JOS 3:3 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, blue:Elohim, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX καὶ ἐνετείλαντο τῷ λαῷ, λέγοντες, ὅταν ἴδητε τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς ἡμῶν καὶ τοὺς Λευίτας αἴροντας αὐτὴν, ἀπαρεῖτε ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων ὑμῶν, καὶ πορεύσεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτῆς.
(kai eneteilanto tōi laōi, legontes, hotan idaʸte taʸn kibōton taʸs diathaʸkaʸs Kuriou tou Theou haʸmōn, kai tous hiereis haʸmōn kai tous Leuitas airontas autaʸn, apareite apo tōn topōn humōn, kai poreusesthe opisō autaʸs. )

BrTr and they charged the people, saying, When ye shall see the ark of the covenant of the Lord our God, and our priests and the Levites bearing it, ye shall depart from your places, and ye shall go after it.

ULT And they commanded the people, saying, “As you see the Box of the Covenant of Yahweh your God and the priests, the Levites, carrying it, then you yourselves shall set out from your place and go after it—

UST They instructed the people, “When you see some of the priests, who are the descendants of Levi, carrying the sacred chest of Yahweh your God, then you will know it is time to leave this place and follow the sacred chest.

OEB and gave this order to the nation: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the priestly Levites, then set out and follow it,

WEBBE and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the LORD your God’s covenant, and the Levitical priests bearing it, then leave your place and follow it.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it.

LSV and command the people, saying, “When you see the Ark of the Covenant of your God YHWH, and the priests, the Levites, carrying it, then you journey from your place, and have gone after it;

FBV telling the people, “When you see the Ark of the Agreement of the Lord your God carried by the priests, the Levites, you must leave the place where you are and follow it.

T4T telling the people, “You will see some of the priests, who are descendants of Levi, carrying the chest that contains the Ten Commandments that Yahweh our God gave us. When you see them, leave the places where you are camped and follow them.

LEB and they commanded the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God you must set out from your place and go after it.

BBE Giving the people their orders, and saying, When you see the ark of the agreement of the Lord your God lifted up by the priests, the Levites, then get up from your places and go after it;

Moff and gave this order to the nation: ”When you see the ark of the compact of the Eternal your God being carried by the priestly Levites, then set out and follow it,

JPS and they commanded the people, saying: 'When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

ASV and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

DRA And began to proclaim: When you shall see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests of the race of Levi carrying it, rise you up also, and follow them as they go before:

YLT and command the people, saying, 'When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then ye journey from your place, and have gone after it;

Drby and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your [fn]God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then remove from your place, and go after it;

3.3 Elohim

RV and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
(and they commanded the people, saying, When ye/you_all see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye/you_all shall remove from your place, and go after it. )

SLT And they will command the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites lifting it up, and ye shall remove from your place and go after it.

Wbstr And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

KJB-1769 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
(And they commanded the people, saying, When ye/you_all see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye/you_all shall remove from your place, and go after it. )

KJB-1611 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the Arke of the Couenant of the LORD your God, and the Priests the Leuites bearing it, then yee shall remooue from your place, and goe after it.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps And commaunded the people, saying: When ye see the arke of the testament of the Lorde your God, and the priestes that are Leuites bearing it, ye shall depart from your place, and go after it.
(And commanded the people, saying: When ye/you_all see the ark of the testament of the Lord your God, and the priests that are Levites bearing it, ye/you_all shall depart from your place, and go after it.)

Gnva And commanded the people, saying, When ye see the Arke of the couenat of the Lord your God, and the Priestes of the Leuites bearing it, ye shall depart from your place, and goe after it.
(And commanded the people, saying, When ye/you_all see the Ark of the couenat of the Lord your God, and the Priests of the Levites bearing it, ye/you_all shall depart from your place, and go after it. )

Cvdl and commaunded the people, and sayde: Whan ye se the Arke of ye couenaunt of the LORDE youre God, and the prestes from amoge the Leuites bearinge it, departe ye then out of youre place, and folowe after
(and commanded the people, and said: When ye/you_all see the Ark of ye/you_all covenant of the LORD your(pl) God, and the priests from among the Levites bearing it, depart ye/you_all then out of your(pl) place, and follow after)

Wycl and bigunnen to crie, Whanne ye seen the arke of boond of pees of youre Lord God, and the preestis of the generacioun of Leuy berynge it, also rise ye, and sue the biforgoeris;
(and began to cry, When ye/you_all seen the ark of bond of peace of your(pl) Lord God, and the priests of the generation of Levi bearing it, also rise ye/you_all, and sue the biforgoeris;)

Luth und geboten dem Volk und sprachen: Wenn ihr sehen werdet die Lade des, Bundes des HErr’s, eures Gottes, und die Priester aus den Leviten sie tragen, so ziehet aus von eurem Ort und folget ihr nach.
(and offered to_him people and said: When you(pl)/their/her see become the box/chest of, federation/agreements the LORD’s, yours(pl) God’s, and the priest(s) out_of the Levites they/she/them bear/carry, so pulls out_of from yours(pl) place/location and follows you(pl)/their/her after.)

ClVg et clamare cœperunt: Quando videritis arcam fœderis Domini Dei vestri, et sacerdotes stirpis Leviticæ portantes eam, vos quoque consurgite, et sequimini præcedentes:[fn]
(and clamare they_began: When you(pl)_see the_box covenant Master of_God yours, and priests stirpis Leviticæ carrying her, you(pl) too he_gets_upe, and follow they_will_precedees: )

3.3 Cum videritis arcam testimonii Dei nostri, et sacerdotes, et Levitas portantes eam, etc. AUG., quæst, 3 in Josue. Longe jussum est arcam præcedere, etc., usque ad nube subtracta, tanquam velamine ablato. Præcedite populum. ORIG., hom. 4. Per sacerdotes deducitur populus, et iter agit ad terram repromissionis magisterio sacerdotum. Et infra: Ipsi enim sunt qui edocent populum exire de Ægypto, de erroribus scilicet mundi, et transire per eremum vastam, id est, tentationum genera diversa transcurrere.

3.3 Since you(pl)_see the_box testimony of_God our, and priests, and Levitas carrying her, etc. AUG., quest, 3 in/into/on Yosue. Far_away yussum it_is the_box beforecedere, etc., until to cloud subtracta, as_if covering ablato. Præcedite the_people. ORIG., man. 4. Per priests deducitur the_people, and way/path acts to the_earth/land repromissionis teaching priests. And infra: Himself because are who/which edocent the_people to_go_out from/about to_Egypt, from/about erroribus namely world, and to_pass through eremum vastam, that it_is, temptations genera different transcurrere.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–17 The Israelites crossed the Jordan River

The Israelites waited three days beside the Jordan and then crossed the river. The priests carried the ark and led the way. As soon as the priests stepped into the river, the water stopped flowing, and everyone was able to cross the river on dry ground.

Paragraph 3:1–4

The Israelites left Shittim to go near the Jordan River, and set up camp there. Three days later they received instructions to set out and follow the ark, which was carried by the priests.

3:3a

and commanded the people:

and told the people:
They gave this order to the people:

and: The Hebrew conjunction that the BSB translates as and indicates the next event in the story.

commanded the people: Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

they told the people

3:3b

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests,

“When you^(plur) see the Levitical priests carrying the covenant box of Yahweh your God,
“You will see the holy chest which shows that Yahweh our God is with us. The priests of the Levi clan will carry it ahead of us.

When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as ark refers to a “box” or a “chest.”

The ark of the covenant was a box made of acacia wood and covered with gold (see Exodus 25:10–22). Inside the box were the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. It also contained a pot of manna and Aaron’s walking stick. On top of it were two gold winged creatures called “cherubim.” The box reminded the Israelites of the covenant that Yahweh made with them. It was a sign that Yahweh promised to be with them. When you translate this term, choose a short phrase that describes the box or explains its purpose.

If you have translated the New Testament, see how you translated ark of the covenant in Hebrews 9:4 or Revelation 11:19.

Here are some ways to translate this term:

covenant box

holy chest

box of God’s covenant

golden box

the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God: Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the covenant box which shows that Yahweh your God is with you

covenant: A covenant is a formal agreement between two groups of people. God made a covenant with the people of Israel in which God and the people promised to be faithful to each other. See Genesis 17:1–21.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

agreement

promise

of the LORD your God: The phrase the LORD your God was used in Joshua 1:9c. See how you translated the phrase in that verse.

your God: Joshua was one of the Israelite people. In some languages it may be more natural to say:

Yahweh our God

being carried by the Levitical priests: Four priests worked together to carry the covenant box on poles that rested on their shoulders. If your language has several verbs for “carry” you should choose an appropriate one.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

which the Levitical priests carried on poles over their shoulders

Levitical priests: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as Levitical priests is literally “the priests, the Levites.” The priests were descendants of Levi and belonged to the tribe of Levi. All the priests were Levites.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

the priests, the Levites

the priests of the Levi tribe

If this implies that there are some priests who are not of the Levi tribe, it is possible to say “the priests” and put a literal translation in a footnote.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

When you see the covenant box of Yahweh your God that the priests of the Levi tribe are carrying

You will see the Levites, the priests, carrying the golden box of Yahweh your God

priests: The priests were people who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. You should translate this term in the same way as in the New Testament. See, for example, Mark 1:44.

3:3c

you are to set out from your positions and follow it.

set out from where you are and follow it.
Then you should leave the place where you are camping and follow it.

The Hebrew conjunction that the BSB leaves untranslated but many English versions translate as “then” indicates the next thing that the Israelites must do.

you are to set out from your positions: The clause you are to set out from your positions is a command. The officers told the people to leave the place where they were camping, and to start walking.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

leave the place where you are camped

and follow it: The pronoun it refers to the covenant box.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

and go behind the covenant box

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then you must start to walk from your camp and go behind it

Then you should leave your camping place and follow the covenant box

General Comment on 3:3b-c

The Hebrew sentence gives prominence to the covenant box, not to the priests. The people were told to follow the covenant box. If possible, translate this sentence in a way that gives prominence to the covenant box. For example:

When you see the covenant box and the priests who are carrying it, then you should follow the covenant box

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

כִּ⁠רְאֽוֹתְ⁠כֶ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵי⁠כֶ֔ם וְ⁠הַ⁠כֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֔ם נֹשְׂאִ֖ים אֹת֑⁠וֹ וְ⁠אַתֶּ֗ם תִּסְעוּ֙ מִ⁠מְּק֣וֹמְ⁠כֶ֔ם וַ⁠הֲלַכְתֶּ֖ם אַחֲרָֽי⁠ו׃ אַ֣ךְ ׀ רָח֣וֹק יִהְיֶ֗ה בֵּֽינֵי⁠כֶם֙ ו⁠בינ⁠ו כְּ⁠אַלְפַּ֥יִם אַמָּ֖ה בַּ⁠מִּדָּ֑ה אַֽל־תִּקְרְב֣וּ אֵלָ֗י⁠ו לְמַ֤עַן אֲשֶׁר־תֵּֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־הַ⁠דֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔⁠הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֧א עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם בַּ⁠דֶּ֖רֶךְ מִ⁠תְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם

just,as,you(pl)_see DOM ark_of covenant_of YHWH God_of,your(pl) and,the,priests the,Levites carrying DOM=him/it and,you(pl) set_out from,your_of,place and,you(pl)_will_go (Some words not found in UHB: and,they_commanded DOM the,people to=say just,as,you(pl)_see DOM ark_of covenant_of YHWH God_of,your(pl) and,the,priests the,Levites carrying DOM=him/it and,you(pl) set_out from,your_of,place and,you(pl)_will_go behind,it )

If if it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of the phrases in these two verses so that the reason why Joshua wants the Israelites to follow the ark will precede the instructions he gives them to do that. Alternate translation: [Since you have not passed over by the way from yesterday or the third day, so that you will know the way in which you should go, as you see the Box of the Covenant of Yahweh your God and the priests, the Levites, lifting it, then you yourselves shall set out from your place and go after it]

Parallel JOS 3:3

Section 3:1–17 The Israelites crossed the Jordan River

Paragraph 3:1–4

3:3a

3:3b

3:3c

General Comment on 3:3b-c