Joshua 3:5 kjv

And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

Joshua 3:5 nkjv

And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

Joshua 3:5 niv

Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

Joshua 3:5 esv

Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

Joshua 3:5 nlt

Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you."

Joshua 3 verses

Joshua 3 5 Meaning

Joshua 3:5 captures a pivotal command given by Joshua to the Israelites on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. It instructs the people to spiritually and physically prepare themselves through a process of consecration, indicating that this readiness is a prerequisite for witnessing God's powerful and miraculous intervention on their behalf. The verse highlights both human responsibility in preparing a vessel for God's work and the sovereign nature of God's action in performing wonders. It sets the stage for the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, demonstrating God's covenant faithfulness and ability to fulfill His promises.

Joshua 3 5 Context

Joshua chapter 3 marks a crucial juncture in Israel's history, as they stand on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, ready to enter the Promised Land, forty years after their exodus from Egypt. They have journeyed through the wilderness and are now at the border of Canaan. This specific verse (3:5) follows the command to prepare for the ark of the covenant to go before them (3:2-4). The instructions in Joshua 3 emphasize order, reverence, and faith. The immediate historical context points to a momentous and potentially intimidating crossing of a swollen Jordan River during harvest time, requiring an act of God. The cultural context would be deeply familiar with rituals of purification and setting oneself apart for sacred activities, often involving physical cleansing and abstaining from certain acts, prior to encountering the divine presence or undertaking a holy task. This preparation stands in stark contrast to pagan approaches that might rely on human strength, military strategy alone, or appeasing nature deities for success; instead, it directs Israel to look solely to the sovereign power of Yahweh.

Joshua 3 5 Word analysis

• Then Joshua said: This establishes Joshua's role as God's chosen leader, divinely appointed to guide Israel, echoing Moses' authority. His command carries divine weight.
• to the people: The command is not for a select few, but for the entire nation, emphasizing corporate responsibility and unity in preparation.
• Consecrate yourselves: (Hebrew: קַדְּשׁוּ, qaddeshū, from the root qadash).
  • This is a command to make oneself holy, to purify or sanctify oneself.
  • It involved both ritualistic cleanliness (e.g., washing clothes, abstaining from certain activities, like marital relations, as seen in Ex 19:15) and a deeper, internal turning towards God, setting themselves apart from the common or profane.
  • The act signifies spiritual readiness, demonstrating obedience and an acknowledgment of God's presence.
  • It is a prerequisite for experiencing God's holiness and power.
• for tomorrow: The immediacy creates urgency and highlights God's swift timing. It's not a future indefinite, but a specific, approaching divine action.
• the LORD: (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH, the covenant name of God).
  • Emphasizes the personal, relational, and all-powerful God of Israel.
  • It signifies the One who has been faithful to His covenant promises from Abraham onward.
  • It underscores that the power and initiative for the "wonders" comes solely from Him.
• will do: Signifies divine action and sovereignty. The power resides wholly with God; human preparation enables observation and reception, not initiation or manipulation.
• wonders: (Hebrew: נִפְלָאוֹת, niphla'ot, from pala meaning to be extraordinary, distinct).
  • Refers to miraculous, supernatural, and awe-inspiring acts that demonstrate God's unique power.
  • These are not ordinary events but spectacular interventions, designed to reveal God's glory and authenticate His promises.
  • These wonders served to instill fear of the LORD among surrounding nations and strengthen Israel's faith.
• among you: Implies a direct, experiential manifestation of God's power visible to the entire community. It emphasizes His immanence and active involvement in their lives, rather than distant action.

Joshua 3 5 Bonus section

• The call for consecration here serves a dual purpose: it both prepares the people for the immediate miraculous crossing and establishes a pattern for the new generation's understanding of God's holiness and the appropriate human response to it in the Promised Land.
• The emphasis on "tomorrow" (מָחָר, machar) injects a sense of divine urgency and a promise of imminent action, building faith and expectation within the community.
• This act of consecration and subsequent miraculous crossing serve as a re-enactment, in some ways, of the Exodus event for the new generation, symbolizing their new beginning as a covenant nation truly entering their inheritance under God's guidance.
• The concept of consecration goes beyond outward ritual; it implies an inward spiritual separation unto God, recognizing His exclusive right to direct their lives and their journey. It's about setting apart one's entire being – thoughts, actions, and intentions – for God's purposes.

Joshua 3 5 Commentary

Joshua 3:5 serves as a theological anchor for understanding how God interacts with His people when about to perform great deeds. The command to "consecrate yourselves" underscores that human preparation, in terms of spiritual and ritual purity, is often required for the full experience of God's presence and power. This isn't about earning God's favor, which is based on grace and covenant, but about creating a state of readiness and reverence in the human heart and life. Just as Israel prepared themselves at Sinai to receive the Law, they are called to prepare again to witness God's miraculous intervention in ushering them into the land of promise. The "wonders" are explicitly attributed to "the LORD," reinforcing His sovereignty and exclusive power to perform supernatural acts that defy natural limitations, like a river at flood stage. This prepares Israel to witness the division of the Jordan River, an event echoing the Red Sea crossing, designed to remind them of His power and to solidify Joshua's leadership. Ultimately, this verse teaches that reverence and readiness before a holy God position us to perceive and participate in His marvelous works.