Joshua 3 · Verse 1

Joshua 3:1

And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
Joshua 3:1, King James Version

Joshua 3:1 in other translations

BSBEarly the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
WEBJoshua got up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They camped there before they crossed over.
ASVAnd Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel; and they lodged there before they passed over.
YLTAnd Joshua riseth early in the morning, and they journey from Shittim, and come in unto the Jordan, he and all the sons of Israel, and they lodge there before they pass over.
DARBYAnd Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
BBEThen Joshua got up early in the morning, and, moving on from Shittim, he and all the children of Israel came to Jordan and were there for the night before going over.
WebsterAnd Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

What does Joshua 3:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Jos 3:1-6. Joshua Comes to Jordan.

1. Joshua rose early in the morning--On the day following that on which the spies had returned with their encouraging report. The camp was broken up in "Shittim" (the acacia groves), and removed to the eastern bank of the Jordan. The duration of their stay is indicated (Jos 3:2), being, according to Hebrew reckoning, only one entire day, including the evening of arrival and the morning of the passage; and such a time would be absolutely necessary for so motley an assemblage of men, women, and children, with all their gear and cattle to make ready for going into an enemy's country.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The Israelitish camp removes from Shittim to Jordan, Jos 3:1. The officers inform them how they are to pass the river, and the distance they are to keep from the ark, Jos 3:2-4. Joshua directs the people, Jos 3:5, Jos 3:6; and the Lord gives directions to Joshua, Jos 3:7, Jos 3:8. He delivers the Lord's message to the people, and foretells the miraculous passage and division of Jordan, Jos 3:9-13. The priests, bearing the ark, enter the river, and immediately the waters are cut off, and the priests stand on dry ground, in the bed of the river, till all the camp passes over, Jos 3:14-17. Verse 1 Joshua rose early - Archbishop Usher supposes that this was upon Wednesday, the 28th of April, A. M. 2553, the fortieth year after the exodus from Egypt. From Shittim, where they had lately been encamped, to Jordan, was about sixty stadia, according to Josephus; that is, about eight English miles.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 3:1-6
The Lord encourages joshua--Joshua encourages the people. (7-13)
  • The Israelites pass through Jordan on dry land. (14-17)
Verses 1-6 The Israelites came to Jordan in faith, having been told that they should pass it. In the way of duty, let us proceed as far as we can, and depend on the Lord. Joshua led them. Particular notice is taken of his early rising, as afterwards upon other occasions, which shows how little he sought his own ease. Those who would bring great things to pass, must rise early. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. All in public stations should always attend to the duty of their place. The people were to follow the ark. Thus must we walk after the rule of the word, and the direction of the Spirit, in everything; so shall peace be upon us as upon the Israel of God; but we must follow our ministers only as they follow Christ. All their way through the wilderness was an untrodden path, but most so this through Jordan. While we are here, we must expect and prepare to pass ways that we have not passed before; but in the path of duty we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness. Whether we are called to suffer poverty, pain, labour, persecution, reproach, or death, we are following the Author and Finisher of our faith; nor can we set our feet in any dangerous or difficult spot, through our whole journey, but faith will there see the prints of the Redeemer's feet, who trod that very path to glory above, and bids us follow him, that where he is, we may be also. They were to sanctify themselves. Would we experience the effects of God's love and power, we must put away sin, and be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Joshua 3:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם֩vai.yash.Kemand he rose earlyH7925
יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַye.ho.Shu.a'JoshuaH3091
בַּבֹּ֜קֶרba.Bo.kerin the morningH1242
וַיִּסְע֣וּvai.yis.'Uand they set outH5265
מֵֽהַשִּׁטִּ֗יםme.hash.shi.Timfrom <the> ShittimH7851
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uand they cameH935
עַד\־'ad-toH5704
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןhai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383
ה֖וּאhu'heH1931
וְכָל\־ve.kholand allH3605
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] peopleH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַיָּלִ֥נוּvai.ya.Li.nuand they stayedH3885
שָׁ֖םshamthereH8033
טֶ֥רֶםTe.rembeforeH2962
יַעֲבֹֽרוּ\׃ya.'a.Vo.ruthey passed overH5674

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Joshua 3:1

  • Joshua 2:1

    And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

  • Mark 1:35

    And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

  • Genesis 22:3

    And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

  • Jeremiah 7:13

    And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

  • Numbers 25:1

    And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

  • Micah 6:5

    O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.

  • Psalms 119:60

    I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

  • Jeremiah 26:5

    To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;

  • Jeremiah 25:3

    From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Joshua comes to Jordan.
2 The officers instruct the people for their passage.
7 The Lord encourages Joshua.
9 Joshua encourages the people.
14 The water of Jordan are divided.

rose early.Archbishop Usher supposes, that this was upon Wednesday, the 28th of April, A.M. 2553, the fortieth year of the Exodus from Egypt. From Shittim, where the israelites had been encamped for about two months (De 1:3), to the Jordan, was, according to Josephus, about sixty stadia; that is, between seven and eight English miles.
Ge 22:3; Ps 119:60; Jer 7:13; 25:3; 26:5; Mr 1:35
Shittim.
2:1; Nu 25:1; Mic 6:5
Jordan.Jordan, called by the Arabs El Sharia, takes its rise in Anti-Libanus, about twelve miles north of Cæsarea Philippi, now Banias; and, having run about twelve miles southward, it receives a considerable stream, which is now called the Moiet Hasbeia. About 15 miles farther, it forms the waters of Merom or Semechon, now Houle; and, after running about 28 miles more, it passes through the lake of Gennesareth, and thence runs southward till it loses itself in the Dead Sea; its whole course being about 160 miles.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Joshua 3:1

    And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

  • Joshua 3:2

    And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

Read all of Joshua 3

Joshua 3:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y LEVANTÓSE Josué de mañana, y partieron de Sittim, y vinieron hasta el Jordán, él y todos los hijos de Israel, y reposaron allí antes que pasasen.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et Josué se leva de bonne heure le matin; et ils partirent de Sittim et vinrent jusqu’au Jourdain, lui et tous les fils d’Israël, et là ils passèrent la nuit avant de traverser.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da machte sich Josua des Morgens früh auf, und sie brachen auf von Sittim und kamen an den Jordan, er und alle Kinder Israel; und sie rasteten daselbst, ehe sie hinüberzogen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Igitur Josue de nocte consurgens movit castra: egredientesque de Setim, venerunt ad Jordanem ipse et omnes filii Israël, et morati sunt ibi tres dies.