Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. New Living Translation Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! English Standard Version Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Berean Standard Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan. Berean Literal Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you⁺ into the Jordan. King James Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. New King James Version Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan. New American Standard Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. NASB 1995 “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. NASB 1977 “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Legacy Standard Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Amplified Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you [leading the way] into the Jordan. Berean Annotated Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord {Adonai} of all the earth will go ahead of you⁺ into the Jordan (flowing down). Christian Standard Bible when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan. Holman Christian Standard Bible when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan. American Standard Version Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into the Jordan. English Revised Version Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. GOD'S WORD® Translation Watch the ark of the promise of the Lord of the whole earth as it goes ahead of you into the Jordan River. Good News Translation when the Covenant Box of the Lord of all the earth crosses the Jordan ahead of you. International Standard Version Look! The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of whole the earth is crossing ahead of you into the Jordan River. NET Bible Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you. New Heart English Bible Look, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan. Webster's Bible Translation Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBehold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan. World English Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionbehold, the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan; Berean Literal Bible Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you⁺ into the Jordan. Young's Literal Translation lo, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into Jordan; Smith's Literal Translation Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passing through before you into Jordan. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBehold the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth shall go before you into the Jordan. Catholic Public Domain Version Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth shall go before you through the Jordan. New American Bible The ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth will cross the Jordan before you. New Revised Standard Version the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBehold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth is passing over before you in the Jordan. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Behold the ark of the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH, The Lord of all the Earth, goes before you in the Jordan OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth on before you over the Jordan. Brenton Septuagint Translation Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over Jordan. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Crossing the Jordan…10He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan. 12Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.… Cross References Behold, Isaiah 40:9 Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” Isaiah 62:11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.” the ark of the covenant Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day. Exodus 25:10-22 And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. / Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. / Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. … 1 Samuel 4:3-4 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.” / So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. of the Lord of all the earth Zechariah 6:5 And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein. will go ahead of you Numbers 10:35-36 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.” / And when it came to rest, he would say: “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.” Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” Exodus 13:21-22 And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people. into the Jordan. 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; 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. Exodus 25:22 And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites. 1 Samuel 4:4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. Treasury of Scripture Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan. the Lord Joshua 3:13 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. Psalm 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. passeth Joshua 3:3-6 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it… Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Jump to Previous Agreement Ahead Ark Covenant Crossing Earth Jordan Passes Passeth PassingJump to Next Agreement Ahead Ark Covenant Crossing Earth Jordan Passes Passeth PassingJoshua 3 1. Joshua come to Jordan2. 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 Behold, This word serves as a call to attention, emphasizing the importance of what follows. It is often used in Scripture to introduce a significant event or divine action. Here, it signals the miraculous event about to occur as the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan River. the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land. 2. The Ark of the Covenant A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. 3. The Lord of all the earth A title emphasizing God's sovereignty over all creation. 4. The Jordan River The river that the Israelites needed to cross to enter the Promised Land. 5. The Israelites God's chosen people, who are about to enter the land promised to their ancestors. Teaching Points God's SovereigntyRecognize that God is the Lord of all the earth, and His plans are sovereign over all creation. Faith in Action Just as the Israelites had to step into the Jordan in faith, we are called to act in faith, trusting in God's promises. God's Presence The Ark symbolizes God's presence with His people. Today, we have the Holy Spirit as our constant companion and guide. Leadership and Obedience Joshua's leadership and the people's obedience to God's command are models for us in following God's direction in our lives. Preparation for God's Work The Israelites prepared themselves spiritually before crossing the Jordan. We too must prepare our hearts and minds for the work God calls us to do. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 3:11?2. How does Joshua 3:11 demonstrate God's presence among His people today? 3. What does "the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord" symbolize in our lives? 4. How can we prepare to follow God's lead as in Joshua 3:11? 5. Connect Joshua 3:11 with another Bible verse about God's guidance. 6. How can we trust God's presence when facing obstacles, like the Israelites did? 7. How does Joshua 3:11 demonstrate God's presence among the Israelites? 8. What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Joshua 3:11? 9. How does Joshua 3:11 relate to the theme of divine intervention in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 3? 11. Why is there no clear extra-biblical record or archaeological evidence for this mass crossing in Joshua 3? 12. How did early Israelites fulfill the centralized requirement of bringing firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26) before a formal temple or priesthood was consistently established? 13. What is the significance of the Jordan River story? 14. Why does a miracle of this scale in Joshua 3 seem unmentioned in other historical or nearby cultures' writings? What Does Joshua 3:11 Mean BeholdThe verse opens with a call to pay attention. “Behold” is Scripture’s way of saying, “Look carefully—God is about to act.” • Similar wake-up words appear in Isaiah 7:14 and John 1:29, marking moments when the Lord reveals His saving plan. • Here, the command invites Israel to shift their focus from the swollen Jordan (Joshua 3:15) to the God who commands it. • By pausing to behold, the people prepare their hearts, just as Moses told them to “stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD” at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13). the ark of the covenant The ark was the tangible sign of God’s presence, built according to Exodus 25:10-22. • Inside were the stone tablets, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s staff (Hebrews 9:4), reminders of God’s law, provision, and authority. • Whenever the ark moved, Israel recognized the LORD Himself was moving (Numbers 10:33-36). • After years in the wilderness, seeing the ark advance meant God was personally leading them into a new chapter. of the Lord of all the earth The title underscores God’s universal rule. • Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” • Joshua’s generation needed this reminder: the Canaanite gods might claim the land, but the LORD owns every acre (1 Chronicles 29:11). • Acts 17:24 later echoes this truth to the Gentiles—He is sovereign everywhere, not just in Israel. will go ahead of you God does not send His people into danger alone; He leads the way. • Moses had promised, “The LORD Himself will go before you” (Deuteronomy 31:8). • Shepherd imagery in John 10:4 pictures Jesus going before His sheep, calling them by name. • For Israel, priests would carry the ark first (Joshua 3:6), illustrating that faith often requires stepping out before seeing results (Hebrews 11:1). into the Jordan The swollen river was an impossible barrier in flood season (Joshua 3:15), yet God chose that moment to display His power. • As soon as the priests’ feet touched the water, it “stood up in a heap” (Joshua 3:13) just like the Red Sea (Psalm 114:3). • The crossing marked a transition from wandering to inheriting—parallel to our passage from death to life in Christ (Colossians 1:13-14). • Stones taken from the riverbed became a memorial (Joshua 4:6-7) so future generations would remember the miracle. summary Joshua 3:11 reassures God’s people that the God who owns the whole earth personally leads them, makes a way where none exists, and invites them to watch His power at work. The ark’s advance into the Jordan proclaims that when the Lord goes first, obstacles become pathways and promises become reality. (11) The ark of the covenant.--The ten commandments are presented throughout this narrative as a covenant. So Exodus 34:28, "the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." It must be remembered that a promise precedes all the commandments. "I am Jehovah thy God." The "ten words" that follow are the testimony to His character who commanded the covenant. (See Silver Sockets, p. 28.) The thing signified by the dividing of Jordan does indeed exhibit the law as a covenant in a way that those who followed Joshua can hardly have conceived. But history must come before prophecy, if prophecy is to be understood.Verse 11. - The Lord of all the earth. As He was about to prove Himself to be by the mighty miracles He wrought to establish the Israelites in their land and thus fulfil His promise. The Israelites needed to be reminded of this to support them during the crossing of the Jordan. The translation of the LXX., though rejected by the Masorites, who separate the words "covenant" and "Lord," is admissible here, "the covenant of the Lord of all the earth." If we follow the Masoretic punctuation, we must supply the word "ark" again, and translate "the ark of the covenant, the ark of the Lord of the whole earth."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Behold,הִנֵּה֙ (hin·nêh) Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! the ark אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark of the covenant הַבְּרִ֔ית (hab·bə·rîṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 1285: A covenant of the Lord אֲד֖וֹן (’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 הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land will go עֹבֵ֥ר (‘ō·ḇêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on ahead of you לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם (lip̄·nê·ḵem) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 6440: The face into the Jordan. בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (bay·yar·dên) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine Links Joshua 3:11 NIVJoshua 3:11 NLT Joshua 3:11 ESV Joshua 3:11 NASB Joshua 3:11 KJV Joshua 3:11 BibleApps.com Joshua 3:11 Biblia Paralela Joshua 3:11 Chinese Bible Joshua 3:11 French Bible Joshua 3:11 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 3:11 Behold the ark of the covenant (Josh. 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