Joshua 4 · Verse 7

Joshua 4:7

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, King James Version

Joshua 4:7 in other translations

BSByou are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”
WEBthen you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the LORD’s covenant. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’”
ASVthen ye shall say unto them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
YLTthat ye have said to them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off, at the presence of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; in its passing over into the Jordan were the waters of the Jordan cut off; and these stones have been for a memorial to the sons of Israel--to the age.'
DARBYthen ye shall say to them, That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it went through the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
BBEThen you will say to them, Because the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the Lord's agreement; when it went over Jordan the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones will be a sign for the children of Israel, keeping it in their memory for ever.
WebsterThen 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 to the children of Israel for ever.

What does Joshua 4:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 4:6-7

6-7. That this may be a sign among you--The erection of cairns, or huge piles of stones, as monuments of remarkable incidents has been common among all people, especially in the early and rude periods of their history. They are the established means of perpetuating the memory of important transactions, especially among the nomadic people of the East. Although there be no inscription engraved on them, the history and…

Read the full comment on Joshua 4:6-7 →

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 4:1-9

The works of the Lord are so worthy of rememberance, and the heart of man is so prone to forget them, that various methods are needful to refresh our memories, for the glory of God, our advantage, and that of our children. God gave orders for preparing this memorial.

Read the full comment on Joshua 4:1-9 →

Joshua 4:7 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.

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣םva.'a.mar.Temand you will sayH559
לָהֶ֗םla.Hemto <the> them
אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherthatH834
נִכְרְת֜וּnikh.re.Tuthey were cut offH3772
מֵימֵ֤יmei.Mei[the] waters ofH4325
הַיַּרְדֵּן֙hai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383
מִפְּנֵי֙mi.pe.Neifrom beforeH6440
אֲר֣וֹן'a.Ron[the] ark ofH727
בְּרִית\־be.rit-[the] covenant ofH1285
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
בְּעָבְרוֹ֙be.'a.ve.Rowhen passed on itH5674
בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ןbai.yar.Denin the JordanH3383
נִכְרְת֖וּnikh.re.Tuthey were cut offH3772
מֵ֣יmei[the] waters ofH4325
הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןhai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383
וְ֠הָיוּVe.ha.yuand they will becomeH1961
הָאֲבָנִ֨יםha.'a.va.Nimthe stonesH68
הָאֵ֧לֶּהha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
לְזִכָּר֛וֹןle.zi.ka.Ron<into> a reminderH2146
לִבְנֵ֥יliv.Neito [the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
עוֹלָֽם\׃o.LamperpetuityH5769

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

Cross references for Joshua 4:7

  • Exodus 12:14

    And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

  • Psalms 111:4

    He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

  • Numbers 16:40

    To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses.

  • Exodus 28:12

    And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

  • Joshua 3:13-16

    And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

  • Isaiah 66:3

    He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

  • Joshua 4:6

    That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

  • 1 Corinthians 11:24

    And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

  • Exodus 30:16

    And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the waters.
3:13-16
memorial.
6; Ex 12:14; 28:12; 30:16; Nu 16:40; Ps 111:4; Isa 66:3; *marg:
1Co 11:24

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

Context

  • Joshua 4:6

    That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

  • Joshua 4:7

    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 4:8

    And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

Read all of Joshua 4

Joshua 4:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Les responderéis: Que las aguas del Jordán fueron partidas delante del arca del pacto de Jehová; cuando ella pasó el Jordán, las aguas del Jordán se partieron: y estas piedras serán por memoria á los hijos de Israel para siempre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
alors vous leur direz que les eaux du Jourdain furent coupées devant l’arche de l’alliance de l’ Éternel; lorsqu’elle passa dans le Jourdain, les eaux du Jourdain furent coupées. Et ces pierres serviront de mémorial aux fils d’Israël pour toujours.
German
Elberfelder 1871
so sollt ihr zu ihnen sagen: daß die Wasser des Jordan vor der Lade des Bundes Jehovas abgeschnitten wurden; als sie durch den Jordan ging, wurden die Wasser des Jordan abgeschnitten. Und diese Steine sollen für die Kinder Israel zum Gedächtnis sein ewiglich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
respondebitis eis: Defecerunt aquæ Jordanis ante arcam fœderis Domini, cum transiret eum: idcirco positi sunt lapides isti in monimentum filiorum Israël usque in æternum.