Joshua 4 7

Joshua 4:7 kjv

Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

Joshua 4:7 nkjv

Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."

Joshua 4:7 niv

tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

Joshua 4:7 esv

then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever."

Joshua 4:7 nlt

Then you can tell them, 'They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD's Covenant went across.' These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever."

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 4 7 Meaning

Joshua 4:7 explains that the twelve stones taken from the Jordan Riverbed are to serve as a perpetual reminder of God's miraculous act. They specifically commemorate how the waters of the Jordan were cut off when the Ark of the Covenant, representing the presence and power of the Lord, passed through, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. This event established a tangible and enduring memorial for all future generations of Israel, affirming God's power and His faithfulness to His covenant people.

Joshua 4 7 Context

Joshua Chapter 4 immediately follows the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites on dry ground, led by the Ark of the Covenant. Chapter 3 detailed the preparations and the divine command for the priests carrying the Ark to stand in the middle of the riverbed, causing the waters flowing from upstream to be "cut off" and stand in a heap, while those flowing downstream drained away.

This verse (4:7) is part of God's instruction through Joshua to set up two memorials: one made of twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan (4:3) which is then explicitly placed in Gilgal (4:20), and another set of twelve stones which Joshua himself sets up in the Jordan where the priests' feet stood (4:9). The purpose of these stones, especially the one emphasized in 4:7 and detailed as a lasting memorial, is explicitly didactic. It ensures that future generations will hear the story of God's power and faithfulness, serving as a sign of His covenant keeping and His authority over creation. Historically and culturally, erecting stone pillars or altars was a common way in the Ancient Near East to commemorate significant events, especially divine encounters or covenant-making, but here the emphasis is on the specific role of the Ark and the enduring nature of the sign for the unique covenant people of God. This act also carries polemical weight, demonstrating that Israel's God, YHWH, is supremely powerful over natural forces, unlike the various local deities worshipped by the Canaanites.

Joshua 4 7 Word analysis

• Then you shall tell them: The verb "tell" (הִגַּדְתֶּם - higgadetem) is a command to make known or recount, emphasizing the educational purpose of the memorial. It highlights intergenerational transmission of faith.

• that the waters of the Jordan were cut off: The Hebrew for "cut off" (נִכְרְתוּ - nikhrətu) is in the niph'al stem, indicating a passive or reflexive action. This underscores that it was not by human effort but by divine power that the waters were completely severed, emphasizing the miraculous and absolute nature of the division. The Jordan, as a major natural barrier, was entirely subdued by YHWH.

• before the ark of the covenant of the Lord: "Before" (לִפְנֵי - lifnei) denotes being in the presence of or in front of. The "ark of the covenant" (אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יְהוָה - aron b'rit YHVH) explicitly identifies the direct agent of God's presence and authority. It links the miracle directly to God's active, personal involvement as the sovereign Lord (YHWH) who keeps His covenant (b'rit). The Ark, containing the tablets of the Law and associated with the mercy seat, represented God's holiness, His law, His grace, and His leading of His people.

• when it crossed over the Jordan: This phrase emphasizes the immediate cause-and-effect: the miracle happened as the Ark (and therefore the people) moved forward by God's command. It reinforces God's timing and leading.

• the waters of the Jordan were cut off: The repetition emphasizes the extraordinary and definitive nature of the event, reinforcing the truth of the miracle.

• So these stones shall be a memorial: "Memorial" (לְזִכָּרוֹן - l'zikkaron) is a significant term meaning a reminder, an object, or a ritual that prompts remembrance of an event or person. These stones are not merely a monument but a didactic tool, meant to provoke questions from future generations, thereby facilitating the telling of God's mighty acts.

• to the sons of Israel forever: "Sons of Israel" (B’nei Yisra’el) specifies the intended audience and beneficiaries – God's chosen people, all their future generations. "Forever" (עַד עוֹלָם - ‘ad ‘olam) signifies the enduring and perpetual nature of this sign and the event it commemorates. God's act is eternally significant, and His faithfulness is without end, thus the lesson should never be forgotten.

• "waters...cut off before the ark": This entire phrase encapsulates divine power (waters cut off) acting in divine presence (Ark). It speaks to God’s absolute sovereignty over creation and His active involvement in the lives of His covenant people. It is a powerful affirmation that the crossing was not natural but a direct act of YHWH facilitated through His chosen emblem of presence, making the event utterly distinct from mere chance. This foreshadows that it is only through God's manifest presence and covenant faithfulness that salvation and victory are truly achieved.

Joshua 4 7 Bonus section

The positioning of the stones "in the Jordan" (Josh 4:9, often interpreted as the stones set back into the riverbed) alongside the "twelve stones taken out" (Josh 4:8) and carried to Gilgal (Josh 4:20), implies a multi-layered witness. The stones in the riverbed served as a submerged, invisible memorial until perhaps very dry times, reinforcing the immediate supernatural cessation of the river. The visible monument at Gilgal (later a key encampment and spiritual center) provided a continuous, accessible reminder for all. Together, they testify not just to a one-time event but to God's continuous dwelling with His people as they settled the land. This duality perhaps reflects the two aspects of divine action: the awe-inspiring, transient intervention, and the lasting, tangible legacy of its fruit. It reinforces the idea that true memorial often involves both an experiential moment and a persistent witness.

Joshua 4 7 Commentary

Joshua 4:7 stands as a powerful testament to the pedagogical purpose of divine intervention. It is not enough for God to perform a miracle; He actively designs a method for that miracle to be perpetually remembered and passed down through generations. The Jordan crossing, a second foundational redemptive act for Israel after the Red Sea, demonstrates YHWH's continued faithfulness and power as they enter the promised land. The memorial stones, prompted by future generations' curiosity, serve as an evangelistic tool within Israel, constantly reminding them that their presence in Canaan is not by their might but solely by the miraculous grace and power of God, mediated by the Ark of His presence. This act powerfully establishes God's unique authority over nature and validates Joshua's leadership, ensuring the people understood that YHWH, their covenant God, was indeed going before them, fighting for them, and fulfilling His promises "forever." The spiritual parallel extends to Christians, who, by remembering Christ's work (e.g., through communion), acknowledge a greater passage through death to life, securing an eternal inheritance through a new covenant marked by God's enduring presence in His Spirit.

• Example for Practical Usage: A family gathers annually, looking at a special object or photo from a significant answer to prayer, and recounting the story of how God intervened. This mirrors the purpose of the stones—a tangible prompt for intergenerational sharing of God's faithfulness.