Joshua 4 16

Joshua 4:16 kjv

Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.

Joshua 4:16 nkjv

"Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan."

Joshua 4:16 niv

"Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan."

Joshua 4:16 esv

"Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."

Joshua 4:16 nlt

"Command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to come up out of the riverbed."

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 4 16 Meaning

This verse conveys a direct divine command issued to the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant, instructing them to ascend from the Jordan River's dry bed. It signifies the immediate cessation of the miraculous act of God holding back the river's waters, marking the successful completion of the entire nation of Israel's passage into the Promised Land on dry ground. It emphasizes divine orchestration, obedience, and the central role of God's presence, symbolized by the Ark, in Israel's history.

Joshua 4 16 Context

Joshua 4:16 occurs immediately after the nation of Israel has miraculously crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Chapters 3 and 4 detail this pivotal event. In Chapter 3, the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, stepped into the flood-stage Jordan, and the waters were miraculously cut off upstream, allowing the entire nation to pass on dry ground. The priests, bearing the Ark, stood firm in the riverbed as the Israelites crossed. Chapter 4 continues by commanding Joshua to take twelve stones from the riverbed for a memorial and then gives the specific instructions for the priests. This verse, therefore, marks the precise moment when the divine suspension of the Jordan's flow is about to conclude, signifying the end of the miraculous crossing itself. It highlights God's sovereignty over nature, His fulfillment of promises, and the importance of His active presence (via the Ark) and the obedient action of His appointed leaders and servants.

Joshua 4 16 Word analysis

• Command (צַו – tzav):
  • Meaning: "Order," "instruct," "appoint."
  • Significance: This is a direct, authoritative instruction from Yahweh (through Joshua) and not a suggestion or human initiative. It denotes divine authority and the necessity of immediate, precise obedience. The use of this verb emphasizes God's sovereign control over the entire event, from the parting of the waters to their return. This also signifies the structured and ordered nature of God's work, which is executed through clear directives.
• the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים – ha’kohanim):
  • Meaning: "The ones who draw near to God," specific hereditary line from Aaron within the tribe of Levi.
  • Significance: They were the designated mediators between God and Israel, entrusted with sacred duties. Their role in bearing the Ark signifies their unique access to God's immediate presence. Their actions, particularly in holding the Ark in the riverbed, were crucial to the miracle, symbolizing that God's presence through His chosen representatives was what made the path clear. Their obedience to this command demonstrates their priestly service and leadership.
• who bear (נֹשְׂאֵי – nose'ey):
  • Meaning: "Those carrying," "lifting," "sustaining."
  • Significance: This describes their active and specific duty related to the Ark. The weight of the Ark, physically and spiritually, was upon them. It underlines their direct involvement in the divine spectacle. It also distinguishes them from other Levites or Israelites.
• the ark of the covenant (אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית – aron ha’b’rit):
  • Meaning: "Chest of the solemn agreement/treaty."
  • Significance: The most sacred object in Israel, representing God's throne, His presence, and the foundational covenant (Law) He made with Israel at Sinai. Its presence was the central element guaranteeing God's action in parting the Jordan. It highlights that the miracle was not a random occurrence but a manifestation of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises to bring His people into the land. The term "covenant" itself subtly references God's ongoing relationship and commitment to Israel, further reinforced by His mighty deeds on their behalf. This stands as a silent polemic against the fickle, localized, and often powerless deities of Canaan.
• to come up (עֲלוּ – alu):
  • Meaning: "Go up," "ascend," "leave a lower place for a higher one."
  • Significance: This verb accurately depicts the action of leaving the Jordan's riverbed and ascending to the river banks or the dry land. It is a reversal of their initial descent into the river. This specific direction for their movement signals the completion of the crossing and the imminent return of the Jordan to its natural flow, thereby marking the end of the miraculous event.
• out of the Jordan (מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּן – min ha’Yarden):
  • Meaning: "From the Jordan River."
  • Significance: This phrase precisely designates the location from which the priests are to ascend. It clearly indicates the scene of the miracle, underscoring that their exit from this specific place directly correlated with the return of the waters. It geographically pinpoints the miracle and its conclusion, preparing for the later events of remembrance on the land they have now formally entered.

• "Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant": This phrase combines divine authority with the human instruments and the divine symbol. It emphasizes that the instructions are direct, weighty, and given to those consecrated for specific holy service concerning God's active presence among His people. The divine order is for the human actors intimately connected to the sacred object, highlighting that the cessation of the miracle is as much a direct divine act as its initiation.
• "to come up out of the Jordan": This directive highlights the concluding phase of a major national miracle. The specific instruction to "come up" out of the "Jordan" emphasizes the precise execution of God's plan, from opening a way to closing it at His command. It signals the complete transition from wilderness to Promised Land, and the closing of the "water wall" as they stepped onto the bank, removing the immediate divine intervention in the landscape.

Joshua 4 16 Bonus section

The immediate fulfillment of this command in Joshua 4:18, where the waters immediately return to their place once the priests' feet touched dry land, perfectly illustrates divine control over nature and the power inherent in the presence of the Ark. The meticulous detail in this narrative (the Ark-bearers remaining in the middle of the riverbed, the timing of their ascent) underscores the teaching that God is an ordered and purposeful God. The drying up and returning of the waters serve as a clear sign, echoing the Red Sea parting, affirming God's continued faithfulness and power to conquer obstacles for His people, particularly as they were entering a land hostile to them. This divine orchestration, where the timing of the miracle's cessation is directly linked to an obedient human action, teaches Israel the ongoing need for active obedience in their new life in the Promised Land.

Joshua 4 16 Commentary

Joshua 4:16 succinctly records the final, precise instruction from God that signaled the completion of Israel's miraculous Jordan River crossing. This command, relayed through Joshua to the Ark-bearing priests, reveals God's meticulous control: just as He initiated the miracle through their initial step of faith, He concludes it by their precise exit. The divine instruction "Command... to come up" is not merely administrative; it highlights that the entire event, from its inception to its conclusion, was entirely contingent upon God's will and the specific, obedient actions of His consecrated servants who carried His manifest presence. The priests' obedience would immediately trigger the waters' return (Josh 4:18), confirming that God sustained the path solely for Israel's safe passage. This moment signifies the shift from miraculous aid to established reality, consolidating Israel's presence in Canaan and confirming Yahweh as the one true God who performs wonders for His covenant people.