The Memorial Stones

Joshua 4

After the people finish crossing, Joshua has twelve men each take a stone from the midst of the Jordan and set them up as a lasting memorial of the crossing, while twelve more stones are placed in the riverbed itself. The armed men of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasse cross over for battle, the waters of the Jordan return to their place, and the people encamp at Galgala.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAND when all the people had entirely crossed the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

BrentonAnd when the people had completely passed over Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐπεὶ συνετέλεσε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς διαβαίνων τὸν Ἰορδανην, καὶ εἶπε, Κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ, λέγων,

KJVAnd it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,

JPSAnd it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke unto Joshua, saying:

ThomsonTake men from among the people, one from every tribe,

BrentonTake men from the people, one of each tribe,

Greekταραλαβὼν ἄνδρας ἀπὸ τοῦ λαοῦ, ἕνα ἀφʼ ἑκάστης φυλῆς,

KJVTake you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,

JPS’Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,

Thomsonand give them orders. And you shall take up, out of the middle of the Jordan, twelve smooth stones, and carry them with you, and place them in your encampment, wherever you encamp tonight.

Brentonand charge them; and ye shall take out of the midst of Jordan twelve fit stones, and having carried them across together with yourselves, place them in your camp, where ye shall encamp for the night.

Greekσύνταξον αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἀνέλεσθε ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ἑτοίμους δώδεκα λίθους, καὶ τούτους διακομίσαντες ἅμα ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς, θέτε αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ στρατοπεδίᾳ ὑμῶν, οὗ ἐὰν παρεμβάλητε ἐκεῖ τὴν νύκτα.

KJVAnd command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.

JPSand command ye them, saying: Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’feet stood, twelve stones made ready, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.’

ThomsonSo Joshua called out twelve men of eminent dignity from among the children of Israel, one from every tribe,

BrentonAnd Joshua having called twelve men of distinction among the children of Israel, one of each tribe,

GreekΚαὶ ἀνακαλεσάμενος Ἰησοῦς δώδεκα ἄνδρας τῶν ἐνδόξων ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, ἕνα ἀφʼ ἑκάστης φυλῆς,

KJVThen Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:

JPSThen Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man;

Thomsonand said to them, Go on before me in the presence of the Lord, into the middle of the Jordan, and let every one take up thence a stone, and carry it on his shoulders, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel;

Brentonsaid to them, Advance before me in the presence of the Lord into the midst of Jordan, and each having taken up a stone from thence, let him carry it on his shoulders, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel:

Greekεἶπεν αὐτοῖς, προσαγάγετε ἔμπροσθέν μου πρὸ προσώπου Κυρίου εἰς μέσον τοῦ Ἰροδάνου· καὶ ἀνελόμενος ἐκεῖθεν ἕκαστος λίθον, ἀράτω ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν δώδεκα φυλῶν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ,

KJVAnd Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

JPSand Joshua said unto them: ‘Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;

Thomsonthat they may be to you an everlasting memorial; that when thy son shall hereafter ask thee, saying, What are these stones to us?

Brentonthat these may be to you continually for an appointed sign, that when thy son asks thee in future, saying, What are these stones to us?

Greekἵνα ὑπάρχωσιν ὑμῖν οὗτοι εἰς σημεῖον κείμενον διαπαντός· ἵνα ὅταν ἐρωτᾷ σε ὁ υἱός σου αὔριον λέγων, τί εἰσιν οἱ λιθοι οὗτοι ἡμῖν;

KJVThat 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?

JPSthat this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying: What mean ye by these stones?

Thomsonthou mayst explain them to thy son, and say, Because the river Jordan dried up at the presence of the ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth, when it crossed it, therefore you shall have these stones for an everlasting memorial for the children of Israel.

Brentonthen thou mayest explain to thy son, saying, The river Jordan was dried up from before the ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth, when it passed it: and these stones shall be for a memorial for you for the children of Israel for ever.

GreekΚαὶ σὺ δηλώσεις τῷ υἱῷ σου, λέγων, ὅτι ἐξέλιπεν ὁ Ἰορδάνης ποταμὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου κιβωτοῦ διαθήκης Κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς, ὡς διέβαινεν αὐτόν· καὶ ἔσονται οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι ὑμῖν μνημόσυνον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.

KJVThen 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.

JPSthen ye shall say unto them: Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; 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.’

ThomsonAccordingly these sons of Israel did as the Lord commanded Joshua, and having taken up twelve stones, out of the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord commanded Joshua, when the Israelites had done crossing, they carried them with them to the place of encampment, and deposited them there;

BrentonAnd the children of Israel did so, as the Lord commanded Joshua; and they took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, (as the Lord commanded Joshua, when the children of Israel had completely passed over,) and carried these stones with them into the camp, and laid them down there.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ, καθότι ἐνετείλατο Κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ· καὶ ἀναλαβόντες δώδεκα λίθους ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, καθάπερ συνέταξε Κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ ἐν τῇ συντελείᾳ τῆς διαβάσεως τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ διεκόμισαν ἅμα ἑαυτοῖς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν, καὶ ἀπέθηκαν ἐκεῖ.

KJVAnd the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

JPSAnd the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD spoke unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

Thomsonand Joshua caused twelve other stones to be placed in the Jordan, in the very spot under the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and they are there at this day.

BrentonAnd Joshua set also other twelve stones in Jordan itself, in the place that was under the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord; and there they are to this day.

GreekἜστησε δὲ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἄλλους δώδεκα λίθους ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ, ἐν τῷ γενομένῳ τόπῳ ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἱερέων τῶν αἰρόντων τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης Κυρίου· καὶ εἰσὶν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας.

KJVAnd Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

JPSJoshua also set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there unto this day.

ThomsonNow the priests, who carried the ark of the covenant, stood in the Jordan, until Joshua had executed all that the Lord commanded him to declare to the people. And the people hastened and crossed over.

BrentonAnd the priests that bore the ark of the covenant stood in Jordan, until Joshua had finished all that the Lord commanded him to report to the people; and the people hasted and passed over.

GreekΕἱστήκεισαν δὲ οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ, ἕως οὗ συνετέλεσεν Ἰησοῦς πάντα ἃ ἐνετείλατο Κύριος ἀναγγεῖλαι τῷ λαῷ· καὶ ἔσπευσεν ὁ λαὸς, καὶ διέβησαν.

KJVFor the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.

JPSAnd the priests that bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hastened and passed over.

ThomsonAnd when all the people had done crossing, then the ark of the covenant of the Lord crossed over, with the stones before them.

BrentonAnd it came to pass when all the people had passed over, that the ark of the covenant of the Lord passed over, and the stones before them.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς συνετέλεσε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς διαβῆναι, καὶ διέβη ἡ κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης Κυρίου, καὶ οἱ λίθοι ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

JPSAnd it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed on, and the priests, before the people.

ThomsonAnd the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half of the tribe of Manasses, crossed over well armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had commanded them.

BrentonAnd the sons of Ruben, and the sons of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses commanded them.

GreekΚαὶ διέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ῥουβὴν, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γὰδ, καὶ οἱ ἡμίσεις φυλῆς Μανασσῆ διεσκευασμένοι ἔμπροσθεν τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, καθάπερ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς.

KJVAnd the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:

JPSAnd the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed on armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke unto them;

ThomsonForty thousand, well equipped for war, crossed over before the Lord, in battle array, to the city Jericho.

BrentonForty thousand armed for battle went over before the Lord to war, to the city of Jericho.

GreekΤετρακισμύριοι εὔζωνοι εἰς μάχην διέβησαν ἐναντίον Κυρίου εἰς πόλεμον πρὸς τὴν Ἱεριχὼ πόλιν.

KJVAbout forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

JPSabout forty thousand ready armed for war passed on in the presence of the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

ThomsonOn that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of the whole race of Israel, and they feared him, as they did Moses all the days of his life.

BrentonIn that day the Lord magnified Joshua before all the people of Israel; and they feared him, as they did Moses, as long as he lived.

GreekἘν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ηὔξησε Κύριος τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐναντίον τοῦ παντὸς γένους Ἰσραὴλ· καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο αὐτὸν, ὥσπερ Μωυσῆν, ὅσον χρόνον ἔζη.

KJVOn that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

JPSOn that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

ThomsonNow when the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ, λέγων,

KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,

JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Joshua, saying:

ThomsonCommand the priests who carry the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the Lord, to come up out of the Jordan;

BrentonCharge the priests that bear the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the Lord, to go up out of Jordan.

Greekἔντειλαι τοῖς ἱερεῦσι τοῖς αἴρουσι τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης τοῦ μαρτυρίου Κυρίου, ἐκβῆναι ἐκ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.

KJVCommand the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.

JPS’Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.’

ThomsonAnd Joshua had commanded the priests, saying, Come up out of the Jordan,

BrentonAnd Joshua charged the priests, saying, Go up out of Jordan.

GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο Ἰησοῦς τοῖς ἱερεῦσι, λέγων, ἔκβητε ἐκ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.

KJVJoshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

JPSJoshua therefore commanded the priests, saying: ‘Come ye up out of the Jordan.’

Thomsonit came to pass that as soon as the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up out of the Jordan, and had set their feet on the land, the water of the Jordan rushed impetuously to its place, and overflowed all its banks, as it did before.

BrentonAnd it came to pass when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord were gone up out of Jordan, and set their feet upon the land, that the water of Jordan returned impetuously to its place, and went as before over all its banks.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξέβησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης Κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, καὶ ἔθηκαν τοὺς πόδας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὥρμησε τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου κατὰ χώραν, καὶ ἐπορεύετο καθὰ χθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν διʼ ὅλης τῆς κρηπίδος.

KJVAnd it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

JPSAnd it came to pass, as the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the midst of the Jordan, as soon as the soles of the priests’feet were drawn up unto the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned unto their place, and went over all its banks, as aforetime.

ThomsonNow the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and the children of Israel encamped at Galgala, on the eastern border of Jericho;

BrentonAnd the people went up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month; and the children of Israel encamped in Galgala in the region eastward from Jericho.

GreekΚαὶ ὁ λαὸς ἀνέβη ἐκ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου δεκάτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου· καὶ κατεστρατοπέδευσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἑν Γαλγάλοις κατὰ μέρος τὸ πρὸς ἡλίου ἀνατολὰς ἀπὸ τῆς Ἱεριχώ.

KJVAnd the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.

JPSAnd the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

Thomsonand Joshua set up at Galgala, the twelve stones which he had taken out of the Jordan,

BrentonAnd Joshua set these twelve stones which he took out of Jordan, in Galgala,

GreekΚαὶ τοὺς δώδεκα λίθους τούτους, οὓς ἔλαβεν ἐκ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, ἔστησεν Ἰησοῦς ἐν Γαλγάλοις,

KJVAnd those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.

JPSAnd those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal.

Thomsonand said, When your children ask you, saying, What stones are these?

Brentonsaying, When your sons ask you, saying, What are these stones?

Greekλέγων, ὅταν ἐρωτῶσιν ὑμᾶς οἱ υἱοι ὑμῶν λέγοντες, τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι;

KJVAnd he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?

JPSAnd he spoke unto the children of Israel, saying: ‘When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying: What mean these stones?

ThomsonTell your children that Israel crossed that Jordan on dry ground,

BrentonTell your sons, that Israel went over this Jordan on dry land,

GreekἈναγγείλατε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν, ὅτι ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς διέβη Ἰσραὴλ τὸν Ἰορδάνην τοῦτον,

KJVThen ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

JPSthen ye shall let your children know, saying: Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

Thomsonthe Lord our God having dried up the water of the Jordan before them, until they crossed over, as the Lord our God had done to the Red Sea, which the Lord our God dried up before us, until we passed through it,

Brentonwhen the Lord our God had dried up the water of Jordan from before them, until they had passed over; as the Lord our God did to the Red Sea, which the Lord our God dried up from before us, until we passed over.

Greekἀποξηράναντος Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ἐκ τῶν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν, μέχρις οὗ διέβησαν· καθάπερ ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν, ἣν ἀπεξήρανε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν, ἕως παρήλθομεν·

KJVFor the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

JPSFor the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up from before us, until we were passed over,

Thomsonthat all the nations of the earth might know, that the power of the Lord is great, and that you may worship the Lord our God by everything which you do.

BrentonThat all the nations of the earth might know, that the power of the Lord is mighty, and that ye might worship the Lord our God in every work.

GreekὍπως γνῶσι πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἡ δύναμις τοῦ κυρίου ἰσχυρά ἐστι, καὶ ἵνα ὑμεῖς σέβησθε Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ.

KJVThat all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

JPSthat all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty; that ye may fear the LORD your God for ever.’