Joshua 4:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

you shall 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 of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the Israelites forever.’”

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם לָהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִכְרְת֜וּ מֵימֵ֤י הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִפְּנֵי֙ אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֔ה בְּעָבְרוֹ֙ בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן נִכְרְת֖וּ מֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְ֠הָיוּ הָאֲבָנִ֨ים הָאֵ֧לֶּה לְזִכָּר֛וֹן לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

Transliteration

And you shall say wa-ʾămartem to them lāhem that ʾăšer were cut off nikrətû waters of mêmê the ha-yardên from before mi-ppənê ark of ʾărôn covenant of bərît YHWH in his crossing over bə-ʿābrô in the ba-yardên were cut off nikrətû waters of mê the ha-yardên, and shall be wə-hāyû the stones hā-ʾăbānîm these hā-ʾēlleh for memorial lə-zikkārôn to children of li-bnê yiśrāʾēl until ʿad forever ʿôlām

Grammar Details

• *wa-ʾămartem*: conjunction + perfect 2nd masculine plural - and you shall say
• *lāhem*: preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - to them
• *ʾăšer*: relative pronoun - that/which
• *nikrətû*: perfect 3rd common plural passive - were cut off
• *mêmê*: masculine plural construct - waters of
• *ha-yardên*: definite article + proper noun - the Jordan
• *mi-ppənê*: preposition + plural construct - from before
• *ʾărôn*: masculine singular construct - ark of
• *bərît*: feminine singular construct - covenant of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD
• *bə-ʿābrô*: preposition + infinitive construct + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - in his crossing over
• *ba-yardên*: preposition + definite article + proper noun - in the Jordan
• *mê*: masculine plural construct - waters of
• *wə-hāyû*: conjunction + perfect 3rd common plural - and shall be
• *hā-ʾăbānîm*: definite article + feminine plural noun - the stones
• *hā-ʾēlleh*: definite article + common plural demonstrative pronoun - these
• *lə-zikkārôn*: preposition + masculine singular noun - for memorial/remembrance
• *li-bnê*: preposition + masculine plural construct - to sons/children of
• *yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *ʿad*: preposition - until/unto
• *ʿôlām*: masculine singular noun - forever/eternity

Word Meanings

• *ʾāmar*: say/speak/tell
• *kārat*: cut off/cut down/sever
• *māyim*: water/waters/fluid
• *pānîm*: face/before/presence
• *ʿābar*: cross over/pass through/traverse
• *zikkārôn*: memorial/remembrance/record
• *ʿôlām*: forever/eternity/ancient time

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Then you shall answer them, That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  then 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  That ye maye then saye vnto them, how that the water of Iordane claue in sunder before the Arke of the LORDES couenaunt, whan it wente thorow Iordane, & that these stones are set for a perpetuall remembraunce vnto the children of Israel.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then ye may answere them, That the waters of Iorden were cut off before the Arke of the couenant of the Lord: for when it passed through Iorden, the waters of Iorden were cut off: therefore these stones are a memoriall vnto the children of Israel for euer.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Ye maye aunswere them: howe that the waters of Iordane deuided at the presence of the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, (For when it went ouer Iordane, the waters of Iordane deuided) And these stones are become a memoriall vnto the chyldren of Israel for euer.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  then you shall tell them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  that 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.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  then 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  then 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then 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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  then you shall tell them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.'"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing. These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.”

Referenced Verses

• Exod 12:14 : 14 This day shall be a memorial for you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a perpetual ordinance, you shall celebrate it.
• Exod 28:12 : 12 Place the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names before the LORD on his shoulders as a memorial.
• Exod 30:16 : 16 You shall take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.
• Josh 3:13-16 : 13 When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—rest in the waters of the Jordan, the water flowing down from upstream will be cut off and will stand in a heap. 14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now as the priests who carried the ark came to the Jordan, and their feet touched the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the harvest season), 16 the water flowing down from upstream stood still. It rose up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam near Zarethan. Meanwhile, the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho.
• Josh 4:6 : 6 This will serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
• Ps 111:4 : 4 He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
• 1 Cor 11:24 : 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'
• Isa 66:3 : 3 The one who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; the one who offers a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; the one who offers incense is like one who blesses an idol. They have chosen their own ways and their souls delight in their abominations.