And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
Parallel translations
- WEB When all the people had completely crossed over, Yahweh’s ark crossed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.
- BSB and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the LORD crossed in the sight of the people.
- NKJV Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people.
- NASB and when all the people had finished crossing, then the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed in front of the people.
- NLT And when everyone was safely on the other side, the priests crossed over with the Ark of the Lord as the people watched.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When all the people had crossed, the ark and the priests crossed over in their sight. God's presence, having led and sustained them, completes the passage with them.
Overview
The ark crossing last, in full view of the people, visibly seals the miracle: God's presence both led Israel into the river and remained until all were safe before crossing Himself. The waters would now return, but the nation stood in the promised land. This climactic scene proclaims that God brings His people wholly through every barrier into their inheritance, a hope fulfilled for believers in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Josh 3:8And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
- Josh 4:18And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
- Josh 3:17And 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 4:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.