Joshua 4 18

Joshua 4:18 kjv

And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

Joshua 4:18 nkjv

And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before.

Joshua 4:18 niv

And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.

Joshua 4:18 esv

And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

Joshua 4:18 nlt

As soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the LORD's Covenant came up out of the riverbed and their feet were on high ground, the water of the Jordan returned and overflowed its banks as before.

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 4 18 Meaning

This verse precisely describes the moment the miraculous parting of the Jordan River ended. It recounts that immediately as the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, stepped completely out of the riverbed onto dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their normal flow, surging over its banks just as they had done before the miracle occurred. It marks the perfect and immediate cessation of a divine intervention, confirming God's sovereign control over nature.

Joshua 4 18 Context

Joshua chapter 4 is the climax of the miraculous Jordan River crossing. Following God's command in chapter 3, the priests, bearing the Ark of the Covenant, stepped into the flood-stage Jordan River, causing the waters upstream to pile up and those downstream to flow away, revealing a dry riverbed. All of Israel then crossed over on dry ground. As a memorial, Joshua instructed twelve men to take a stone from the middle of the riverbed. Chapter 4 also emphasizes the significance of these stones for future generations, teaching them about God's mighty hand. Verse 18 marks the moment the divine suspension of nature ceased, once Israel had fully entered the Promised Land, demonstrating God's complete control and the definitive completion of the crossing event. Historically, this occurred at the time of year when the Jordan would typically be overflowing its banks due to melting snow from Mount Hermon, amplifying the miracle's magnitude for the original audience.

Joshua 4 18 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: (וַיְהִי, vayhî) A common introductory Hebrew phrase marking a transition or the onset of a significant event. It signifies a continuation of the narrative, highlighting a specific, pivotal moment. It emphasizes the direct and immediate cause-and-effect relationship in the sequence of events.
• when the priests that bare the ark: (בַּעֲלוֹת הַכֹּהֲנִים נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יְהוָה, ba‘ălôt hakkohōnîm nōśə’ê ’arôn bᵉrît YHWH)
  • the priests: Refers to the Levites from the family of Aaron, specifically designated by God for sacred service. Their presence underlines the holy nature of the event.
  • bare: They were not merely accompanying; they were carrying the most sacred object, indicating their unique role and responsibility.
  • the ark of the covenant of the Lord: The (אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יְהוָה, arón bᵉrît YHWH). This is the focal point of God's presence among Israel. Its presence ensured God was actively leading His people, making this an undeniable divine act, not a natural phenomenon. It represented God's contractual relationship with His people and His empowering presence.
• were come up out of the midst of Jordan: (מִתּוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן, mittôkh hayYarden) Signifies a complete departure from the heart of the dried-up riverbed. It emphasizes that the entire company, particularly those carrying the Ark, had fully traversed the miraculous path.
• and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land: (וַתֵּעָצַמְנָה כַּפּוֹת רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶל-הֶחָרָבָה, vatte‘ātzamnah kappôt raḡlê hakkohōnîm ’el-heḥārābāh)
  • the soles of the priests' feet: This specific detail highlights the exact point of the reversal. It's a vivid, tangible description of the last touch, not just "the priests exited," but the very bottom of their feet were no longer on the riverbed.
  • were lifted up: (וַתֵּעָצַמְנָה, vatte‘ātzamnah from נתק, nataq). Can mean "to be torn away," "detached," or "pulled up." This indicates a definitive and decisive action of stepping off, signaling absolute completion.
  • unto the dry land: The firm, formerly submerged ground. This contrast reinforces the extraordinary nature of the preceding passage and the immediate restoration to normal, solid ground.
• that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place: (וַיָּשֻׁבוּ מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן אֶל-מְקוֹמָם, vayyāshūvu mê hayYarden ’el-məqômam)
  • returned: (שׁוּב, shuv) Implies an instantaneous reversal. The miracle ceased as precisely as it began, affirming divine control over the timing.
  • unto their place: To their normal bed and course, indicating the reestablishment of the natural order after the supernatural interruption.
• and flowed over all his banks: (וַיֵּלְכוּ עַל-כָּל-גְּדֹתָיו, vayyêlᵉkhû ‘al-kol-gᵉdōtāyw) This specific detail confirms that the river was not merely "flowing" but had returned to its usual flood stage, consistent with the harvest season, proving the earlier halt was entirely miraculous. It underscores the power of the divine intervention.
• as they did before: (כִּתְמֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם, kitmōl shilshôm) Literally "as yesterday [and] the day before yesterday." This idiom signifies a return to normalcy or a state as it was in the past. It concludes the description by emphasizing the complete and seamless reversal, leaving no doubt about the supernatural nature of the prior stoppage.

Joshua 4 18 Bonus section

The immediate and precise resumption of the Jordan's flow, "as they did before," served as a powerful testimony to both the Israelites and the Canaanite inhabitants (as implied by Josh 5:1). It left no room for skepticism or attributing the event to natural phenomena. The river, being at flood stage, made the miracle even more astounding, as such conditions normally render a crossing impossible. The event solidifies the Jordan as a symbolic barrier, similar to the Red Sea, marking a new chapter in God's covenant dealings with Israel – a passage from wilderness wandering to taking possession of the land. This narrative echoes throughout biblical history, reminding God's people that He has absolute dominion over all forces, visible and invisible, to accomplish His divine purposes.

Joshua 4 18 Commentary

Joshua 4:18 provides a critical point of closure for the Jordan crossing miracle, emphasizing God's meticulous control and precision. The immediacy with which the waters returned – the very moment the priests’ feet left the riverbed – serves several vital purposes. It reinforces the truth that the river's division was not a natural event but a direct, precisely timed act of divine power. This exactness underscores God's sovereignty over creation, demonstrating that the miracle began and ended purely at His command, without delay or gradual fading. For Israel, this complete reversal validated God's presence among them and affirmed Joshua's leadership, cementing their trust in a God who keeps His promises and fulfills His word with perfect timing. It also signified the complete and successful transition into the Promised Land, ready for the next phase of their journey under divine guidance.