Joshua 8:32
New International Version
There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.

New Living Translation
And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied onto the stones of the altar the instructions Moses had given them.

English Standard Version
And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

Berean Standard Bible
And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

King James Bible
And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

New King James Version
And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

New American Standard Bible
And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.

NASB 1995
He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.

NASB 1977
And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.

Amplified Bible
And there, in the presence of the sons of Israel, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses which Moses had written.

Christian Standard Bible
There on the stones, Joshua copied the law of Moses, which he had written in the presence of the Israelites.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There on the stones, Joshua copied the law of Moses, which he had written in the presence of the Israelites.

American Standard Version
And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote, in the presence of the children of Israel.

English Revised Version
And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote, in the presence of the children of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There in front of the people of Israel he wrote on stone slabs a copy of the Teachings which Moses had written down.

Good News Translation
There, with the Israelites looking on, Joshua made on the stones a copy of the Law which Moses had written.

International Standard Version
There Joshua inscribed on stones a copy of the Law of Moses that Moses had presented to the Israelis.

Majority Standard Bible
And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

NET Bible
There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a duplicate of the law written by Moses.

New Heart English Bible
He wrote there on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

World English Bible
He wrote there on the stones a copy of Moses’ law, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he writes there on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses, which he has written in the presence of the sons of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
and he writeth there on the stones the copy of the law of Moses, which he hath written in the presence of the sons of Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will write there upon the stones the second of the law of Moses which he wrote before the sons of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he wrote upon stones the Deuteronomy of the law of Moses, which he had ordered before the children of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he wrote on the stones, the Deuteronomy of the law of Moses, which he had set in order before the sons of Israel.

New American Bible
There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed upon the stones a copy of the law written by Moses.

New Revised Standard Version
And there, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he wrote there upon the stones of the altar a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he wrote there on these stones of the altar a copy of the Law of Moshe that he wrote before the children of Israel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote before the children of Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua wrote upon the stones a copy of the law, even the law of Moses, before the children of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joshua Renews the Covenant
31just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings. 32And there in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier, to bless the people of Israel.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 27:2-8
And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. / Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. / And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster. ...

Deuteronomy 31:9
So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

Exodus 24:4
And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:24-26
When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, / he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: / “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

2 Kings 23:3
So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Nehemiah 8:1-3
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. / On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. / So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Nehemiah 8:8
So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.

2 Chronicles 34:30-31
And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people great and small—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. / So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20
When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. / It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. / Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.

2 Chronicles 23:16
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people.

2 Kings 11:17
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.

2 Chronicles 29:10
Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us.

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

2 Chronicles 34:14-15
While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. / And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.

2 Chronicles 35:6
Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses.”


Treasury of Scripture

And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 27:2,3,8
And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: …

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Joshua 8
1. God encourages Joshua
3. The plan whereby Ai was taken
29. The king thereof is hanged
30. Joshua builds an altar
32. writes the law on stones
33. and pronounces the blessings and curses














And there, in the presence of the Israelites
This phrase sets the scene for a significant communal event. The presence of the Israelites indicates a public and collective experience, emphasizing the importance of community in the worship and covenantal practices of Israel. Historically, the Israelites were a people bound by a shared identity and covenant with God, and this public act reinforces their unity and collective responsibility in upholding the law.

Joshua wrote on stones
The act of writing on stones is deeply symbolic. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, inscribing laws or decrees on stone was a way to ensure permanence and public accessibility. The Hebrew root for "wrote" (כָּתַב, kathab) implies a formal and authoritative act. This mirrors the giving of the Ten Commandments on stone tablets, signifying the enduring nature of God's law.

a copy of the law of Moses
This phrase underscores the continuity and fidelity to the Mosaic Law. The "law of Moses" refers to the Torah, the foundational legal and ethical code given to Israel. By making a copy, Joshua is ensuring that the law remains central to the life of the nation. It reflects a commitment to the divine instructions that were to guide Israel's conduct and relationship with God.

which he had written
The phrase "which he had written" emphasizes the direct transmission of the law from Moses to Joshua, and now to the people. It highlights the role of leadership in preserving and teaching God's commandments. The continuity of the written word is crucial for maintaining the covenantal relationship between God and His people. This act of writing serves as a reminder of the divine origin and authority of the law, as well as the responsibility of each generation to uphold it.

Verse 32. - And he wrote there upon the stones; i.e., upon the plaster, as we read in Deuteronomy 27:2, 4. "The wall destined to receive the picture," and it was just the same with inscriptions - was covered with a coating of lime and gypsum plaster. The outline was then sketched with red chalk, and afterwards corrected and filled in with black (Keurick's 'Egypt,' 1, p. 271). Thomson ('Land and the Book,' Io. 471) says that he has seen writings in plaster which could not have been less than two thousand years old. This passage shows that our author had Deuteronomy 28:2, 3 in his mind. The stones of the altar, which alone have been mentioned, are clearly not meant here, but the erection of plastered stone on which the law was to be written. A copy of the law of Moses, "Deuteronomium legis," Vulgate. So also LXX. Not the whole law, nor yet the Book of Deuteronomy, for time would not permit,but the decalogue, as the word מִשְׁנֶה duplicate, from whence the word Mishna comes, signifies. It is to be observed that the word is definite, the copy, not a copy, of the law. This (Deuteronomy 5:22) was what was written on the two tables of stone, which (Exodus 24:12, 31:18) God gave to Moses. Yet it is possible that, as some commentaters suggest, and as ver. 34 may be held to imply, what is meant is the curses and blessings mentioned in Deuteronomy 27, and 28. The formal setting up of this memorial was intended to remind the Israelites, by a perpetual standing witness, of the conditions on which they held the land of Canaan. And it is to be observed that the moral, rather than the positive, precepts of the law were thus solemnly enjoined on them, since neglect of the moral law of God is the invariable source of national degradation and decay. Which he wrote. Namely, Joshua.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And there
שָׁ֖ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

in the presence
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the Israelites,
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

[Joshua] inscribed
וַיִּכְתָּב־ (way·yiḵ·tāḇ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the stones
הָאֲבָנִ֑ים (hā·’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

a copy
מִשְׁנֵה֙ (miš·nêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4932: A repetition, a duplicate, a double, a second

of the Law
תּוֹרַ֣ת (tō·w·raṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

of Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

which
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he had written.
כָּתַ֔ב (kā·ṯaḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write


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OT History: Joshua 8:32 He wrote there on the stones (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 8:31
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