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.

And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles {H3709} of the feet {H7272} of the priests {H3548} that bear {H5375} the ark {H727} of the LORD {H3068}, the Lord {H113} of all the earth {H776}, shall rest {H5117} in the waters {H4325} of Jordan {H3383}, that the waters {H4325} of Jordan {H3383} shall be cut off {H3772} from the waters {H4325} that come down {H3381} from above {H4605}; and they shall stand {H5975} upon an {H259} heap {H5067}.

As soon as the cohanim carrying the ark of ADONAI, the Lord of all the earth, put the soles of their feet in the water of the Yarden, the water of the Yarden will be cut off upstream and stand piled up like an embankment."

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.”

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.

Commentary

Joshua 3:13 describes the dramatic divine instruction for the Israelites to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. This verse highlights God's sovereign power and His method for opening the way for His people, emphasizing the role of faith and the presence of the Ark of the Covenant.

Context

After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the generation that left Egypt had largely passed away. Now, under the leadership of Joshua, the new generation stood poised to finally enter Canaan, the land God promised their ancestors. The Jordan River, typically full and fast-flowing during harvest season (Joshua 3:15), presented a formidable natural barrier. This verse reveals God's specific plan to overcome this obstacle, mirroring the miraculous parting of the Red Sea generations earlier, serving as a powerful sign to both Israel and the surrounding nations of God's presence and power.

Key Themes

  • Divine Power and Sovereignty: The declaration "the Lord of all the earth" underscores God's absolute authority over creation. He is not merely a local deity but the supreme ruler who can command the very elements to serve His purpose, causing the river to be "cut off" and "stand upon an heap."
  • Faith and Obedience: The miracle was contingent upon the priests' act of faith – stepping into the river before it parted. This required immense trust in God's word, demonstrating that divine intervention often follows human obedience.
  • God's Presence and Leadership: The Ark of the LORD, symbolizing God's manifest presence and covenant faithfulness, was carried by the priests at the forefront. Its leading role signified that God Himself was guiding His people into their inheritance.
  • Confirmation of Joshua's Leadership: This miracle also served to establish Joshua's authority in the eyes of all Israel, just as Moses' leadership had been affirmed by the Red Sea crossing.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the Lord of all the earth" in Hebrew is Adon Kol Ha'aretz (אֲדוֹן כָּל־הָאָרֶץ). This powerful title emphasizes God's universal dominion and ownership, a stark contrast to the polytheistic beliefs of the Canaanites who worshipped local gods. The descriptive "cut off" (yikkar'tu) and "stand upon an heap" (ya'amdu ned) vividly portray the supernatural cessation of the river's flow and the piling up of its waters, leaving a dry path.

Significance and Application

Joshua 3:13 is a powerful reminder that God is capable of removing any obstacle that stands between His people and His promises. It teaches us that:

  • God is in Control: No challenge is too great for the "Lord of all the earth." Just as He parted the Jordan, He can make a way where there seems to be none in our lives.
  • Faith Precedes Breakthrough: We are often called to take a step of faith, even when the outcome isn't visible, trusting that God will act as we obey.
  • His Presence Guides: When we prioritize God's presence and Word (represented by the Ark), He will lead us through difficult terrains and into our blessings. This event was a significant step in the fulfillment of God's ancient promises to Abraham concerning the land.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
Joshua: The Courageous Successor An Introduction to Joshua: Conquest and Inheritance The Importance of the Jordan River The Rivers of the Bible: Jordan, Nile, Euphrates, Tigris The Geography of the Holy Land

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Psalms 78:13

    He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

  • Joshua 3:15

    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,)

  • 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.

  • Psalms 33:7

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

  • Joshua 3:11

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

  • Exodus 14:19

    And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
← Back