Joshua 4 20

Joshua 4:20 kjv

And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.

Joshua 4:20 nkjv

And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.

Joshua 4:20 niv

And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan.

Joshua 4:20 esv

And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.

Joshua 4:20 nlt

It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 4 20 Meaning

Joshua 4:20 describes a foundational act of establishing a tangible memorial at Gilgal, confirming that the twelve stones taken from the midst of the miraculous Jordan River crossing were set up by Joshua. This act commemorated God's powerful intervention in bringing His people into the promised land, serving as an enduring witness for future generations of Israel's covenant relationship with the Lord and His faithful fulfillment of His promises.

Joshua 4 20 Context

Joshua 4:20 stands within the narrative immediately following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites, marking their official entry into the Promised Land. Chapters 3 and 4 detail God's dramatic parting of the Jordan waters, enabling the entire nation, including the Ark of the Covenant, to cross on dry ground. This divine intervention was a powerful demonstration of God's covenant faithfulness and His commissioning of Joshua as Moses' successor, establishing his authority before all Israel. Verse 20 specifically concludes the instruction given to Joshua and the tribal leaders to select and carry twelve stones from the riverbed as a perpetual memorial. This event firmly establishes Gilgal as the initial encampment and a significant ceremonial site for the newly entered nation. Historically, memorial stones were common in the ancient Near East, often signifying treaties, victories, or important events, but here they are unique in their purpose to glorify Yahweh's power over creation and to serve as a pedagogical tool against pagan naturalism and the localized deities of Canaan.

Joshua 4 20 Word analysis

• "And those twelve stones":

  • Hebrew: "וְאֵת שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה הָאֲבָנִים" (və'ēt shətteym 'esreh hā'ăbānîm).
  • וְאֵת (və'ēt): "And" - Connects to the previous narrative flow, signifying the culmination of the instruction. The "ēt" is a direct object marker, emphasizing the specific stones.
  • שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה (shətteym 'esreh): "twelve" - Significant number representing the unified twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the collective identity and experience of God's deliverance for the entire nation.
  • הָאֲבָנִים (hā'ăbānîm): "the stones" - Specifically "the stones" already designated, indicating their prior importance and the instruction for their collection.

• "which they took":

  • Hebrew: "אֲשֶׁר לָקְחוּ" (asher lāqḥû).
  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): "which" - A relative pronoun, connecting the stones to their origin.
  • לָקְחוּ (lāqḥû): "they took" (from the root LQḤ - to take) - This plural verb highlights that the responsibility for gathering these stones was communal, involving one man from each tribe as commanded in Josh 4:2-3. This shared act instilled a sense of collective participation in the miraculous event.

• "out of Jordan":

  • Hebrew: "מִן הַיַּרְדֵּן" (min hayyarden).
  • מִן (min): "from" / "out of" - Emphasizes the very place where God's miracle occurred – the riverbed that was made dry. It points to the concrete, tangible evidence of God's intervention.
  • הַיַּרְדֵּן (hayyarden): "the Jordan" - The specific geographical location of the miracle. The article "ha" (the) signifies a well-known, particular river. The Jordan typically flowed at flood stage during harvest (Josh 3:15), making its crossing on dry ground all the more astounding and miraculous.

• "did Joshua pitch":

  • Hebrew: "הֵקִים יְהוֹשֻׁעַ" (hēqîm Yəhôšúa').
  • הֵקִים (hēqîm): "he set up" / "erected" / "pitched" (Hifil stem of root QWM - to stand/rise) - This strong verb denotes purposeful, firm establishment. Joshua is shown as the obedient instrument, carrying out the divine command given in Josh 4:4-5. This act solidifies his leadership and God's commissioning of him.
  • יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yəhôšúa'): "Joshua" - The designated leader of Israel, whose actions here reinforce his divinely appointed authority. His name, meaning "Yahweh saves," foreshadows his role in bringing the people into the promised land.

• "in Gilgal":

  • Hebrew: "בַּגִּלְגָּל" (bajjilgal).
  • בַּגִּלְגָּל (bajjilgal): "in Gilgal" (from 'B' - in, and 'Gilgal' - 'rolling away') - The location chosen for the first camp in Canaan, meaning "rolling" or "circle of stones". It is prophetically linked to the "rolling away" of the reproach of Egypt (Josh 5:9) and becomes a crucial hub for the early phase of the conquest. It signifies the commencement of their settled life in the land and their identity renewal.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And those twelve stones... out of Jordan": This phrase directly links the memorial stones to their miraculous origin. The stones are not merely generic rocks but concrete artifacts pulled directly from the ground God made dry, serving as irrefutable physical proof of His power and presence in Israel's entry. They represent a collective tribal witness to a shared experience of divine salvation.
  • "did Joshua pitch in Gilgal": This grouping highlights Joshua's obedient execution of God's command. His leadership is not merely administrative but involves spiritual and ceremonial actions that affirm God's covenant with His people and the sacredness of the land they have entered. Gilgal, as the site of installation, becomes intrinsically linked to this foundational miracle, signaling a place of national assembly, renewed covenant, and memorialization for all future generations.

Joshua 4 20 Bonus section

The practice of erecting memorial stones or altars, as seen here, was a common ancient Near Eastern custom. However, Israelite memorials stood in stark contrast to their neighbors. Unlike altars for pagan gods or stelae boasting human accomplishments, these stones were a memorial to God's actions and His covenant with His people, never for the purpose of worship of the stones themselves. This subtle yet significant difference reinforced monotheism and proper worship. Furthermore, the selection of Gilgal as the location was strategically important, not only as the first camp but as a foundational center for subsequent activities in the conquest. It became a site of covenant renewal, circumcision, and Passover celebration (Josh 5), tying future significant national events directly back to this initial powerful display of God's leading.

Joshua 4 20 Commentary

Joshua 4:20 marks the visible culmination of the Jordan crossing miracle, establishing a permanent memorial in Gilgal. The twelve stones serve not just as a historical marker, but primarily as a theological pedagogical tool for intergenerational teaching (Josh 4:6-7, 21-22). They bear witness to God's unique power to control nature, fulfilling His promises to bring His people into the land despite impassable obstacles, thereby affirming Israel's chosen status and God's covenant fidelity. This act implicitly countered the local pagan deities of Canaan by demonstrating Yahweh's supreme dominion over all elements, unlike the localized or weak nature deities often worshipped. The memorial rooted the future nation's identity in divine acts, ensuring that succeeding generations understood their heritage stemmed from God's salvific deeds. Gilgal, named later for the "rolling away" of the reproach of Egypt (Josh 5:9), becomes a testament to both physical entry into the land and spiritual purification and renewal. The precise adherence to the number "twelve" underscores the unity of the tribes in this national experience of redemption and serves as a call for continuous remembrance of God's wonders in their midst.

• Examples: A family showing an old photograph of a significant family event (e.g., house built, distant relative's visit) and telling the story to young children. Or, a national monument commemorating a historic event, inviting reflection on the past and its impact on the present identity.