“Take twelve men out of the people, a man out of every tribe,
Parallel translations
- KJV Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
- BSB “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe,
- NKJV “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,
- NASB “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe,
- NLT “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe.
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
God commands that twelve men, one from each tribe, be chosen for a task. Every tribe is to share in commemorating God's mighty act.
Overview
The selection of twelve men corresponds to the twelve tribes, ensuring the whole covenant people are represented in the memorial. This continues the theme of national unity under God. The careful inclusion of each tribe reflects God's intent that all His people remember and pass on the testimony of His saving power.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Josh 3:12Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.
- 1 Kgs 18:31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Yahweh’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
- Matt 10:1–5He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
- Num 34:18You shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land for inheritance.
- Deut 1:23The thing pleased me well. I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe.
- Num 1:4–15With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers’ house.
- Num 13:2“Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a prince among them.”
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 4:2 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
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