Read Scripturead-freewith Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Joshua 3
New International Version

### Crossing the Jordan

3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim(A)and went to the Jordan,(B)where they camped before crossing over.2 After three days(C)the officers(D)went throughout the camp,(E)3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant(F)of theLordyour God, and the Levitical(G)priests(H)carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a](I)between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves,(J)for tomorrow theLordwill do amazing things(K)among you.”

6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

7 And theLordsaid to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you(L)in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.(M)8 Tell the priests(N)who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of theLordyour God.10 This is how you will know that the living God(O)is among you(P)and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites,(Q)Hivites, Perizzites,(R)Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.(S)11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth(T)will go into the Jordan ahead of you.(U)12 Now then, choose twelve men(V)from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of theLord—the Lord of all the earth(W)—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream(X)will be cut off(Y)and stand up in a heap.(Z)”

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant(AA)went ahead(AB)of them.15 Now the Jordan(AC)is at flood stage(AD)all during harvest.(AE)Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,16 the water from upstream stopped flowing.(AF)It piled up in a heap(AG)a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan,(AH)while the water flowing down(AI)to the Sea of the Arabah(AJ)(that is, the Dead Sea(AK)) was completely cut off.(AL)So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.(AM)17 The priests(AN)who carried the ark of the covenant of theLordstopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground,(AO)while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.(AP)

#### Footnotes

1. Joshua 3:4 That is, about 3,000 feet or about 900 meters

#### Cross references

1. Joshua 3:1:S Jos 2:1
2. Joshua 3:1:S Ge 13:10; Job 40:23
3. Joshua 3:2:S Ge 40:13; Jos 2:16
4. Joshua 3:2:S Dt 1:15
5. Joshua 3:2:Jos 1:11
6. Joshua 3:3:S Nu 10:33
7. Joshua 3:3:1Sa 6:15
8. Joshua 3:3:ver 8, 17; Nu 4:15; Dt 31:9; 1Ki 8:3
9. Joshua 3:4:Nu 35:5
10. Joshua 3:5:S Ex 29:1; S Lev 11:44
11. Joshua 3:5:Jdg 6:13; 1Ch 16:9, 24; Ps 26:7; 75:1
12. Joshua 3:7:Jos 4:14; 1Ch 29:25
13. Joshua 3:7:Jos 1:5
14. Joshua 3:8:S ver 3
15. Joshua 3:10:Dt 5:26; 1Sa 17:26, 36; 2Ki 19:4, 16; Ps 18:46; 42:2; 84:2; Isa 37:4, 17; Jer 10:10; 23:36; Da 6:26; Hos 1:10; S Mt 16:16
16. Joshua 3:10:S Dt 7:21
17. Joshua 3:10:S Ge 26:34
18. Joshua 3:10:Jos 17:15; 24:11; Jdg 1:4; 3:5
19. Joshua 3:10:S Ex 3:8; S 23:23; S Dt 7:1; Jos 9:1; 11:3; 12:8; Jdg 19:11; 1Ch 11:4
20. Joshua 3:11:ver 13; Ex 19:5; Dt 10:14; Job 9:10; 28:24; 41:11; Ps 50:12; 97:5; Zec 6:5
21. Joshua 3:11:S Dt 9:3
22. Joshua 3:12:Jos 4:2, 4
23. Joshua 3:13:S ver 11
24. Joshua 3:13:ver 16
25. Joshua 3:13:Jos 4:7
26. Joshua 3:13:S Ex 14:22; S Isa 11:15
27. Joshua 3:14:Ps 132:8
28. Joshua 3:14:Ac 7:44-45
29. Joshua 3:15:2Ki 2:6
30. Joshua 3:15:Jos 4:18; 1Ch 12:15; Isa 8:7
31. Joshua 3:15:S Ge 8:22
32. Joshua 3:16:Ps 66:6; 74:15; 114:3
33. Joshua 3:16:Job 38:37; Ps 33:7
34. Joshua 3:16:1Ki 4:12; 7:46
35. Joshua 3:16:ver 13
36. Joshua 3:16:S Dt 1:1
37. Joshua 3:16:S Ge 14:3
38. Joshua 3:16:S Ge 8:1; S Ex 14:22
39. Joshua 3:16:2Ki 2:4
40. Joshua 3:17:S ver 3
41. Joshua 3:17:Jos 4:3, 5, 8, 9, 10
42. Joshua 3:17:S Ex 14:22; S Jos 2:10

New International Version(NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 byBiblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Retail: $19.98
Our Price: $7.50
Save: $12.48 (62%)
Buy Now
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible, Gilded Edges, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow God’s Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles