Joshua 4:22
New International Version
tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’

New Living Translation
Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’

English Standard Version
then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’

Berean Standard Bible
you are to tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’

King James Bible
Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

New King James Version
then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’;

New American Standard Bible
then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’

NASB 1995
then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’

NASB 1977
then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’

Legacy Standard Bible
then you shall make your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry land.’

Amplified Bible
then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’

Christian Standard Bible
you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’

American Standard Version
then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

English Revised Version
Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
the children should be told that Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.

Good News Translation
you will tell them about the time when Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

International Standard Version
you are to tell your descendants: 'Israel crossed this Jordan River on dry ground

Majority Standard Bible
you are to tell them, ?Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.?

NET Bible
explain to your children, 'Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.'

New Heart English Bible
Then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

World English Bible
Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then you have caused your sons to know, saying, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry land;

Young's Literal Translation
then ye have caused your sons to know, saying, On dry land Israel passed over this Jordan;

Smith's Literal Translation
And make ye known to your sons, saying, Upon dry land Israel passed through this Jordan.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
You shall teach them and say: Israel passed over this Jordan through the dry channel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
you shall teach them, and you shall say: ‘Israel passed over this Jordan, through the dry channel.’

New American Bible
you shall inform them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan here on dry ground.’

New Revised Standard Version
then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then you shall explain them to your children, and say to them, The children of Israel crossed this Jordan on dry land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Show them to your children and say to them: “On dry land the children of Israel crossed over this Jordan
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
then ye shall let your children know, saying: Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Tell your sons, that Israel went over this Jordan on dry land,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Camp at Gilgal
21Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22you are to tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as He did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over.…

Cross References
Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

Psalm 114:3-5
The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back; / the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. / Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back,

Isaiah 43:16-17
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, / who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

Deuteronomy 6:20-25
In the future, when your son asks, “What is the meaning of the decrees and statutes and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?” / then you are to tell him, “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. / Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household. ...

Nehemiah 9:9-11
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day. / You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.

Psalm 66:6
He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him.

Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Exodus 15:8
At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

Psalm 78:13
He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall.

Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

Romans 9:17-18
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

2 Kings 2:8
And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

2 Kings 2:14
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.


Treasury of Scripture

Then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

Joshua 3:17
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Exodus 14:29
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

Exodus 15:19
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

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Caused Children Crossed Dry Inform Israel Jordan Passed River Story
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Caused Children Crossed Dry Inform Israel Jordan Passed River Story
Joshua 4
1. Twelve men are appointed to take twelve memorial stones from Jordan
9. Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of Jordan
10. The people pass over
14. God magnifies Joshua
15. The priests commanded to come out of Jordan
20. The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal














you are to tell them
This phrase emphasizes the importance of oral tradition and the passing down of God's mighty acts to future generations. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, storytelling was a primary means of preserving history and teaching values. This command reflects the biblical principle of teaching children about God's works, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:7, where parents are instructed to diligently teach their children about God's commandments.

‘Israel crossed the Jordan
The crossing of the Jordan River is a pivotal event in Israel's history, marking the transition from the wilderness wanderings to the conquest of the Promised Land. The Jordan River, a significant geographical boundary, symbolized a barrier to the fulfillment of God's promises. This miraculous crossing parallels the earlier crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), reinforcing God's power and faithfulness. It also prefigures Christian baptism, symbolizing the believer's passage from death to life.

on dry ground.’
The mention of "dry ground" highlights the miraculous nature of the event, as the river was at flood stage (Joshua 3:15). This miracle served to authenticate Joshua's leadership, as God had done for Moses at the Red Sea. It also demonstrated God's control over creation, affirming His sovereignty. The dry ground is a testament to God's provision and faithfulness, ensuring safe passage for His people. This event is a type of Christ, who provides a way through the barriers of sin and death, leading believers into the promises of eternal life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land.

2. Israelites
The people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are entering the Promised Land.

3. Jordan River
The river that the Israelites miraculously crossed on dry ground as they entered Canaan.

4. Promised Land (Canaan)
The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, a symbol of God's faithfulness.

5. Memorial Stones
Twelve stones taken from the Jordan River to serve as a memorial for future generations of God's miraculous provision.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
The crossing of the Jordan on dry ground is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Just as He was faithful to Israel, He remains faithful to us today.

The Importance of Remembrance
The memorial stones serve as a physical reminder of God's miraculous works. We should also establish "memorials" in our lives to remember and testify to God's goodness.

Generational Testimony
The instruction to tell future generations about God's deeds emphasizes the importance of passing down faith accounts to our children and grandchildren.

Trust in God's Timing
The Israelites had to wait for God's perfect timing to enter the Promised Land. We, too, must trust in God's timing for the promises He has given us.

Living by Faith
Just as the Israelites stepped into the Jordan by faith, we are called to step out in faith in our own lives, trusting in God's provision and guidance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
you are to tell
וְהוֹדַעְתֶּ֖ם (wə·hō·w·ḏa‘·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

[them],
בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם (bə·nê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

‘Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

crossed
עָבַ֣ר (‘ā·ḇar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

the
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

Jordan
הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן (hay·yar·dên)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine

on dry ground.’
בַּיַּבָּשָׁה֙ (bay·yab·bā·šāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3004: Dry land, dry ground


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OT History: Joshua 4:22 Then you shall let your children know (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 4:21
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