Joshua 3:13 When 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."

◄ Joshua 3:13 ►

New International Version
And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

New Living Translation
The priests will carry the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”

English Standard Version
And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

Berean Standard Bible
When 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.”

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.

New King James Version
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.”

New American Standard Bible
And it will come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, that is, the waters which are flowing down from above; and they will stand in one heap.”

NASB 1995
“It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”

NASB 1977
“And it shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above shall stand in one heap.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be that when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”

Amplified Bible
When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, [come to] rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing down from above will be cut off, and they will stand in one mass [of water].”

Christian Standard Bible
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, come to rest in the Jordan’s water, its water will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a mass.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, come to rest in the Jordan’s waters, its waters will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a mass.”

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, will stand in the water of the Jordan. Then the water flowing from upstream will stop and stand up like a dam."

Good News Translation
When the priests who carry the Covenant Box of the LORD of all the earth put their feet in the water, the Jordan will stop flowing, and the water coming downstream will pile up in one place."

International Standard Version
When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the water in the Jordan River, the water that feeds the Jordan will be cut off from above and they'll stand still in a single location."

Majority Standard Bible
When 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.”

NET Bible
When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Ruler of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up."

New Heart English Bible
It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap."

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in a heap.

World English Bible
It shall be that when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off. The waters that come down from above shall stand in one heap.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and it has been, at the resting of the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of YHWH, Lord of all the earth, in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan are cut off—the waters which are coming down from above—and they stand—one heap.”

Young's Literal Translation
and it hath been, at the resting of the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of Jehovah, Lord of all the earth, in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan are cut off -- the waters which are coming down from above -- and they stand -- one heap.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was as the soles of the feet of the priests lifting up the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, rested in the water of Jordan, the water of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters coming down from above; and they shall stand one heap.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the priests, that carry the ark of the Lord the God of the whole earth, shall set the soles of their feet in the waters of the Jordan, the waters that are beneath shall run down and go off: and those that come from above, shall stand together upon a heap.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when the priests who are carrying the ark of the Lord, the God of the entire earth, will have placed the steps of their feet in the waters of the Jordan, the waters that are lower will run down and pass away, and those that are approaching above will stand together in a mass.”

New American Bible
When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the waters of the Jordan, it will cease to flow; the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a single heap.”

New Revised Standard Version
When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be divided, the waters that are flowing down from above shall pile up as though they were in sheepskins, one beside the other.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And whenever the soles of the feet of the Priests who bear the ark of the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH, The Lord of all the Earth, have rested in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of Jordan shall be divided. The waters that run down from above will stand up as in water skins, one beside the other”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass, when the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth rest in the water of Jordan, the water of Jordan below shall fail, and the water coming down from above shall stop.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Crossing the Jordan
…12Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 When 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.” 14So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

2 Kings 2:8
And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

Psalm 114:3
The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back;

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Psalm 66:6
He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him.

Exodus 15:8
At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

2 Kings 2:14
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

Psalm 77:16
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.

Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Nehemiah 9:11
You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.

Psalm 136:13-14
He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever. / and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever.

Matthew 14:25-26
During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. / When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

Mark 6:48-50
He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them, / but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— / for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand on an heap.

the soles

Joshua 3:15,16
And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) …

of the Lord

Joshua 3:11
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.

stand upon

Joshua 3:16
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Exodus 15:8
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

Psalm 33:7
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

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Joshua 3

1. Joshua come to Jordan
2. The officers instruct the people for their passage
7. The Lord encourages Joshua
9. Joshua encourages the people
14. The water of Jordan are divided

Berean Study Bible

And when the soles of the feet of the priests
The phrase "soles of the feet" emphasizes the physical act of stepping into the water, symbolizing faith in action. The priests, as spiritual leaders, are the first to step into the Jordan, demonstrating trust in God's promise. In Hebrew, "soles" (כַּפּוֹת, kaphot) can also imply the base or foundation, suggesting that the priests' faith is foundational for the miracle to occur. This act of stepping into the water is a powerful image of obedience and trust, setting an example for the Israelites to follow.

carrying the ark of the LORD
The Ark of the Covenant represents God's presence among His people. It is not merely a religious artifact but a symbol of the divine covenant and guidance. The Hebrew word for "ark" (אֲרוֹן, aron) signifies a chest or container, but in this context, it is the sacred vessel containing the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna. The priests carrying the ark signify that God's presence leads the way, and His promises are central to the Israelites' journey.

the Lord of all the earth
This title for God underscores His sovereignty and authority over all creation. The Hebrew word for "Lord" (אֲדוֹן, Adon) conveys mastery and ownership, while "earth" (אֶרֶץ, eretz) refers to the entire world. By declaring God as the "Lord of all the earth," the text affirms His power to control natural elements, such as the waters of the Jordan, and His rightful dominion over all nations and lands.

touch the waters of the Jordan
The Jordan River is a significant geographical and spiritual boundary for the Israelites. "Touch" (נָגַע, naga) implies contact and influence, suggesting that the mere presence of the ark, carried by the priests, is enough to initiate the miracle. The Jordan River, often a symbol of transition and purification, becomes the stage for God's power to manifest, marking the Israelites' entry into the Promised Land.

the flowing waters will be cut off
This phrase describes the miraculous intervention of God in nature. "Flowing waters" (מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן, mei ha-yarden) indicates the natural, continuous movement of the river, which is suddenly halted. "Cut off" (נִכְרָתוּ, nikratu) suggests a decisive action, as if the waters are severed or divided. This act recalls the parting of the Red Sea, reinforcing God's ability to make a way where there seems to be none, and His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.

and stand up in a heap
The imagery of waters standing "in a heap" (נֵד אֶחָד, ned echad) is both awe-inspiring and indicative of divine intervention. The Hebrew word "heap" suggests a piling up, as if the waters are gathered and held back by an invisible hand. This miraculous event serves as a testament to God's power and a sign to the Israelites and surrounding nations of His presence and favor with His people. It is a moment of divine revelation, where the natural order is suspended to fulfill God's purposes.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) The soles of the feet of the priests.--Observe that the priests, the ark-bearers, did not stand in the middle of the bed of the river, but at the edge of the flood. They had no need to advance further. As soon as their feet "rested" in the overflow, "Jordan was driven back." The waters descending from the north as it were recoiled and shrank away, and stood up in "one heap."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - The Lord, the Lord of all the earth. The original is, Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth. That the waters of Jordan shall be cut off. The construction here seems to have perplexed the LXX., Vulgate, and English translators. The former have given the sense, but have changed the construction. The second have supposed יִכָּרֵתוּן to mean fail, and to refer to the waters below the place of crossing. The third have interpolated the word "from." The words "the waters descending from above" are in apposition to, and explanatory of, the words "the waters" above. If for "from" in our version we substitute "namely," we shall express the meaning of the original. The Masorites point thus, dividing the verb from what follows by Zakeph Katon. A heap (cf. Psalm 38:7). The original is picturesque, "and they shall stand, one heap."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

When the feet
כַּפּ֣וֹת (kap·pō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

of the priests
הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

who carry
נֹשְׂאֵי֩ (nō·śə·’ê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the ark
אֲר֨וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the LORD—
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the Lord
אֲד֤וֹן (’ă·ḏō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 136: The Lord

of all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the earth—
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

touch down
כְּנ֣וֹחַ (kə·nō·w·aḥ)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5117: To rest, settle down

in the waters
בְּמֵ֣י (bə·mê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

of the Jordan,
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (hay·yar·dên)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine

its
הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ (hay·yar·dên)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine

flowing
הַיֹּרְדִ֖ים (hay·yō·rə·ḏîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

waters
מֵ֤י (mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

will be cut off
יִכָּ֣רֵת֔וּן (yik·kā·rê·ṯūn)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

[and]
הַמַּ֥יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

stand up
וְיַעַמְד֖וּ (wə·ya·‘am·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

in a
אֶחָֽד׃ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

heap.”
נֵ֥ד (nêḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5067: A mound, wave

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OT History: Joshua 3:13 It shall come to pass when (Josh. Jos)