Joshua 4 10

Joshua 4:10 kjv

For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything 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.

Joshua 4:10 nkjv

So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over.

Joshua 4:10 niv

Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over,

Joshua 4:10 esv

For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste.

Joshua 4:10 nlt

The priests who were carrying the Ark stood in the middle of the river until all of the LORD's commands that Moses had given to Joshua were carried out. Meanwhile, the people hurried across the riverbed.

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 4 10 Meaning

The verse highlights the extraordinary duration of God's miraculous intervention at the Jordan River. It details that the priests, bearing the Ark of the Covenant, remained standing firmly in the dried riverbed until every command given by the Lord to Joshua, echoing what Moses had instructed, was fully executed. This continuous divine presence and control allowed the entire nation of Israel to swiftly and safely complete their crossing into the Promised Land, marking a pivotal moment of covenant faithfulness and leadership validation.

Joshua 4 10 Context

This verse is situated immediately after the miraculous stopping of the Jordan River and before the nation of Israel completes its crossing into the land of Canaan. Joshua chapters 3 and 4 form a continuous narrative describing this monumental event, which marks the transition from wilderness wandering to entry into the Promised Land. Joshua 3 recounts the preparation and the actual division of the waters, with the priests stepping into the Jordan and the waters parting. Joshua 4 then details the gathering of twelve memorial stones from the riverbed and the completion of the crossing. Verse 10 provides the crucial detail that the miracle of the standing waters persisted as long as necessary, specifically, until all God's instructions for the people through Joshua were fully conveyed and carried out.

Historically, this event serves as a foundational moment for Israel, paralleling the Red Sea crossing and confirming God's presence and power for a new generation. It validates Joshua's leadership, showing that God was with him just as He had been with Moses. The Jordan River, being a natural boundary, became a testament to divine intervention, signifying the removal of the final natural barrier to their inheritance. This confirmed God's covenant faithfulness and strengthened Israel's resolve and understanding of His power before embarking on the conquest of Canaan.

Joshua 4 10 Word analysis

• For the priests (וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים vəhakkōhanim): Refers specifically to the Levitical priests responsible for carrying the sacred Ark. Their unique role emphasizes the holy nature of the event and God's direct involvement through His covenant representatives. Their vulnerability standing in the riverbed underscored their faith and obedience.
• who carried (נֹשְׂאֵ֨י nōś'ēy): Actively bore the Ark, highlighting their sacred duty and their immediate physical connection to the divine presence that enabled the miracle.
• the ark (הָאָרֹ֜ון hāʾārôn): The Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne, presence, and covenant faithfulness. Its presence was the key instrument for the Jordan's parting, signifying God himself leading His people. Its importance is paramount; it's not a magical item but a symbol tied to the Almighty's direct intervention.
• stood (עָמְד֣וּ ‘āmeḏū): Imperfect tense, implying a sustained, fixed, and resolute standing. They did not waver or move, demonstrating their unwavering faith and patience until the task was complete. This act of "standing still" in the face of the rushing waters (held back by divine power) reflects divine control over time and natural elements.
• in the midst of the Jordan (בְּתֹוךְ־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן bətōḵ-hayyardēn): "In the middle" of the miraculously dried riverbed, indicating the extent and certainty of the miracle, as the ground beneath them was dry and firm, despite being naturally a riverbed.
• until everything was finished (עַד־תֹּ֨ם כָּל־הַדָּבָ֜ר ‘aḏ-tōm kol-haddābār): "Until the completion of all the matter/thing." This signifies a divinely predetermined end-point. The miracle persisted for the exact duration needed, emphasizing God's perfect timing and precise control over the event. Nothing was left incomplete.
• that the Lord commanded Joshua (אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֨ה יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־יְהֹושֻׁעַ֙ ʾăšer-ṣiwwâ YHWH ʾet-yəhôšuʿa): This clarifies the divine origin of the instructions. Joshua acted under direct divine mandate, confirming his authority and demonstrating God's continuous guidance of Israel through him.
• to speak to the people (לְדַבֵּ֤ר אֶל־הָעָם֙ ləḏabbēr ʾel-hā‘ām): Joshua's role as a prophetic intermediary, receiving commands directly from God and faithfully communicating them to the nation. This establishes a clear chain of command and highlights the people's responsibility to hear and obey.
• according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua (כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֛ה מֹשֶׁ֥ה אֶת־יְהֹושֻׁ֖עַ kəkōl ʾăšer-ṣiwwâ Mōšeh ʾet-yəhôšuʿa): This crucial phrase establishes continuity and legitimacy for Joshua's leadership. It emphasizes that Joshua was not acting on his own, but fulfilling previous divine commands given through Moses, maintaining a consistent trajectory for Israel's journey under God's guidance. This serves as an indirect polemic against any notion that God's plan or leadership was unstable; it was a smooth, preordained transition.
• and the people (וְהָעָ֖ם vəhā‘ām): The entire Israelite community, implying unity in their passage and the comprehensive scope of the divine provision.
• hurried (מִהֲר֥וּ miharū): This suggests efficiency, alacrity, and possibly a sense of eagerness or even fear mixed with awe. The speed ensured no one was left behind and that the crossing was completed promptly, perhaps also implying a healthy fear of the sustained miraculous condition.
• and passed over (וַיַּעֲבֹֽרוּ wayya‘ăvōrū): The completion of the primary action. The entire nation successfully navigated the dry riverbed, entering the Promised Land. This marks a new phase in their journey, a fulfilled promise.

Words-group analysis:

• "For the priests who carried the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan": This phrase vividly paints the scene of God's active, prolonged presence enabling the miracle. The Ark-bearing priests symbolize the very presence of God anchoring the miracle in place, providing safety for the entire nation. It highlights the direct link between divine power and priestly obedience.
• "until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak to the people": This underlines the divine orchestration and precise timing of the event. God held back the waters for exactly the duration needed to communicate and implement all instructions, emphasizing His meticulous plan and control. It also highlights Joshua's immediate obedience in carrying out God's precise and thorough commands.
• "according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua": This validates Joshua's authority by connecting it directly to Moses's previous instructions and the established covenant relationship with God. It emphasizes continuity in divine revelation and leadership, ensuring Israel understands that the transition from Moses to Joshua was divinely ordained and consistent with past commands. This confirms the new leadership under old directives.
• "and the people hurried and passed over": This describes the successful outcome. The people's prompt action, enabled by the sustained miracle, signifies their trust and collective movement towards the promise. The 'hurrying' suggests the efficiency and certainty of their safe passage, indicating God's desire for timely obedience from His people.

Joshua 4 10 Bonus section

The prolonged "standing" of the priests in the Jordan's dried bed for the duration of the nation's crossing speaks not just of their faith, but of God's sustaining power that enables and empowers human instruments. It signifies that divine action often involves a commitment from the human side – a firm posture of faith and obedience that lasts until God's purpose is entirely fulfilled. This "standing" could be seen as a foreshadowing of persistent faith, which is often required in our spiritual journey, where immediate results are not always granted, but sustained trust leads to full completion. The miraculous parting and holding back of the waters, not just for a moment but for an extended period necessary for the multitude, also served to deeply impress upon both the generation entering Canaan and their future descendants the unchallengeable power of Yahweh. It provided an incontrovertible witness, especially through the memorial stones (mentioned later in the chapter), for future generations to understand the nature of the God who delivered them and continued to lead them into their inheritance.

Joshua 4 10 Commentary

Joshua 4:10 profoundly illustrates the perfect synergy of divine power, human obedience, and faithful leadership. God, through the miraculous suspension of the Jordan's flow, provided the dry path, but crucially, He sustained this miracle for a specific, extended period – not a moment longer or shorter than necessary. The verse highlights the enduring presence of the Ark (God's presence) and the steadfast obedience of the priests, who, by remaining firm in the riverbed, were the anchor of the miracle. This was not a quick sprint, but a prolonged stand, demanding patience and trust.

The explicit connection back to "all that Moses had commanded Joshua" firmly establishes Joshua's legitimacy and the continuity of God's covenant plan. God's commands are consistent; He operates according to an established, revealed will. Joshua's role was to diligently receive and transmit these divine instructions, which then dictated the precise duration of the miraculous crossing. The hurried passage of the people underscores both the magnitude of the miracle and their eagerness to finally enter the promised land. Ultimately, this verse serves as a powerful testament to God's detailed providence, His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, and the essential nature of obedience, from leaders to the entire community, in experiencing divine deliverance and blessings. It teaches that divine power often works in concert with human compliance to achieve God's sovereign purposes.

Practical usage examples:

• Waiting patiently for God's full instruction before acting, just as the priests waited until everything was finished.
• Recognizing the importance of continuity in faith and obedience passed down through spiritual mentors and the Word of God.
• Understanding that God's supernatural provision (the dried riverbed) is contingent upon obedience (priests standing) and His perfect timing.