Joshua 4:7

KJV

Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then ye shall answer {H559} them, That the waters {H4325} of Jordan {H3383} were cut off {H3772} before {H6440} the ark {H727} of the covenant {H1285} of the LORD {H3068}; when it passed over {H5674} Jordan {H3383}, the waters {H4325} of Jordan {H3383} were cut off {H3772}: and these stones {H68} shall be for a memorial {H2146} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} for {H5704} ever {H5769}.

Complete Jewish Bible

you will answer them, 'It's because the water in the Yarden was cut off before the ark for the covenant of ADONAI; when it crossed the Yarden, the water in the Yarden was cut off; and these stones are to be a reminder for the people of Isra'el forever.'"

Berean Standard Bible

you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”

American Standard Version

then ye shall say unto them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 4:7 serves as the divinely appointed explanation for the twelve memorial stones taken from the Jordan River bed, establishing their purpose as a perpetual testimony for the children of Israel. This verse outlines the answer future generations are to be given when they inquire about the stones, specifically recounting how the waters of the Jordan were miraculously cut off before the Ark of the Covenant, underscoring God's sovereign power and unwavering faithfulness in bringing His people into the Promised Land. The stones thus stand as an enduring physical reminder of a profound supernatural intervention and a catalyst for intergenerational teaching.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 4:7 is embedded within the narrative of Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, which marks their entry into the Promised Land. Chapter 3 details the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan, causing the waters to cease flowing upstream, allowing the entire nation to cross on dry ground. Chapter 4 then describes the command to take twelve stones from the riverbed where the priests stood and to set them up as a memorial on the western bank at Gilgal. This specific verse provides the precise, divinely ordained response that future generations are to receive when they inquire about the meaning of these stones, directly linking the physical monument to the supernatural event and its theological significance. It functions as the interpretive key for the memorial, ensuring the historical event's purpose is understood and transmitted.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jordan crossing is a watershed moment in Israel's history, fulfilling God's covenant promise to bring Abraham's descendants into the land of Canaan. This event intentionally echoes the earlier Red Sea crossing, establishing a pattern of divine deliverance and validating God's faithfulness to His covenant people. In the ancient Near East, erecting stone memorials was a common practice to commemorate significant events, treaties, or divine encounters. These monuments were not merely passive markers but active pedagogical tools, designed to trigger oral traditions and historical recounting. The Jordan River itself was a formidable natural barrier, and its miraculous parting underscored God's absolute sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His power to overcome any obstacle and confirming Joshua's leadership as divinely appointed, much like Moses before him.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Joshua and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Power and Presence**, highlighted by the explicit statement that "the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD." This underscores God's active involvement and absolute sovereignty over nature, emphasizing that the miracle was His doing, not a result of human strength. The Ark's central role signifies God's immanent presence among His people. Another crucial theme is **Remembrance and Memorialization**, as the stones are explicitly designated "for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever." God desires that His mighty acts be perpetually recalled, preventing spiritual amnesia and fostering ongoing faith. This theme is deeply rooted in the Pentateuch, particularly in [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6 "Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Teaching the Law to Children"), which stresses the importance of intergenerational teaching. Finally, the verse speaks to **Covenant Faithfulness**, as the Jordan crossing represents a direct fulfillment of God's promise to bring Israel into the land He swore to their forefathers, reinforcing His unwavering commitment to His word and His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _kārath'_):** This verb (כרת) means to cut, cut off, or cut down. In the context of the Jordan's waters, it signifies a decisive, complete, and supernatural cessation of flow. It implies more than a mere drying up; it is a powerful, deliberate act of divine intervention that completely severs the river's course, creating an impassable barrier into a dry path. This same root is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe the "cutting" of a covenant, implying a decisive act that establishes a new reality.
* **Memorial (Hebrew, _zikkārôn'_):** The noun (זכרון) refers to a remembrance, a token, or an object by which something is remembered. It denotes an active process of recalling and recounting, not merely a passive monument. The stones are designed to be an intentional trigger for future generations to ask questions, thereby initiating the retelling of God's mighty work and preserving the historical and theological significance of the Jordan crossing for all time.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD;":** This clause provides the precise, divinely prescribed response to future inquiries about the memorial stones. It immediately attributes the miraculous cessation of the Jordan's flow directly to God's intervention, specifically linking it to the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark, symbolizing God's presence and His covenant faithfulness, was the catalyst for the miracle, emphasizing that the power originated solely from God, not from human effort or natural occurrences.
* **"when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off:":** This repetition serves to underscore the certainty and completeness of the miracle. The waters were indeed decisively "cut off" precisely at the moment the Ark entered and passed through, leaving no ambiguity about the direct cause-and-effect relationship between God's presence (manifested through the Ark) and the cessation of the river's flow. The reiteration reinforces the supernatural and undeniable nature of the event in the minds of those who would hear the story.
* **"and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.":** This final clause articulates the enduring purpose of the twelve stones. They are established as a perpetual "memorial," a tangible and visible reminder for all future generations of Israelites. The phrase "for ever" highlights the lasting significance of God's faithfulness and power displayed at the Jordan, ensuring that the story of His deliverance and covenant keeping would be passed down through the ages, serving as a constant source of faith, identity, and instruction for the nation.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 4:7 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Repetition** is prominent, with the phrase "the waters of Jordan were cut off" appearing twice within the verse. This reiteration serves to emphasize the certainty, completeness, and supernatural nature of the divine intervention, deeply impressing the miraculous act upon the listener's memory. The stones themselves function as powerful **Symbolism**, representing not merely physical objects but embodying God's faithfulness, His sovereign power, and the historical reality of Israel's entry into the Promised Land. They are a concrete manifestation of an abstract truth. Furthermore, the entire scenario is a prime example of **Didactic Narrative**, where a significant historical event is intentionally structured and commemorated to serve as a teaching tool for future generations. The explicit command to "answer them" transforms the stones into a pedagogical device, designed to prompt inquiry and facilitate the vital transmission of Israel's foundational narrative of divine deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 4:7 is a profound theological statement, anchoring Israel's present reality in the Promised Land to God's past faithfulness and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. It establishes a critical principle: God's mighty acts are not merely historical occurrences but foundational truths intended to be remembered, recounted, and built upon by successive generations. The miraculous parting of the Jordan, mirroring the Red Sea event, sets a precedent of divine intervention at pivotal moments, validating God's promises and confirming His chosen leadership. This verse highlights God's desire for His people to actively engage with their spiritual heritage, ensuring that the lessons of His power, grace, and covenant keeping are transmitted across generations, thereby fostering a living faith rather than mere historical recollection.

* [Exodus 12:26-27](/exodus/12-26 "Exodus 12:26-27 - Explaining the Passover to Children"): Parallels the instruction to explain the meaning of the Passover ritual to future generations, emphasizing the critical importance of intergenerational teaching regarding God's saving acts.
* [Deuteronomy 6:20-25](/deuteronomy/6-20 "Deuteronomy 6:20-25 - The Purpose of God's Commands"): Commands parents to explain the significance of God's laws and deeds to their children when they ask, reinforcing the pedagogical role of historical events and divine commands in shaping faith.
* [Psalm 78:3-7](/psalm/78-3 "Psalm 78:3-7 - Recounting God's Deeds to Future Generations"): Encourages recounting God's glorious deeds and wonders to the next generation, so that they might put their trust in God and not forget His works, but keep His commandments.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 4:7 offers a timeless and vital lesson for believers today, providing a blueprint for how we are to engage with God's faithfulness in our personal lives and in the collective history of His church. Just as the stones at Gilgal served as a tangible prompt for remembrance and teaching, we are called to identify and cherish our own "memorials"—those significant moments when God powerfully intervened, provided, or delivered us from seemingly insurmountable obstacles. These personal and communal "Jordan crossings" are not to be forgotten or relegated to mere history; rather, they are intended to strengthen our faith for future challenges and to provide a rich, living testimony for others. This verse challenges us to move beyond passive remembrance to active recounting, ensuring that the story of God's goodness, power, and unwavering faithfulness is vibrantly passed down, especially to younger generations who desperately need to see and hear tangible evidence of God's living reality and active presence in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "stones of remembrance" can you identify in your own life—specific moments where God clearly intervened, provided, or delivered you from a difficult situation?**
* **How can you more intentionally share your personal testimony of God's faithfulness with others, particularly within your family, your church, or your sphere of influence?**
* **What practical steps can you take to create "memorials" (e.g., journaling, establishing family traditions, setting aside specific times of reflection) that help you and those around you remember God's past goodness and power, fostering a culture of remembrance?**

### FAQ
**Why was the Ark of the Covenant so central to the Jordan crossing?**

Answer: The Ark of the Covenant was central to the Jordan crossing because it represented the very presence of God among His people and was the physical embodiment of His covenant with Israel. Its leading role in the Jordan crossing, as described in [Joshua 3:13](/joshua/3-13 "Joshua 3:13 - The Ark of the Covenant at the Jordan"), demonstrated unequivocally that it was God Himself, not human strength, strategy, or the priests' power, who was performing the miracle. The waters were "cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD," signifying that the power emanated directly from God, validating His leadership through Joshua and reinforcing His unwavering commitment to bring Israel into the Promised Land. This also served to elevate Joshua's authority in the eyes of all Israel, just as Moses' authority had been confirmed at the Red Sea.

**What is the significance of the stones being a "memorial for ever"?**

Answer: The phrase "for ever" (Hebrew: *l'olam*) signifies the enduring and perpetual nature of the memorial. The twelve stones were not just for the immediate generation that witnessed the miracle but were intended to serve as a lasting testimony and teaching tool for all future generations of Israelites. Their primary purpose was to prompt inquiry from children, providing a divinely appointed opportunity for parents to recount God's miraculous intervention and covenant faithfulness in bringing them into the land. This ensured that the foundational story of God's power and provision would be continually remembered, preventing spiritual amnesia and fostering a living faith across the ages, a principle consistently emphasized throughout the Pentateuch, such as in [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6 "Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Teaching the Law to Children").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 4:7, with its vivid portrayal of divine intervention, covenant faithfulness, and the establishment of a perpetual memorial, finds its ultimate and most profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The miraculous parting of the Jordan, enabling Israel to enter the Promised Land, powerfully foreshadows the greater spiritual crossing made possible by Jesus. Just as the Ark of the Covenant led the way through the waters, signifying God's presence and power, Jesus, the ultimate [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is the one who parts the waters of sin, death, and separation, providing access to the true spiritual promised land—eternal life and communion with God. His death and resurrection represent the ultimate "cutting off" of the barrier between God and humanity, fulfilling the promise of a new covenant (as prophesied in [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant")). The stones of memorial in Joshua point to the enduring testimony of God's saving acts, which culminates in Christ's finished work on the cross, the ultimate "memorial" of God's love and power. Through Christ, believers are enabled to cross from death to life, from spiritual bondage to glorious freedom, entering into the inheritance secured by His sacrifice, a spiritual reality far surpassing the physical land of Canaan. His resurrection is our ultimate guarantee, much like the stones guaranteed Israel's entry, providing a living hope that we, too, will enter our eternal rest (as spoken of in [Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - The Sabbath Rest for God's People")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 12:14

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Exodus 28:12

And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod [for] stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

Numbers 16:40

[To be] a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which [is] not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

Psalms 111:4

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion.

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.

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.

Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine's blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.