Joshua 3:5

And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

And Joshua {H3091} said {H559} unto the people {H5971}, Sanctify {H6942} yourselves: for to morrow {H4279} the LORD {H3068} will do {H6213} wonders {H6381} among {H7130} you.

Y'hoshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, because tomorrow ADONAI is going to work wonders among you."

Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves; for to-morrow Jehovah will do wonders among you.

Commentary

Joshua 3:5 marks a crucial moment in Israel's history, standing on the threshold of the Promised Land, poised to cross the Jordan River. Joshua, as God's chosen leader, delivers a vital instruction to the people before the impending divine intervention.

Context

This verse is set immediately before the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River into Canaan. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the new generation of Israelites, led by Joshua, is about to enter the land God promised to their forefathers. The Jordan was at flood stage, presenting a seemingly impassable barrier. Joshua's command here underscores the spiritual preparation required for the monumental act God was about to perform, reminiscent of Israel's preparation before receiving the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10-11).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Sanctification and Purity: The primary command, "Sanctify yourselves," emphasizes the need for spiritual and ceremonial cleanliness. It's a call to set oneself apart for God, both inwardly and outwardly, to be fit for His holy presence and mighty works. This act of purification was essential for the people to properly witness and receive God's miraculous provision.
  • Divine Initiative and Power: The promise, "to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you," highlights God's sovereignty. He is the one who acts, performing extraordinary deeds that transcend human capability. The crossing of the Jordan, like the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), would be a clear demonstration of His power and faithfulness to His covenant promises.
  • Obedience and Faith: The people's response to Joshua's command to sanctify themselves would be an act of obedience and faith. Trusting God's promise through His appointed leader was crucial for experiencing the "wonders" He had planned.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "sanctify yourselves" is qadash (קָדַשׁ), meaning "to set apart," "to make holy," or "to purify." This involves both ceremonial cleansing (washing clothes, abstaining from certain activities) and a spiritual readiness, a turning of the heart towards God. The term "wonders" comes from the Hebrew niphla'ot (נִפְלָאוֹת), referring to miraculous, extraordinary deeds that evoke awe and demonstrate divine power.

Practical Application

Joshua 3:5 serves as a timeless principle for believers today. Before we expect God to move in powerful ways, whether in our personal lives, families, or communities, there is often a call for spiritual preparation. This involves:

  • Personal Purity: Reflecting on areas where we need to confess sin and seek God's cleansing, aligning our hearts and actions with His will. As 1 Peter 1:16 states, "Be ye holy; for I am holy."
  • Expectant Faith: Approaching challenges with the conviction that God is able and willing to perform "wonders" on our behalf when we are consecrated to Him.
  • Obedience to God's Word: Being attentive to divine instructions and preparing ourselves to act in faith, even when the path ahead seems impossible.

When we "sanctify ourselves," we position our hearts and lives for God to reveal His glory and accomplish His purposes, just as He did for the Israelites at the Jordan. The memory of such wonders, like the memorial stones at Joshua 4:7, serves as a lasting testimony to God's faithfulness.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 7:13 (18 votes)

    Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [There is] an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

  • Leviticus 20:7 (17 votes)

    Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am] the LORD your God.

  • Joel 2:16 (15 votes)

    Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

  • 1 Samuel 16:5 (13 votes)

    And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

  • John 17:19 (12 votes)

    And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

  • Exodus 19:10 (9 votes)

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

  • Exodus 19:15 (9 votes)

    And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at [your] wives.