Joshua 4 9

Joshua 4:9 kjv

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

Joshua 4:9 nkjv

Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

Joshua 4:9 niv

Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

Joshua 4:9 esv

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.

Joshua 4:9 nlt

Joshua also set up another pile of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. And they are there to this day.

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 4 9 Meaning

Joshua chapter 4 verse 9 describes a specific act by Joshua himself following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. It states that Joshua established twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan riverbed, at the precise spot where the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stood still, holding back the waters. These stones were intended to be a permanent memorial, attested by the phrase "they are there to this day," signifying the enduring testimony of God's power and faithfulness to Israel, visible at the very heart of the miracle.

Joshua 4 9 Context

Joshua chapter 4 serves as the climax of Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land, marking the end of their wilderness wanderings and the beginning of their conquest of Canaan. The preceding chapter detailed the specific instructions for the crossing, emphasizing the role of the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant, which resulted in the immediate damming of the river upstream. This miracle was not only a demonstration of God's power but also served to exalt Joshua in the eyes of all Israel. The chapter then commands the selection of twelve men, one from each tribe, to take a stone from the riverbed and erect a visible memorial at Gilgal, their first encampment in Canaan. Verse 9, however, details a separate act by Joshua, where he personally establishes a second set of twelve stones within the Jordan itself, at the very spot the Ark-bearing priests stood. This act underscores the deep significance of the location and God's active involvement. Historically, this event parallels the Red Sea crossing, signaling a new covenantal beginning for the nation under God's continued protection and provision. It set the stage for Israel's identity as a people truly delivered and led by God, contrasting sharply with the gods of the surrounding pagan nations who had no such power over creation.

Joshua 4 9 Word analysis

• And Joshua: Identifies the primary agent of this particular memorial act. While the command to take stones out of the Jordan involved twelve tribal representatives, Joshua himself took the initiative for these stones in the Jordan, highlighting his leadership and active participation in divine obedience.
• set up (יָצַב - yat͡sav): This Hebrew verb implies planting firmly, establishing, or making something stand. It conveys an act of intentionality and permanence, ensuring the memorial was well-founded and would endure. It's not a casual placement but a deliberate construction.
• twelve stones: This specific number consistently represents the twelve tribes of Israel. It emphasizes the unity of the nation in witnessing and benefiting from God's miracle. Each tribe was part of this collective experience and remembrance.
• in the midst of the Jordan (בְּתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן - b'tokh hayyarden): Literally "in the inside of the Jordan." This specifies the exact location within the riverbed. This is a crucial distinction from the other twelve stones, which were carried out of the Jordan. It suggests these stones would be hidden once the waters returned, creating a unique, possibly unseen, divine marker. They stood in the very place of God's miraculous intervention, a foundation beneath where the divine power was manifested.
• in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood: Pinpoints the sacred and miraculous spot. The Ark of the Covenant represented God's tangible presence, His throne among His people, and the physical manifestation of His covenant with Israel. The feet of the priests bearing it consecrated that specific ground, marking it as holy, divinely empowered territory. Their standing still allowed the full cessation of the river's flow, emphasizing the absolute control God had over the elements.
• stood (נִצְּבוּ - nitts'vu): A form of the same root as "set up," reinforcing the firmness and stability of the priests' stance. Their unwavering position facilitated the miracle and became the precise anchor for Joshua's memorial.
• and they are there to this day (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - ʿad hayyom hazzeh): This is a common biblical idiom attesting to the longevity and historical verifiable presence of the object or condition being described. For the original readers of Joshua, it affirmed the enduring reality of the memorial, linking their present to God's past act. While not physically visible for modern archaeologists once the Jordan flows, for the ancient Israelite, it served as concrete proof, enhancing the credibility and importance of the event. It means the truth and impact of the event endures forever.

The phrase "in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood" precisely maps the divine interaction point. It links God's direct involvement (through the Ark and priests) with the physical space. The mention of "twelve stones" in this unique location further cements the national significance, highlighting God's faithfulness to His entire people. The final clause, "and they are there to this day," emphasizes the perpetual nature of God's promises and His memorable acts, reassuring the readers of their enduring spiritual reality.

Joshua 4 9 Bonus section

It is a widely held scholarly view that Joshua 4 describes two distinct sets of twelve memorial stones, each serving a unique purpose, despite some apparent textual overlap. One set was taken from the Jordan riverbed and carried to Gilgal (Joshua 4:8, 20), serving as a visible, didactic monument for all future generations to see and inquire about, teaching them about God’s miraculous power. The second set, described specifically in Joshua 4:9, was erected by Joshua himself in the middle of the Jordan River where the priests' feet had stood. These stones, submerged once the waters returned, would be a hidden, foundational monument, perpetually witnessing to the very ground of God's saving act. Some commentators suggest these in-river stones were for God, while the Gilgal stones were for man, symbolizing different facets of remembrance.

The parallel between the Jordan crossing and the Red Sea crossing (Ex 14:21-22; Heb 11:29) is significant. Both events demonstrate God's complete dominion over nature and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. In the New Testament, the Jordan crossing finds symbolic resonance in Christian baptism (Rom 6:3-4). Just as Israel passed through water into a new land and a new life, baptism signifies passing from an old life into a new life in Christ, leaving sin behind and entering into the promises of God's New Covenant. The act of "crossing over" serves as a spiritual typology for spiritual transition and new beginnings under divine guidance.

Joshua 4 9 Commentary

Joshua 4:9 captures a profoundly symbolic and significant act: Joshua’s personal establishment of a twelve-stone memorial deep within the Jordan riverbed. This is distinct from the twelve stones carried out of the Jordan to Gilgal for public display (Jos 4:8, 20). The stones "in the midst of the Jordan" served as a hidden testament, perhaps known only to God and Joshua initially, located precisely where God's power held back the waters. This subtle yet powerful memorial underscores God's active presence at the very core of Israel's crossing into the Promised Land.

The presence of the Ark of the Covenant, borne by priests, sacralized the ground where the miracle occurred, making that specific spot holy. Joshua's placement of stones there ensured a lasting, foundational marker for this divine intervention. The "to this day" clause affirms the historical authenticity and enduring significance for the ancient Israelite audience, assuring them that God's powerful acts of deliverance were not just tales but verifiable realities with ongoing relevance. The entire event emphasizes God's faithfulness, His sovereign power over creation, and His commitment to His covenant with Israel, guiding them into their inheritance. It served as a potent reminder for future generations not only of a miraculous event but of God’s constant and unwavering presence in their history, demanding their faithful remembrance and worship.