Joshua 3:3 kjv

And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

Joshua 3:3 nkjv

and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.

Joshua 3:3 niv

giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.

Joshua 3:3 esv

and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.

Joshua 3:3 nlt

giving these instructions to the people: "When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them.

Joshua 3 verses

Joshua 3 3 Meaning

Joshua 3:3 instructs the people of Israel that their movement forward into the promised land is contingent upon their observing and following the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolizes the direct presence and leadership of the LORD their God. This divine instruction, conveyed through the officers, establishes the Ark, carried by the Levitical priests, as the explicit sign and guide for their journey from their current encampment to cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan. It underscores a fundamental principle of faith: God initiates and leads, and His people are to obey by following His manifest presence.

Joshua 3 3 Context

Joshua chapter 3 describes the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, which serves as the climactic entry into the Promised Land, marking the end of Israel's wilderness wanderings. Verses 1-2 recount the Israelites moving from Shittim to the Jordan, staying there for three days, indicating a period of waiting and preparation. This immediate verse, Joshua 3:3, comes as the specific divine instruction for how the crossing will commence. It sets the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's active presence and leadership, at the center of the momentous event. The context is one of a vast multitude preparing to enter enemy territory, facing a flooded river, where only divine intervention and meticulous obedience will ensure success.

Joshua 3 3 Word analysis

• When you see (כִּרְאוֹתְכֶם - ki'rotkhem): This emphasizes visual perception and the immediate, sensory trigger for action. The Ark's movement would be a clear, unambiguous signal to the entire camp, signifying divine initiative. It implies a conscious and attentive watchfulness on the part of the people, stressing a direct divine signal, not human strategy.
• the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God (אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - aron hab'rit Yahweh Eloheikhem):
  • `Aron`: Refers to the Ark, a physical chest that contained the Tablets of the Law. It was the holiest object in Israel, representing God's throne on earth and His dwelling presence.
  • `Hab'rit` (the covenant): Indicates the covenant established at Sinai, particularly the Ten Commandments contained within the Ark. The Ark is the tangible symbol of God's covenantal relationship and faithfulness to His people. It signifies the Law and God's holy requirements.
  • `Yahweh` (LORD): God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His relational and unchanging nature.
  • `Eloheikhem` (your God): Emphasizes God's particular relationship with Israel, His chosen people, affirming His sovereign rule and care over them. This phrase powerfully conveys the Ark's deep theological significance as the embodiment of God's presence, authority, and faithfulness to His promises.
• being carried (נֹשְׂאִים - nose'im): Implies active movement and physical transportation. The Ark is not static; it is mobile, reflecting God's dynamic and leading presence. This verb signifies the divine act of leading forward.
• by the Levitical priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם - hakohanim halviyim):
  • `HaKohanim` (the priests): Specific priests from the tribe of Levi, consecrated for sacred duties. Only consecrated priests, particularly Kohathites among the Levites, were permitted to carry the Ark, ensuring its sacredness and the people's understanding of its holiness and the separation required when approaching God.
  • `Halviyim` (the Levites): Refers to the tribe set apart for service in the tabernacle. Their role underscores divine order and the reverence due to holy things. The designation highlights proper order and authority in spiritual matters.
• then you shall set out (וְאַתֶּם תִּסְעוּ - ve'atem tis'u): This is a direct command. The conjunction "then" establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship: seeing the Ark's movement necessitates an immediate and unified response from the people. "Set out" denotes breaking camp and commencing the journey.
• from your place (מִמְּקֹומְכֶם - mimkom'khem): Implies leaving their current secure and familiar position by the Jordan, indicating a transition from stasis to dynamic movement, reliant entirely on God's guidance. It demands stepping out of their comfort zone and present safety.
• and follow it (וַהֲלַכְתֶּם אַחֲרָיו - va'halakhtem akharav): This is the core command of active, direct obedience. The people are not to precede the Ark or go alongside it, but to trail behind it, maintaining a specific distance (mentioned in v.4). This emphasizes complete reliance on God's chosen symbol and leaders, trusting God to lead them where they need to go. It is an act of walking by faith, where the visible Ark signifies the invisible God.

Words-group analysis

• When you see the ark... then you shall set out from your place and follow it: This clause structure defines a divine leading protocol. God provides a visible sign (the Ark moving), and Israel's response must be immediate, obedient action. This pattern removes all human initiative from pathfinding and places it squarely on God, requiring a step of faith.
• the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests: This detailed description highlights the sacred nature of the guidance. It's not just any object, but the tangible symbol of God's covenant and presence. It's not carried by just anyone, but by those specifically appointed by God, reinforcing divine authority and holiness in the entire operation. This setup assures the people that God Himself is leading, in a manner He has ordained.

Joshua 3 3 Bonus section

The command to maintain a specific distance (around 2,000 cubits or approximately half a mile, as detailed in verse 4) from the Ark served multiple purposes. Firstly, it allowed all the multitude to see the Ark, ensuring everyone received the visual cue for movement. Secondly, it emphasized the Ark's sanctity and God's awesome presence, enforcing reverent distance and reminding the people of their own unholiness in contrast to God's absolute purity. Lastly, this spatial gap implied that the Ark itself, and therefore God, was forging the path ahead, making the way for the people where there was none. This act of "making a way" becomes a powerful type and shadow of Christ, who goes before believers as the ultimate "way, truth, and life" (John 14:6), making a way to the Father.

Joshua 3 3 Commentary

Joshua 3:3 establishes the blueprint for Israel's momentous entry into the Promised Land. The Ark of the Covenant, central to the command, represents the very presence, power, and promises of the LORD God. By instructing the people to follow this sacred symbol, God was reinforcing His unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel, actively leading them into their inheritance. This instruction was not merely about logistics, but a profound theological statement: success would not come from military might or human strategy, but solely from attentive obedience to God's divine guidance. The involvement of the Levitical priests underscored the holiness and gravity of the event, reminding the people that their interaction with God's presence required consecration and order. This specific marching order ensured that God's authority was acknowledged by every individual, requiring a collective act of faith and dependence to proceed into the unknown challenges of the Jordan.Example: Much like navigating through uncharted waters requires a reliable chart and captain, Israel's journey into the unknown territory of Canaan required precise, divine navigation, exemplified by the Ark.Example: In modern faith, this echoes the call for believers to "walk by faith, not by sight," always prioritizing following God's clear word and Spirit over personal inclinations or worldly wisdom, especially in significant life transitions.