Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, New Living Translation He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the LORD your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. English Standard Version And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, Berean Standard Bible and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, King James Bible And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: New King James Version and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, New American Standard Bible and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. NASB 1995 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. NASB 1977 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. Legacy Standard Bible and Joshua said to them, “Cross again before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you carry a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, Amplified Bible and Joshua said to them, “Cross over again to the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, Christian Standard Bible and said to them, “Go across to the ark of the LORD your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, Holman Christian Standard Bible and said to them, “Go across to the ark of the LORD your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, American Standard Version and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; Contemporary English Version and said: Go to the middle of the riverbed where the sacred chest is, and pick up a large rock. Carry it on your shoulder to our camp. There are twelve of you, so there will be one rock for each tribe. English Revised Version and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: GOD'S WORD® Translation He said to them, "Go to the middle of the Jordan River in front of the ark of the LORD your God. Each man must take a stone on his shoulder, one for each tribe of Israel. Good News Translation and he told them, "Go into the Jordan ahead of the Covenant Box of the LORD your God. Each one of you take a stone on your shoulder, one for each of the tribes of Israel. International Standard Version Joshua told them, "Cross over again in front of the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan River. Then each of you pick up a stone on his shoulder with which to build a memorial, one for each of the tribes of Israel. NET Bible Joshua told them, "Go in front of the ark of the LORD your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. New Heart English Bible Joshua said to them, "Pass over before me in the presence of the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; Webster's Bible Translation And Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, World English Bible Joshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Joshua says to them, “Pass over before the Ark of your God YHWH into the midst of the Jordan, and each of you lift up one stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, Young's Literal Translation and Joshua saith to them, 'Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God unto the midst of the Jordan and lift up for you each, one stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, Smith's Literal Translation And Joshua will say to them, Pass ye over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of Jordan, and lift up to you each one stone upon his shoulder according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he said to them: Go before the ark of the Lord your God to the midst of the Jordan, and carry from thence every man a stone on your shoulders, according to the number of the children of Israel, Catholic Public Domain Version and he said to them: “Go before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and let each one carry from there one stone on your shoulders, according to the number of the sons of Israel, New American Bible Joshua said to them: “Go to the Jordan riverbed in front of the ark of the LORD, your God; lift to your shoulders one stone apiece, so that they will equal in number the tribes of the Israelites. New Revised Standard Version Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the Israelites, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Yeshua said to them: “Pass before the ark of LORD JEHOVAH your God within the Jordan and set each man his stone on his shoulder by the number of the tribes of the children of Israel OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and Joshua said unto them: 'Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; Brenton Septuagint Translation said to them, Advance before me in the presence of the Lord into the midst of Jordan, and each having taken up a stone from thence, let him carry it on his shoulders, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Twelve Stones from the Jordan…4So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, 6to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’… Cross References Exodus 12:26-27 When your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’ / you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck down the Egyptians and spared our homes.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 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. ... 1 Samuel 7:12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” Psalm 78:4-7 We will not hide them from their children but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might and the wonders He has performed. / For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, / that the coming generation would know them—even children yet to be born—to arise and tell their own children ... Psalm 105:5 Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced, Isaiah 63:11-13 Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble? 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 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. / They all ate the same spiritual food ... 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. 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death. Exodus 13:14-16 In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. / And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ / So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 27:2-3 And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. / Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 1 Kings 18:31-32 And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” / And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 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. 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, Treasury of Scripture And Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: Jump to Previous Ark Children Cross Israel Jordan Joshua Middle Midst Pick Shoulder Stone TribesJump to Next Ark Children Cross Israel Jordan Joshua Middle Midst Pick Shoulder Stone TribesJoshua 4 1. Twelve men are appointed to take twelve memorial stones from Jordan9. 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 and said to them, This phrase indicates a direct command from Joshua to the twelve men chosen from the tribes of Israel. Joshua, as the leader appointed by God after Moses, often communicated God's instructions to the people. This reflects the biblical principle of leadership and obedience to divine authority. “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land. 2. The Ark of the LORD A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence among His people. 3. The Jordan River The river that the Israelites crossed to enter the Promised Land, symbolizing a transition from the wilderness to the fulfillment of God's promise. 4. The Twelve Tribes of Israel The descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, each represented by a stone taken from the Jordan. 5. The Memorial Stones Stones taken from the Jordan River to serve as a lasting memorial of God's faithfulness in bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land. Teaching Points God's FaithfulnessThe stones serve as a tangible reminder of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. We should also set up "memorials" in our lives to remember God's work. Leadership and Obedience Joshua's leadership and the people's obedience to God's command highlight the importance of following God's appointed leaders and His instructions. Symbolism of the Stones Each stone represents a tribe, emphasizing unity and collective memory. In our communities, we should strive for unity and shared remembrance of God's deeds. Generational Teaching The stones were meant to prompt questions from future generations, teaching them about God's mighty acts. We should be intentional in passing down our faith accounts to the next generation. Faith in Action The act of crossing the Jordan required faith. We are called to step out in faith, trusting God to lead us through challenges and into His promises. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 4:5?2. How does Joshua 4:5 demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's commands? 3. What role do the stones play in remembering God's faithfulness in Joshua 4:5? 4. How can we create memorials to remember God's work in our lives today? 5. How does Joshua 4:5 connect to other biblical instances of memorials or remembrance? 6. In what ways can we teach future generations about God's faithfulness, as seen here? 7. What is the significance of the stones in Joshua 4:5 for Israel's history? 8. How does Joshua 4:5 demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises? 9. Why were the stones from the Jordan River important in Joshua 4:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 4? 11. How did Joshua lead the Israelites into the Promised Land? 12. Why does Jacob appear to “bargain” with God, seemingly contradicting other passages that discourage testing God (Genesis 28:20–22)? 13. What does the white stone symbolize in Revelation 2:17? 14. How do we reconcile the building of a separate altar in Joshua 22:10 with earlier commands to worship at one central sanctuary? What Does Joshua 4:5 Mean Cross over before the ark of the LORD your GodJoshua 4:5 opens with clear marching orders: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God.” The ark symbolized God’s holy presence (Exodus 25:22; Numbers 10:33). By putting the ark first, the Lord was teaching that He leads His people and makes a way where there is none—just as He had done at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:14-16). The command underscores two timeless truths: • God always precedes His people; we follow His lead, not the other way around (Psalm 23:1-4). • Obedience must be immediate; Israel was to “cross over” while the river was still a swollen torrent (Joshua 3:15-17), a tangible act of faith rather than sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Into the middle of the Jordan The phrase highlights that this was no symbolic gesture on the riverbank. The priests carrying the ark stood “firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan” (Joshua 3:17). The dry riverbed itself became a stage for God’s power, reminiscent of the dry land through the Red Sea. By entering the river’s heart, Israel witnessed a miracle they could never forget (Psalm 66:5-6). For believers today, it pictures the call to step into situations where only God can hold back the waters (Isaiah 43:2). Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder God turned the miracle into a memorial. Twelve men, one from every tribe, were to heft stones “upon his shoulder,” indicating sizable rocks, not pocket pebbles. Memorials in Scripture are physical reminders of spiritual realities—Noah’s altar after the flood (Genesis 8:20-21), the Passover meal (Exodus 12:14), Samuel’s Ebenezer stone (1 Samuel 7:12). The weight on each man’s shoulder speaks of personal responsibility: every generation must carry and pass on the testimony of God’s faithfulness (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). According to the number of the tribes of Israel Twelve stones for twelve tribes proclaimed unity in diversity. All Israel crossed together, and all Israel would remember together. No tribe was left out or favored (Genesis 49:28; Revelation 21:12). The memorial preaches equality before the Lord and joint inheritance of His promises (Ephesians 2:19). By tying the stones to tribal identity, God ensured that families would retell the story, weaving the miracle into the nation’s collective memory (Joshua 4:6-7). summary Joshua 4:5 commands Israel to follow God’s presence into impossible territory, seize tangible testimony of His deliverance, and preserve that testimony for every tribe and every generation. The verse reminds believers to step where God leads, shoulder the responsibility of remembering His works, and celebrate the unity of His redeemed people. Hebrew and said to them,וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Cross over עִ֠בְרוּ (‘iḇ·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on before לִפְנֵ֨י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the ark אֲר֧וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark of the LORD יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative into אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the middle תּ֣וֹךְ (tō·wḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre of the Jordan. הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (hay·yar·dên) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine Each אִ֣ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person of you is to take וְהָרִ֨ימוּ (wə·hā·rî·mū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise a אַחַת֙ (’a·ḥaṯ) Number - feminine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first stone אֶ֤בֶן (’e·ḇen) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 68: A stone upon עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against his shoulder, שִׁכְמ֔וֹ (šiḵ·mōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7926: The neck, as the place of burdens, the spur of a, hill according to the number לְמִסְפַּ֖ר (lə·mis·par) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4557: A number, definite, indefinite, narration of the tribes שִׁבְטֵ֥י (šiḇ·ṭê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe of Israel, יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc Links Joshua 4:5 NIVJoshua 4:5 NLT Joshua 4:5 ESV Joshua 4:5 NASB Joshua 4:5 KJV Joshua 4:5 BibleApps.com Joshua 4:5 Biblia Paralela Joshua 4:5 Chinese Bible Joshua 4:5 French Bible Joshua 4:5 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 4:5 Joshua said to them Pass over before (Josh. 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