows immediate, practical leadership and a systematic relay of vital instructions. The "three days" is more than just a timeline; it signifies a divinely appointed, specific period of preparation, hinting at the certainty and importance of the impending supernatural event, echoing other "three-day" preparations for God's appearances in biblical history. The people are required to "prepare provisions," a demonstration that divine provision and victory do not negate human diligence and common-sense planning. This command to gather food and supplies prior to crossing the Jordan highlights a core biblical principle: faith in God's promise works hand-in-hand with practical obedience. The ultimate purpose—to "go in to possess the land"—underscores God's fidelity to His Abrahamic covenant, clearly stating that the land is "which the LORD your God is giving you." Thus, their entering and conquering is not an act of might but an active reception of an inheritance divinely granted and divinely secured. The challenge of the Jordan, much like the Red Sea, is presented not as an insurmountable obstacle, but as a path to a promised reality. This verse provides a practical example for believers: act on God's word with all due diligence and preparation, while recognizing that the ultimate success comes from His sovereign grace and provision.