King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
That this may be a sign among you, [that] when your children ask [their fathers] in time to come, saying, What [mean] ye by these stones?
Complete Jewish Bible:
This will be a sign for you. In the future, when your children ask, 'What do you mean by these stones?'
Berean Standard Bible:
to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
American Standard Version:
that this may be a sign among you, that, when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That this may be a sign{H226} among{H7130} you, that when your children{H1121} ask{H7592} their fathers in time to come{H4279}, saying{H559}, What mean ye by these stones{H68}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 13:14
- And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [is] this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
Joshua 4:21
- And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What [mean] these stones?
Psalms 44:1
- ¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
Deuteronomy 11:19
- And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Joshua 22:27
- But [that] it [may be] a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
Deuteronomy 6:20
- [And] when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [mean] the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
Deuteronomy 6:21
- Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Joshua 4:6
Joshua 4:6 is a part of the narrative in the Hebrew Bible where the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, are crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This event occurs after the death of Moses, and it marks a significant moment in Israel's history as they transition from a life of wandering in the wilderness to settling in Canaan.
In the verse, God commands Joshua to have the Israelites take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, where the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant had stood, and to set them up as a memorial at their camp in Gilgal. The purpose of this memorial is made clear: it is to serve as a "sign among you" so that when future generations ask about the meaning of these stones, their parents can recount the story of how God miraculously stopped the flow of the Jordan River, allowing them to cross on dry ground—much like the parting of the Red Sea.
The themes present in this verse include the importance of remembrance, the passing down of faith and history from one generation to the next, and the role of tangible symbols in preserving communal memory. It also highlights God's faithfulness to His promises and His active involvement in the affairs of His people. The stones are not just random rocks but are meant to be a physical testament to God's power and a reminder of His mighty acts, ensuring that the memory of God's provision and guidance is perpetuated among the Israelites. This practice of creating memorials is rooted in the belief that the retelling of God's works strengthens the community's identity and faith.
*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: H226
There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוֹת
Transliteration: ʼôwth
Pronunciation: oth
Description: probably from אוּת (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.; mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token. - Strong's Number: H7130
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶרֶב
Transliteration: qereb
Pronunciation: keh'-reb
Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H7592
There are 157 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאַל
Transliteration: shâʼal
Pronunciation: shaw-al'
Description: or שָׁאֵל; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand; ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish. - Strong's Number: H4279
There are 52 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָחָר
Transliteration: mâchâr
Pronunciation: maw-khar'
Description: probably from אָחַר; properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter; time to come, tomorrow. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H68
There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶבֶן
Transliteration: ʼeben
Pronunciation: eh'-ben
Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).