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Joshua 3:11

in Joshua 3

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into the Jordan.

KJV

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.

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This verse in Joshua 3

Commentary

2 notes on this verse

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Some observe an accent in the original, which they think directs us to translate it somewhat more emphatically, Behold the ark of the covenant, even the ark of the Lord, or even of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth. (3.) They are told that the ark should pass before them into Jordan.

This site's exposition

Come hither, and hear the words

on Joshua 3:9-11

The living God has fallen once before in Scripture, at Deuteronomy 5:26 of the voice out of the fire, and the next man to use the title is David in front of Goliath at 1 Samuel 17:26. The seven nations listed here are the seven of Deuteronomy 7:1 in a different order, so the list is a standing formula rather than a survey of who was waiting across the river. The Lord of all the earth is rarer still: it falls twice in this chapter, at verses 11 and 13, and only once more in the whole King James Bible, at Zechariah 6:5.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

With this you will know. By virtue of actually seeing that all of you are compressed here.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Joshua 3:10:1, via Sefaria, The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Take for yourselves twelve men. Prepare them to be available to fulfil that which I will command them when you finally cross the Jordan.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Joshua 3:12:1, via Sefaria, The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

9 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • הִנֵּה֙here!

    hinehH2009 →843 times

  • אֲר֣וֹן[the] ark of

    ʾaronH727 →202 times

  • הַבְּרִ֔יתthe covenant

    haberitH1285 →284 times

  • אֲד֖וֹן[the] lord of

    ʾadonH136 →440 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • הָאָ֑רֶץthe earth

    haaretzH776 →2504 times

  • עֹבֵ֥ר[is] about to pass on

    ʾoverH5674 →556 times

  • לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם<to> before you

    lifneikhemH6440 →2123 times

  • בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃in the Jordan

    baiyardenH3383 →182 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

14 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Deuteronomy 9:3But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.10 worksZechariah 6:5And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.5 worksZechariah 4:14So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”4 worksPsalms 24:1The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.4 worksMicah 4:13Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.3 worksJoshua 3:13When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”3 works
The other 8 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 97:5The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.3 worksJob 41:11Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.2 worksJoshua 3:3–6and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.2 worksIsaiah 54:5For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.2 worksJeremiah 10:7Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.2 worksIsaiah 3:12Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.2 worksZechariah 14:9On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.2 worksZephaniah 2:11The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Psalms 24:1

    The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 89:11

      The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded.

    • 1 Corinthians 10:26

      for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

    • 1 Chronicles 29:11

      Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom,…

    • Job 41:11

      Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

    • Deuteronomy 10:14

      Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it.

  • Through

    Zechariah 4:14

    So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”

    it leads to

    • Revelation 11:4

      These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

    • Isaiah 61:1–3

      The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…

  • Through

    Micah 4:13

    Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD,…

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 41:15–16

      Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.

About Joshua

The Israelites Cross the Jordan River — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
The Israelites Cross the Jordan River — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Joshua: the study guide →Read Joshua 3 →

This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Joshua 3 →