Joshua 4 · Verse 9

Joshua 4:9

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, King James Version

Joshua 4:9 in other translations

BSBJoshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day.
WEBJoshua set up twelve stones in the middle 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.
ASVAnd Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
YLTeven the twelve stones hath Joshua raised up out of the midst of the Jordan, the place of the standing of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, and they are there unto this day.
DARBYAnd twelve stones did Joshua set up in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant had stood firm; and they are there to this day.
BBEAnd Joshua put up twelve stones in the middle of Jordan, where the feet of the priests who took up the ark of the agreement had been placed: and there they are to this day.
WebsterAnd Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of 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.

What does Joshua 4:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Jos 4:9. Twelve Stones Set Up in the Midst of Jordan.

9. Joshua set up twelve stones ... in the place where the feet of the priests ... stood--In addition to the memorial just described, there was another memento of the miraculous event, a duplicate of the former, set up in the river itself, on the very spot where the ark had rested. This heap of stones might have been a large and compactly built one and visible in the ordinary state of the river. As nothing is said where these stones were obtained, some have imagined that they might have been gathered in the adjoining fields and deposited by the people as they passed the appointed spot. they are there unto this day--at least twenty years after the event, if we reckon by the date of this history (Jos 24:26), and much later, if the words in the latter clause were inserted by Samuel or Ezra.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan - It seems from this chapter that there were two sets of stones erected as a memorial of this great event; twelve at Gilgal, Jos 4:20 and twelve in the bed of Jordan, Jos 4:9. The twelve stones in the bed of Jordan might have been so placed on a base of strong stone-work so high as always to be visible, and serve to mark the very spot where the priests stood with the ark. The twelve stones set up at Gilgal would stand as a monument of the place of the first encampment after this miraculous passage. Though this appears to me to be the meaning of this place, yet Dr. Kennicott's criticism here should not be passed by. "It is well known," says he, "that when Joshua led the Israelites over Jordan, he was commanded to take twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, to be a memorial that the ground in the very midst of that river had been made dry. But where was this memorial to be set up? The ninth verse says; Joshua set up these stones In the midst of Jordan. But is it likely that the stones should be placed or set down where they were taken up; and that the memorial should be erected there where, when the river was again united, it would be concealed, and of course could be no memorial at all? This however flatly contradicts the rest of the chapter, which says these stones were pitched in Gilgal, where Israel lodged in Canaan for the first time. The solution of this difficulty is, that בתוך bethoch In the midst, should be here מתוך mittoch, From the midst, as in Jos 4:3, Jos 4:8, Jos 4:20, and as the word is here also in the Syrian version. The true rendering therefore is, And Joshua set up the twelve stones (taken) From the midst of Jordan," etc. I confess I see no need for this criticism, which is not supported by a single MS. either in his own or De Rossi's collection, though they amount to four hundred and ninety-four in number. Twelve stones might be gathered in different parts of the bed of the Jordan, and be set up as a pillar in another, and be a continual visible memorial of this grand event. And if twelve were set up in Gilgal as a memorial of their first encampment in Canaan, it is still more likely that twelve would be set up in the bed of the river to show where it had been divided, and the place where the whole Israelitish host had passed over dry-shod. The reader may follow the opinion he judges most likely.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

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 4:9 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.

וּשְׁתֵּ֧יםu.she.Teimand two [plus]H8147
עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה'es.RehtenH6240
אֲבָנִ֗ים'a.va.NimstonesH68
הֵקִ֣יםhe.Kimhe set upH6965
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ye.ho.shu.a'JoshuaH3091
בְּת֣וֹךְbe.Tokhin [the] middle ofH8432
הַיַּרְדֵּן֒hai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383
תַּ֗חַתTa.chatinH8478
מַצַּב֙ma.Tzav[the] standing-place ofH4673
רַגְלֵ֣יrag.Lei[the] feet ofH7272
הַכֹּהֲנִ֔יםha.ko.ha.Nimthe priestsH3548
נֹשְׂאֵ֖יno.se.'Ei[the] bearers ofH5375
אֲר֣וֹן'a.Ron[the] ark ofH727
הַבְּרִ֑יתha.be.Ritthe covenantH1285
וַיִּ֣הְיוּvai.Yih.yuand they have beenH1961
שָׁ֔םShamthereH8033
עַ֖ד'aduntilH5704
הַיּ֥וֹםhai.Yomthe dayH3117
הַזֶּֽה\׃ha.Zeh<the> thisH2088

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

Cross references for Joshua 4:9

  • 1 Samuel 7:12

    Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben–ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

  • Joshua 24:26

    And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.

  • Genesis 26:33

    And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer–sheba unto this day.

  • Psalms 111:2-4

    The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

  • 1 Samuel 30:25

    And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

  • Genesis 28:18

    And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

  • Exodus 28:21

    And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

  • 2 Chronicles 5:9

    And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.

  • 2 Samuel 4:3

    And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

  • Judges 1:26

    And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.

  • Deuteronomy 34:6

    And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth–peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

  • Exodus 24:12

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
set up twelve.
Ex 24:12; 28:21; 1Ki 18:31; Ps 111:2-4
and they are there.These words might be written by Joshua at the close of his life, or perhaps be added by some later prophet. It seems from this verse, that there were two sorts of stones erected as a memorial of this great event: twelve at Gilgal (ver. 20,) and twelve in the bed of the Jordan; which last might have been placed on a base of strong stone work, so high as always to be visible, and serve to mark the very spot where the priests stood with the ark. Drs. Kennicott and Shuckford, however, would read here with the Syriac, {mittoch,} "from the midst," instead of {bethoch,} "in the midst;" and render, "And Joshua took up the twelve stones (taken) from the midst of Jordan," etc. But this reading is unsupported by any MS. yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary.
Ge 26:33; De 34:6; Jud 1:26; 1Sa 30:25; 2Sa 4:3; 2Ch 5:9; Mt 27:8
Mt 28:15

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Joshua 4:9

    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 4:10

    For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.

Read all of Joshua 4

Joshua 4:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Josué también levantó doce piedras en medio del Jordán, en el lugar donde estuvieron los pies de los sacerdotes que llevaban el arca del pacto; y han estado allí hasta hoy.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Josué dressa douze pierres au milieu du Jourdain, à la place où s’étaient tenus les pieds des sacrificateurs qui portaient l’arche de l’alliance; et elles sont là jusqu’à ce jour.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und zwölf Steine richtete Josua auf in der Mitte des Jordan, an der Stelle, wo die Füße der Priester gestanden hatten, welche die Lade des Bundes trugen; und sie sind daselbst bis auf diesen Tag.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Alios quoque duodecim lapides posuit Josue in medio Jordanis alveo, ubi steterunt sacerdotes qui portabant arcam fœderis: et sunt ibi usque in præsentem diem.