King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
the water upstream stood piled up like an embankment for a great distance at Adam, the city next to Tzartan; so that the water flowing downstream toward the Sea of the 'Aravah, the Dead Sea, was completely cut off; and the people crossed over right by Yericho.
Berean Standard Bible:
the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
American Standard Version:
that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That the waters{H4325} which came down{H3381} from above{H4605} stood{H5975} and rose up{H6965} upon an{H259} heap{H5067} very{H3966} far{H7368} from the city{H5892} Adam{H121}, that is beside{H6654} Zaretan{H6891}: and those that came down{H3381} toward the sea{H3220} of the plain{H6160}, even the salt{H4417} sea{H3220}, failed{H8552}, and were cut off{H3772}: and the people{H5971} passed over{H5674} right against Jericho{H3405}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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.
Genesis 14:3
- All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
1 Kings 4:12
- Baana the son of Ahilud; [to him pertained] Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which [is] by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, [even] unto [the place that is] beyond Jokneam:
1 Kings 7:46
- In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
Psalms 114:3
- The sea saw [it], and fled: Jordan was driven back.
Deuteronomy 1:1
- ¶ These [be] the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red [sea], between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
Numbers 34:3
- Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Joshua 3:16
Joshua 3:16 is a verse that captures a miraculous event during the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, under the leadership of Joshua. This event occurs after the death of Moses, when Joshua is tasked with leading the people across the Jordan River into Canaan. The historical context is the culmination of the Exodus narrative, where the Israelites, having wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, are finally about to enter the land promised to their ancestors by God.
The verse specifically describes how the waters of the Jordan, which were in flood at the time, piled up at a distance from the town of Adam, near Zaretan, creating a barrier that allowed the Israelites to cross the river on dry ground. This mirrors the parting of the Red Sea during the Exodus from Egypt, reinforcing the theme of God's power over nature and His ability to deliver His people in miraculous ways. The text also mentions that the flow of the river down to the Dead Sea (the "salt sea") was completely cut off, emphasizing the magnitude of the miracle.
The themes present in this verse include divine intervention, the faithfulness of God to His promises, and the leadership of Joshua. It serves as a powerful symbol of new beginnings and the transition of the Israelites from a nomadic existence to settling in the land of Canaan. The crossing of the Jordan also prefigures the spiritual crossing from death to life, from bondage to freedom, which is a recurring theme in the Bible, and is later used in Christian theology as a type of baptism and salvation through Christ. The passage over "right against Jericho" sets the stage for the subsequent miraculous conquest of Jericho, further demonstrating God's favor and guidance for His people as they begin to take possession of the Promised Land.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. - Strong's Number: H4605
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעַל
Transliteration: maʻal
Pronunciation: mah'al
Description: from עָלָה; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.; above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on ([idiom] very) high, over, up(-on, -ward), very. - Strong's Number: H5975
There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָמַד
Transliteration: ʻâmad
Pronunciation: aw-mad'
Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. - Strong's Number: H6965
There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוּם
Transliteration: qûwm
Pronunciation: koom
Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising). - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H5067
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֵד
Transliteration: nêd
Pronunciation: nade
Description: from נוּד in the sense of piling up; a mound, i.e. wave; heap. - Strong's Number: H3966
There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְאֹד
Transliteration: mᵉʼôd
Pronunciation: meh-ode'
Description: from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well. - Strong's Number: H7368
There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחַק
Transliteration: râchaq
Pronunciation: raw-khak'
Description: a primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation); (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, [idiom] refrain, very, (be) a good way (off). - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H121
There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼÂdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: the same as אָדָם; Adam the name of the first man, also of a place in Palestine; Adam. - Strong's Number: H6654
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צַד
Transliteration: tsad
Pronunciation: tsad
Description: contr. from an unused root meaning to sidle off; a side; figuratively, an adversary; (be-) side. - Strong's Number: H6891
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָרְתָן
Transliteration: Tsârᵉthân
Pronunciation: tsaw-reth-awn'
Description: perhaps for צְרֵדָה; Tsarethan, a place in Palestine; Zarthan. q - Strong's Number: H3220
There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָם
Transliteration: yâm
Pronunciation: yawm
Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). - Strong's Number: H6160
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲרָבָה
Transliteration: ʻărâbâh
Pronunciation: ar-aw-baw'
Description: from עָרַב (in the sense of sterility); a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea; Arabah, champaign, desert, evening, heaven, plain, wilderness. See also בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה. - Strong's Number: H4417
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלַח
Transliteration: melach
Pronunciation: meh'-lakh
Description: from מָלַח; properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved); salt(-pit). - Strong's Number: H8552
There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּמַם
Transliteration: tâmam
Pronunciation: taw-mam'
Description: a primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive; accomplish, cease, be clean (pass-) ed, consume, have done, (come to an, have an, make an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone, [idiom] be all here, be (make) perfect, be spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted, whole. - Strong's Number: H3772
There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּרַת
Transliteration: kârath
Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H3405
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרִיחוֹ
Transliteration: Yᵉrîychôw
Pronunciation: yer-ee-kho'
Description: or יְרֵחוֹ; or variation (1 Kings 16:34) יְרִיחֹה; perhaps from יָרֵחַ; its month; or else from רוּחַ; fragrant; Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine; Jericho.