that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
Parallel translations
- WEB that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’
- KJV That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
- BSB to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
- NASB This shall be a sign among you; when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
- NLT We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’
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
The stones are to be a sign so that when children ask their meaning, the story can be told. The memorial is meant to teach future generations about God.
Overview
God designs the memorial to prompt questions from children, opening the way to pass on the account of His salvation. This reflects the biblical emphasis on teaching the next generation God's mighty works (Deuteronomy 6:7, 20-25). Faith is meant to be transmitted, so that each generation knows and trusts the God who delivers His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Exod 13:14It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage.
- Josh 4:21He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’
- Ps 44:1For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm. We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old.
- Deut 6:20–21When your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What do the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh our God has commanded you mean?”
- Josh 22:27but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings;’ that your children may not tell our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in Yahweh.’
- Deut 11:19You shall teach them your children, talking of them, when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
- Ps 78:3–8Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
- Isa 38:19The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do today. The father shall make known your truth to the children.
- Exod 12:26–27It will happen, when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’
- Ps 71:18Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.
- Isa 55:13Instead of the thorn the cypress tree will come up; and instead of the brier the myrtle tree will come up: and it will make a name for Yahweh, for an everlasting sign that will not be cut off.”
- Ezek 20:12Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.
- Exod 12:14This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to Yahweh: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
- Exod 31:13“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
- Acts 2:39For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
- Exod 13:9It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Yahweh’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Yahweh has brought you out of Egypt.
- Num 16:38even the censers of these sinners against their own lives. Let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before Yahweh. Therefore they are holy. They shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”
- Ezek 20:20and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God. ’
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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 4:6 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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