Joshua 3:4

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אַ֣ךְ ׀ רָח֣וֹק יִהְיֶ֗ה בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙ *ובינו **וּבֵינָ֔יו כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם אַמָּ֖ה בַּמִּדָּ֑ה אַֽל־תִּקְרְב֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו לְמַ֤עַן אֲשֶׁר־תֵּֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֧א עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ מִתְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃

Transliteration

ʾak rāḥôq yihyeh between-you and-between-it about-ʾalpayim ʾammāh in-ha-middāh not-tiqrəbû unto-it ləmaʿan ʾăšer-tēdəʿû ʾet-ha-derek ʾăšer you-shall-tēlkû-in-it because not ʿăbartem in-ha-derek from-təmôl šilšôm

Grammar Details

*ʾak*: adverb/particle - only, surely, nevertheless
*rāḥôq*: adjective, masculine singular - distant, far
*yihyeh*: qal imperfect 3ms - it will be
*ʾalpayim*: numeral, dual - two thousand
*ʾammāh*: noun, feminine singular - cubit
*ha-middāh*: definite article + noun, feminine singular - the measure
*tiqrəbû*: qal imperfect 2mp + negative particle - do not come near
*ləmaʿan*: conjunction - in order that
*ʾăšer*: relative particle - which, that
*tēdəʿû*: qal imperfect 2mp - you may know
*ha-derek*: definite article + noun, feminine singular - the way
*tēlkû*: qal imperfect 2mp - you shall walk/go
*ʿăbartem*: qal perfect 2mp - you have passed over
*təmôl*: adverb - yesterday
*šilšôm*: adverb - day before yesterday, previously

Word Meanings

*ʾak*: only, surely, nevertheless, however
*rāḥôq*: far, distant, remote
*ləmaʿan*: so that, in order that
*təmôl* *šilšôm*: idiom: previously, in the past, before now

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Exod 19:12 : 12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
1 Chr 11:2 : 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Jehovah thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over my people Israel.
Ps 89:7 : 7 A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are round about him?
Heb 12:28-29 : 28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby {G1223} we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Gen 31:2 : 2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime.
Exod 3:5 : 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Exod 4:10 : 10 And Moses said unto Jehovah, Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Josh 3:2-3
2 verses
80%
2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;
3and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
Josh 3:5-6
2 verses
76%
5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves; for to-morrow Jehovah will do wonders among you.
6And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
Josh 3:11
74%
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into the Jordan.
Josh 6:7
73%
7And they said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of Jehovah.
Deut 1:33
73%
33who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.
Josh 3:8-9
2 verses
73%
8And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, ye shall stand still in the Jordan.
9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of Jehovah your God.
Josh 1:11
72%
11Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah your God giveth you to possess it.
Josh 6:3
71%
3And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
Deut 1:7
71%
7turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and unto all [the places] nigh thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.
Josh 6:10-11
2 verses
71%
10And Joshua commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11So he caused the ark of Jehovah to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
Deut 1:19
70%
19And we journeyed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which ye saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as Jehovah our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
Josh 3:14
70%
14And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests that bare the ark of the covenant being before the people;
Num 10:33
70%
33And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting-place for them.
Deut 2:3-4
2 verses
70%
3Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
4And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the border of your brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore;
Josh 4:15
70%
15And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
Deut 29:16
69%
16(for ye know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which ye passed;
Deut 3:27-28
2 verses
69%
27Get thee up unto the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
28But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.
Josh 4:5
69%
5and 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;
Josh 4:10-11
2 verses
69%
10For the priests that bare the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Jehovah commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
11And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of Jehovah passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
Deut 14:24
69%
24And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to set his name there, when Jehovah thy God shall bless thee;
Josh 4:1
69%
1And it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
Deut 8:2
69%
2And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not.
Judg 2:2
69%
2and ye shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall break down their altars. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice: why have ye done this?
Deut 12:9
69%
9for ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
Num 14:42-44
3 verses
69%
42Go not up, for Jehovah is not among you; that ye be not smitten down before your enemies.
43For there the Amalekite and the Canaanite are before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned back from following Jehovah, therefore Jehovah will not be with you.
44But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
Deut 31:8
69%
8And Jehovah, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Josh 4:22
69%
22Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
Deut 11:2
69%
2And know ye this day: for [I speak] not with your children that have not known, and that have not seen the chastisement of Jehovah your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his outstretched arm,
Deut 1:22
69%
22And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up, and the cities unto which we shall come.
Exod 19:12
69%
12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
Deut 1:40
69%
40But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.
Josh 4:7
69%
7then 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.
Josh 4:3
69%
3and command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.
Josh 1:9
69%
9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Josh 1:4
69%
4From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
Deut 20:2
69%
2And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
Josh 22:3
69%
3ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of Jehovah your God.
Deut 31:3
69%
3Jehovah thy God, he will go over before thee; he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt dispossess them: [and] Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as Jehovah hath spoken.
Exod 34:3
68%
3And no man shall come up with thee; neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.
Deut 32:52
68%
52For thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither into the land which I give the children of Israel.
Josh 22:19
68%
19Howbeit, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of Jehovah, wherein Jehovah's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against Jehovah, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.