1
καὶ ὤρθρισεν Ἰησοῦς τὸ πρωί καὶ ἀπῆραν ἐκ Σαττιν καὶ ἤλθοσαν ἕως τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ κατέλυσαν ἐκεῖ πρὸ τοῦ διαβῆναι
And Joshua rose early in the morning, and they set out from Shittim and came as far as the Jordan, and they lodged there before crossing over.
The chapter opens with the standard Hebraic καί-parataxis and the early-rising idiom (ὀρθρίζω, rendering הִשְׁכִּים), a marker of diligent, decisive obedience. The four sequential aorists (ὤρθρισεν … ἀπῆραν … ἤλθοσαν … κατέλυσαν) compress the day's journey from Shittim to the brink of the Jordan; the articular infinitive πρὸ τοῦ διαβῆναι names the crossing the whole chapter withholds until v. 17, framing the narrative as an inclusio.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤρθρισενrose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (episode-opening)→ ingressive aorist (single decisive act at daybreak)ὀρθρίζω: 'rise early, do at dawn'; from ὄρθρος ('daybreak'); renders Hebrew הִשְׁכִּים (Hiphil of שׁכם); a frequent LXX marker of prompt, resolute obedience (cf. Gen 22:3 of Abraham; Exod 24:4 of Moses) — Joshua's early rising signals zealous readiness for the crossing.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: the LXX rendering of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ('YHWH saves'); declined as a contract second-declension noun (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the same Greek name later borne by Jesus, making Joshua a typological forerunner in patristic reading (cf. Heb 4:8).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adverbial πρωί)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωίearly / morningadverbial accusative of time (τὸ πρωί: 'in the morning')πρωΐ: indeclinable adverb 'early, in the morning'; the redundant pairing with ὤρθρισεν ('rose early in the morning') reflects the Hebrew idiom, where the early-rising verb is often reinforced by a temporal noun.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆρανthey set outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb (collective subject: the people)→ constative aorist (act of breaking camp)ἀπαίρω: 'set out, depart, break camp'; renders נָסַע ('pull up [tent-pegs], journey'); a standard LXX itinerary verb for Israel's stage-by-stage marches (cf. Num 33); the plural subject is the people, implied from the preceding singular Joshua.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source/origin)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣαττινShittimgenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)Σαττιν: transliteration of Hebrew הַשִּׁטִּים ('the acacias'); Israel's last encampment in the plains of Moab east of the Jordan (cf. Num 25:1; 33:49); indeclinable in the LXX.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤλθοσανthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival at the river)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)ἔρχομαι: 'come, go'; the Hellenistic ending -οσαν (for classical ἦλθον) is characteristic of Koine and frequent in the LXX (cf. the same -οσαν aorists in this chapter at v. 14 ἤροσαν); marks the arrival at the river's edge.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (limit of motion)ἕως: 'until, as far as'; with the genitive it marks the spatial terminus reached — the very brink of the Jordan, the threshold of the promised land.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςΙορδάνης: the Jordan river, rendering Hebrew הַיַּרְדֵּן; declined as a first-declension masculine in the LXX (gen. Ιορδάνου, dat. Ιορδάνῃ, acc. Ιορδάνην); the river functions throughout the chapter as the boundary between wilderness and inheritance.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέλυσανthey lodgedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλύωmain verb (encampment before crossing)→ constative aorist (act of halting/lodging)καταλύω: 'unyoke, halt, lodge, find lodging'; here intransitive 'they encamped/spent the night'; renders Hebrew לוּן / חָנָה; the pause at the river's edge builds narrative suspense before the crossing.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the encampment at the Jordan's bank, the staging-ground for the miracle.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (with articular infinitive: temporal antecedence)πρό: 'before'; the construction πρὸ τοῦ + infinitive ('before crossing') is a standard Koine/LXX temporal idiom rendering בְּטֶרֶם / לִפְנֵי + infinitive.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαβῆναιto cross overAor Act Inf · διαβαίνωarticular infinitive (object of πρό: temporal)→ aoristic infinitive (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over, pass through'; the leitmotif verb of the chapter (διαβαίνει v. 11; διαβῆναι v. 14; διέβαινον, διαβαίνων v. 17); here it names the act still withheld — the crossing announced at the outset and consummated only at v. 17, framing the whole as an inclusio.
2
καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας διῆλθον οἱ γραμματεῖς διὰ τῆς παρεμβολῆς
And it came to pass after three days that the officers went through the camp,
The formula καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass'), rendering וַיְהִי, is the LXX's standard temporal scene-shifter; here it introduces the three-day interval and the officers' circuit through the camp to relay the marching orders. The three days echo the spies' instruction at 1:11 and a recurring biblical preparation-interval.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιimpersonal verb (temporal-frame formula)→ constative aorist (scene-setting)γίνομαι (aor. mid.): 'become, happen, come to pass'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, an almost untranslatable narrative connector that frames a temporal clause and signals the next stage of the action.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)μετά + accusative: 'after'; the temporal phrase μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας marks the interval of preparation before the crossing (cf. Josh 1:11).
τρεῖςthreeAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἡμέρας)τρεῖς: 'three'; here the accusative of extent/duration with μετά; the three-day span recurs as a biblical preparation- and turning-point interval.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal extent)ἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם.
διῆλθονthey went throughAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διέρχομαιmain verb (the officers' circuit)→ constative aorist (completed passage through the camp)διέρχομαι: 'go through, pass through, traverse'; the prefix διά- marks movement through the camp's whole extent; the officers circulate among the tribes to deliver the command of vv. 3–4.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματεῖςofficers / scribesNominativesubjectγραμματεύς (pl. γραμματεῖς): lit. 'scribe, secretary,' but in the Pentateuch/Joshua it renders שֹׁטְרִים ('officers, foremen'), the administrative officials who marshal and instruct the people (cf. Exod 5:6; Deut 20:5); here they serve as the conduit of Joshua's marching orders.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (motion through)διά + genitive: 'through'; with the verb διῆλθον it doubles the prefix (διέρχομαι διά), a common LXX redundancy stressing thorough passage through the whole camp.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive object of διάπαρεμβολή: 'encampment, camp, army-camp'; the standard LXX rendering of מַחֲנֶה; the term denotes Israel's military-style ordered encampment, anticipating the conquest the crossing inaugurates.
3
καὶ ἐνετείλαντο τῷ λαῷ λέγοντες ὅταν ἴδητε τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς ἡμῶν καὶ τοὺς Λευίτας αἴροντας αὐτήν ἀπαρεῖτε ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων ὑμῶν καὶ πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτῆς
and they commanded the people, saying, 'When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD our God, and our priests and the Levites bearing it, you shall set out from your places and go after it.
The officers relay the command in a ὅταν-protasis ('when you see the ark … borne') answered by a two-fold apodosis (ἀπαρεῖτε … πορεύεσθε): the ark of the covenant, not a human vanguard, leads the march. The first-person possessives (κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, τοὺς ἱερεῖς ἡμῶν) bind the officers and people together as a single covenant community under YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνετείλαντοthey commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (officers issue orders)→ constative aorist (single act of commanding)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command, charge, give orders'; deponent middle; renders צִוָּה (Piel); regularly governs a dative of the person commanded (τῷ λαῷ); the same root recurs at v. 8 (ἔντειλαι) of the LORD's command to Joshua.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative object of ἐνετείλαντο (those commanded)λαός: 'people'; the standard LXX term for Israel as covenant community (rendering עַם); here the recipients of the officers' orders.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (introducing direct speech)→ imperfective participle (speech-framing)λέγω: 'say'; the redundant participle λέγοντες after a verb of commanding is a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר, the standard particle introducing direct discourse.
ὅτανwhen / whenevertemporal conjunction (introducing protasis + subjunctive)ὅταν: 'when(ever)'; takes the subjunctive (ἴδητε); sets up the temporal condition — the people are to act at the moment they see the ark in motion.
ἴδητεyou seeAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ὁράωverb of temporal protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the moment of seeing, viewed as a single event)ὁράω (aor. subj. ἴδητε): 'see, perceive'; with ὅταν it frames the sighting of the moving ark as the trigger for the people's departure.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἴδητεκιβωτός: 'box, chest, ark'; the standard LXX rendering of אֲרוֹן (the ark of the covenant) and also of Noah's תֵּבָה; here the ark of the covenant, the visible throne and presence-sign of YHWH, which leads Israel across the Jordan.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of content/relationship (the ark 'of the covenant')διαθήκη: 'covenant, testament'; renders בְּרִית; the LXX chose διαθήκη ('disposition, testament') rather than συνθήκη ('compact between equals') precisely to mark the covenant as YHWH's sovereign dispensation; the recurring phrase ἡ κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης anchors the chapter's theology in the covenant presence.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the covenant of YHWH)κύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covenant and its ark belong to YHWH himself — the crossing is his act, mediated through the ark of his presence.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (in apposition: 'the LORD, our God')τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίουθεός: 'God'; the appositional κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν ('of the LORD our God') renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, binding the covenant name to the confessional possessive 'our God.'
ἡμῶνourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)ἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): the first-person plural possessive marks the confessional bond — YHWH is 'our God,' the God of the assembled community.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second object of ἴδητε)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsAccusativedirect object of ἴδητε (co-object with κιβωτόν)ἱερεύς (pl. ἱερεῖς): 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the priests, not common bearers, carry the ark — emphasizing the sacral character of the procession; in Joshua 3 the priests are the human agents whose feet trigger the miracle (vv. 13, 15).
ἡμῶνourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἱερεῖς)ἡμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίταςLevitesAccusativedirect object of ἴδητε (third co-object)Λευίτης (acc. pl. Λευίτας): 'Levite'; gentilic noun declined in Greek; renders לֵוִי; the LXX here pairs 'our priests and the Levites' as the bearers of the ark, reflecting the Levitical custody of the sacred objects (cf. Num 4; Deut 10:8).
αἴρονταςbearingPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · αἴρωattributive participle (modifying ἱερεῖς/Λευίτας: 'bearing it')→ imperfective participle (ongoing act of carrying)αἴρω: 'lift up, take up, carry'; the present participle marks the continuous bearing of the ark in procession; the verb αἴρω + κιβωτόν is the chapter's refrain for the ark-bearers (vv. 6, 8, 13, 14, 15, 17).
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of αἴροντας (referring to κιβωτόν)αὐτός (acc. fem. αὐτήν): personal pronoun referring back to the feminine κιβωτός ('the ark').
ἀπαρεῖτεyou shall set outFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb of apodosis (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command framed as certain future action)ἀπαίρω: 'set out, break camp, depart'; the future indicative here carries imperatival force (a Hebraism rendering a Hebrew imperfect/weqatal of command); the people are to move only when the ark moves — divine initiative governs the march.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπωνplacesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the camp-positions left behind)τόπος: 'place, position, location'; here the people's encampment-stations, which they vacate to follow the ark.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with τόπων)ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second apodosis clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πορεύεσθεgoPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative, paired with ἀπαρεῖτε)→ imperfective present imperative (ongoing march behind the ark)πορεύομαι: 'go, proceed, journey'; deponent; the present imperative πορεύεσθε commands a continuous following — the people are to march in the ark's wake; recurs at v. 6 (ἐπορεύοντο, of the priests going before).
ὀπίσωafter / behindimproper preposition + genitive (following position)ὀπίσω: 'behind, after'; with the genitive (αὐτῆς) it renders אַחֲרֵי; the people follow behind the ark — both a literal marching order and a theological emblem of discipleship behind the divine presence.
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω (referring to the ark)αὐτός (gen. fem. αὐτῆς): refers to the feminine κιβωτός — the people follow 'after it,' the ark.
4
ἀλλὰ μακρὰν ἔστω ἀνὰ μέσον ὑμῶν καὶ ἐκείνης ὅσον δισχιλίους πήχεις στήσεσθε μὴ προσεγγίσητε αὐτῇ ἵν᾿ ἐπίστησθε τὴν ὁδόν ἣν πορεύεσθε αὐτήν οὐ γὰρ πεπόρευσθε τὴν ὁδὸν ἀπ᾿ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας
But let there be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits; you shall take your stand — do not draw near to it — so that you may know the way you are to go, for you have not traveled the way before, yesterday or the day before.
The adversative ἀλλά qualifies the 'follow it' of v. 3: the people follow, but at a reverent distance of two thousand cubits. The purpose clause ἵνα ἐπίστησθε τὴν ὁδόν gives the reason — the gap keeps the leading ark in full view so the people can learn the unfamiliar way; the closing 'for you have not traveled this way before' (a Hebraism, ἀπ᾽ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας = 'in time past') underscores that this is wholly new ground.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
ἀλλὰbutstrong adversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but, yet'; here it qualifies rather than negates v. 3 — the people do follow the ark, but at a set distance; renders Hebrew אַךְ / וְ in adversative force.
μακρὰνfar offadverb of distance (predicate with ἔστω)μακράν: 'far, at a distance'; adverbial accusative (from μακρός); the reverent gap protects the holiness of the ark (cf. the boundary-warnings of Exod 19) and keeps it visible to all.
ἔστωlet there bePres Act Impv 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (third-person imperative)→ imperfective present imperative (standing condition to be maintained)εἰμί (impv. ἔστω): 'let there be, let it be'; the impersonal third-person imperative commands a state of affairs — a fixed distance is to obtain between the people and the ark.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')ἀνά: in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον + genitive ('in the midst of, between'); a Hebraism rendering בֵּין … וּבֵין ('between … and').
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον (governing genitives)μέσος: 'middle, midst'; the fixed phrase ἀνὰ μέσον ὑμῶν καὶ ἐκείνης = 'between you and it (the ark).'
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive governed by ἀνὰ μέσον (first member)ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two members of 'between')καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκείνηςthat (one) / itGenitivegenitive governed by ἀνὰ μέσον (second member: the ark)ἐκεῖνος (gen. fem. ἐκείνης): demonstrative 'that one'; refers to the feminine κιβωτός — 'between you and it.'
ὅσονabout / as much asAccusativeadverbial accusative (approximation: 'about')ὅσος (acc. n. ὅσον): correlative 'as much as'; used adverbially here for approximation ('about, around') with the measure that follows.
δισχιλίουςtwo thousandAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying πήχεις)δισχίλιοι: 'two thousand'; the precise measure (two thousand cubits, roughly 900 metres) sets the sacral cordon around the ark; the same distance later defines the Levitical Sabbath limit in later tradition.
πήχειςcubitsAccusativeaccusative of measureπῆχυς (acc. pl. πήχεις): 'cubit' (forearm-length, the standard biblical unit); renders אַמָּה.
στήσεσθεyou shall take your standFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command to halt at the prescribed distance)ἵστημι (fut. mid. στήσεσθε): 'stand, take one's stand'; the middle future has imperatival force here; this is the first of the chapter's many ἵστημι forms (cf. στήσεσθε v. 8; στήσεται v. 13; ἔστη vv. 16; ἔστησαν, εἱστήκει vv. 16–17), the verb-cluster that culminates in the standing waters.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)μή: the negative used with non-indicative moods; here it forms a prohibition with the aorist subjunctive προσεγγίσητε.
προσεγγίσητεdraw nearAor Act Subj 2 Pl · προσεγγίζωprohibitive subjunctive (μὴ + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not begin to approach)προσεγγίζω: 'come near, approach'; the prohibition μὴ προσεγγίσητε safeguards the holiness of the ark — the people must not crowd the divine presence (cf. the boundary at Sinai, Exod 19:12).
αὐτῇto itDativedative complement of προσεγγίσητε (the ark)αὐτός (dat. fem. αὐτῇ): refers to the ark; προσεγγίζω regularly takes a dative of the thing/person approached.
ἵν᾿so thatpurpose conjunction (ἵνα elided before vowel + subjunctive)ἵνα: 'in order that'; introduces the purpose of the prescribed distance — visibility for guidance.
ἐπίστησθεyou may knowPres Mid Subj 2 Pl · ἐπίσταμαιverb of purpose clause→ imperfective present subjunctive (come to/continue to know the way)ἐπίσταμαι: 'know, understand, be acquainted with'; deponent; the gap keeps the ark in view so that the people may know the route — divine guidance through the visible presence-sign rather than human pathfinding.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδόνway / roadAccusativedirect object of ἐπίστησθεὁδός: 'way, road, journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; here the literal route across and beyond the Jordan, but with an overtone of the way of obedience the people must learn.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of πορεύεσθε)ὅς (acc. fem. ἥν): relative pronoun referring to ὁδόν.
πορεύεσθεyou are to goPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · πορεύομαιverb of relative clause→ imperfective present (the way along which you travel)πορεύομαι: 'go, travel'; here in a relative clause describing the road being traveled; the cognate-accusative πορεύεσθε … ὁδόν ('travel the way') reflects Hebrew idiom.
αὐτήνitAccusativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism: redundant object of πορεύεσθε)αὐτός (acc. fem. αὐτήν): the resumptive pronoun after the relative ἥν ('the way which you travel it') is a Hebraism rendering the resumptive pronominal suffix of אֲשֶׁר … בָּהּ.
οὐnotnegative particle (with indicative)οὐ: the negative used with the indicative (πεπόρευσθε).
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)γάρ: 'for'; introduces the reason the people need the ark as guide — the route is wholly unfamiliar.
πεπόρευσθεyou have traveledPerf Mid Indic 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (causal clause)→ perfect (settled state: 'you have never traveled this road')πορεύομαι (perf. mid. πεπόρευσθε): the perfect expresses the abiding fact of inexperience — the people have no prior acquaintance with this crossing; the perfect aspect underlines the completed-yet-relevant lack of experience.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸνwayAccusativecognate accusative (object of πεπόρευσθε)ὁδός: cognate accusative with πορεύομαι ('travel the way'), a Hebraizing internal-object construction.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (temporal, elided before vowel)ἀπό: 'from'; in the temporal idiom ἀπ᾽ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας.
ἐχθὲςyesterdayadverb of time (in the idiom 'yesterday and the day before')ἐχθές: 'yesterday'; indeclinable adverb; the idiom ἀπ᾽ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας renders Hebrew תְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם ('yesterday and the third day') = 'in time past, previously, ever before.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the temporal idiom)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τρίτηςthirdGenitiveattributive ordinal (modifying ἡμέρας)τρίτος: 'third'; in the frozen idiom 'the third day' = 'the day before yesterday,' part of the Hebraism for 'in the past.'
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time (with ἀπό, in the temporal idiom)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the genitive completes the temporal idiom 'from yesterday and the third day,' i.e., the people have never before made this crossing.
5
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τῷ λαῷ ἁγνίσασθε εἰς αὔριον ὅτι αὔριον ποιήσει ἐν ὑμῖν κύριος θαυμαστά
And Joshua said to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.'
Joshua's command ἁγνίσασθε ('sanctify/purify yourselves') frames the crossing as a sacral, covenantal act, echoing the consecration before Sinai (Exod 19:10–15). The ὅτι-clause supplies the motive — 'tomorrow the LORD will do θαυμαστά (wonders) among you' — naming the imminent miracle in the language of Exodus and the Psalms (cf. Exod 15:11; Ps 77[78]:12).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say, speak'; the aorist εἶπεν introduces Joshua's direct address to the people; the speech-formula εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς recurs at vv. 6 and 9.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative indirect object (addressees)λαός: 'people'; the covenant community addressed by Joshua.
ἁγνίσασθεsanctify yourselvesAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · ἁγνίζωmain verb (cultic imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (undertake ritual purification)ἁγνίζω: 'purify, consecrate, make ceremonially clean'; the middle 'purify yourselves' renders Hebrew הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ (Hithpael of קדשׁ); the command echoes the consecration before the Sinai theophany (Exod 19:10) — to witness YHWH's wonders the people must be ritually fit; the same call recurs at 7:13.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose/time: 'for tomorrow')εἰς + accusative: here temporal-purposive, 'with a view to / in preparation for' the coming day.
αὔριονtomorrowadverb of time (object of εἰς)αὔριον: 'tomorrow'; indeclinable adverb; renders מָחָר; the repeated αὔριον (×2) frames the consecration and the miracle as an immediate, day-after reality — the wonder is not deferred but imminent.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (giving the ground for the command)ὅτι: 'because, for'; introduces the motive for sanctification — the LORD's imminent wonder-working.
αὔριονtomorrowadverb of time (fronted for emphasis)αὔριον: the second occurrence, fronted in its clause, stresses the nearness of the divine act.
ποιήσειwill doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (divine action announced)→ predictive future (certain divine act)ποιέω: 'do, make, perform'; renders עָשָׂה; the construction ποιήσει … θαυμαστά ('will do wonders') is the language of the Exodus deliverance (cf. Exod 15:11; Ps 77[78]:12), framing the Jordan-crossing as a fresh act of saving wonder.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among you')ἐν + dative: 'in, among'; ἐν ὑμῖν ('among you') locates the wonder in Israel's own midst — a phrase deliberately echoed at v. 10 (θεὸς ζῶν ἐν ὑμῖν).
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐνὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (delayed, climactic)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the subject is delayed to the end of the clause, throwing emphasis onto the divine agent of the wonders.
θαυμαστάwonders / marvelous thingsAccusativedirect object of ποιήσει (substantivized neuter plural)θαυμαστός (acc. n. pl. θαυμαστά): 'wonderful, marvelous'; here substantival 'wonders, marvels'; renders נִפְלָאוֹת / פֶּלֶא; the standard LXX vocabulary for divine miracles, tying the crossing to the Exodus deliverance (Exod 15:11, θαυμαστὸς ἐν δόξαις).
6
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἄρατε τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου καὶ προπορεύεσθε τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἦραν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου καὶ ἐπορεύοντο ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ λαοῦ
And Joshua said to the priests, 'Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and go before the people.' And the priests took up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and went in front of the people.
Joshua's double imperative to the priests (ἄρατε … προπορεύεσθε) is answered word-for-word by the narrator's report (ἦραν … ἐπορεύοντο), a Hebraic command/fulfilment pattern that underlines exact obedience. The ark goes before the people — divine presence leads the conquest column.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Joshua's command to the priests.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῦσινpriestsDativedative indirect object (addressees)ἱερεύς (dat. pl. ἱερεῦσιν): 'priest'; the ark-bearers addressed directly by Joshua.
ἄρατεtake upAor Act Impv 2 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (command to lift the ark)→ ingressive aorist imperative (take up and bear)αἴρω: 'lift, take up, carry'; the aorist imperative commands the single decisive act of shouldering the ark; matched by the narrator's ἦραν below.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἄρατεκιβωτός: 'ark' (of the covenant); see v. 3.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 3.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possessionκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the ark belongs to YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second imperative)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προπορεύεσθεgo beforePres Mid Impv 2 Pl · προπορεύομαιmain verb (command to lead the procession)→ imperfective present imperative (continuous leading)προπορεύομαι: 'go before, lead the way'; deponent; the prefix προ- marks the priests' position at the head of the column; the genitive τοῦ λαοῦ functions as the genitive of that-before-which they go.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive with προπορεύεσθε ('go before the people')λαός: 'people'; here the genitive object of the verb of preceding.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (compliance report)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦρανthey took upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (fulfilment of ἄρατε)→ constative aorist (act of taking up)αἴρω (aor. ἦραν): the narrator's report exactly answers Joshua's command ἄρατε — a Hebraic command/compliance pattern stressing precise obedience.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubjectἱερεύς (nom. pl. ἱερεῖς): the priests, now the acting subject.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἦρανκιβωτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκης: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possessionκύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύοντοthey wentImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the procession's march)→ imperfective imperfect (ongoing, processional march)πορεύομαι (impf. ἐπορεύοντο): 'go, proceed'; the imperfect depicts the continuous, deliberate processional movement of the priests at the head of the people — answering the imperative προπορεύεσθε.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / in front ofimproper preposition + genitive (position ahead)ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of, before'; with the genitive renders לִפְנֵי; the priests march at the front, the ark visibly leading Israel.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθενλαοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
7
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Ἰησοῦν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ἄρχομαι ὑψῶσαί σε κατενώπιον πάντων υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἵνα γνῶσιν καθότι ἤμην μετὰ Μωυσῆ οὕτως ἔσομαι καὶ μετὰ σοῦ
And the LORD said to Joshua, 'On this day I begin to exalt you in the sight of all the sons of Israel, that they may know that, just as I was with Moses, so I will be also with you.'
The first direct YHWH-speech of the chapter; the divine purpose is Joshua's public authentication — 'I begin to exalt you' (ἄρχομαι ὑψῶσαι) — so that Israel may recognize the Mosaic succession: ἤμην μετὰ Μωυσῆ … ἔσομαι καὶ μετὰ σοῦ ('I was with Moses … so will I be with you'), fulfilling the promise of 1:5. The miracle of the crossing is thus framed as the credential that establishes Joshua as the new Moses.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (divine speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces unmediated YHWH-speech to Joshua.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH addresses Joshua directly, authenticating his leadership.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρός + accusative: 'to'; standard with verbs of speaking to mark the addressee.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee)Ἰησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): see v. 1; the recipient of the divine word.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν + dative: temporal 'on/in'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ('on this day') marks the crossing-day as the decisive moment of Joshua's exaltation.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; the demonstrative phrase fixes the exaltation to the day of the miracle.
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)οὗτος (dat. fem. ταύτῃ): 'this'; deictic emphasis on the present, decisive day.
ἄρχομαιI beginPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (divine first-person declaration)→ inceptive present (action commencing now)ἄρχω (mid. ἄρχομαι): 'begin'; the middle 'I begin (to)' takes a complementary infinitive (ὑψῶσαι); renders Hebrew הָחֵל ('begin'); the crossing inaugurates an ongoing process of divine exaltation of Joshua.
ὑψῶσαίto exaltAor Act Inf · ὑψόωcomplementary infinitive (with ἄρχομαι)ὑψόω: 'lift up, exalt, magnify'; renders גִּדֵּל ('make great'); the divine exaltation of Joshua in Israel's eyes parallels Moses' own greatness (cf. Exod 11:3, Μωυσῆς μέγας ἐγενήθη) — Joshua is publicly raised to Mosaic stature.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ὑψῶσαισύ (acc. σε): the object of exaltation — Joshua.
κατενώπιονin the sight ofimproper preposition + genitive (evaluative perspective)κατενώπιον: 'before, in the sight of, in the presence of'; renders לְעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); the public, witnessed character of the exaltation is essential — Joshua's authority must be seen and acknowledged by all Israel.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying υἱῶν)πᾶς (gen. pl. πάντων): 'all'; the totality of Israel witnesses Joshua's exaltation.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of κατενώπιονυἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; the phrase υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') is the standard LXX designation of the people, rendering בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable genitive of relationship ('sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the eponymous ancestor naming the whole people.
ἵναthatpurpose conjunction (+ subjunctive)ἵνα: 'in order that'; introduces the purpose of the exaltation — Israel's recognition of the Mosaic continuity.
γνῶσινthey may knowAor Act Subj 3 Pl · γινώσκωverb of purpose clause→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (come to know/recognize)γινώσκω: 'know, recognize'; the recognition-formula ('that they may know') is central to the chapter (cf. γνώσεσθε v. 10) — the miracle generates covenantal knowledge of YHWH and of his appointed leader.
καθότιjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing content of γνῶσιν)καθότι: 'inasmuch as, just as, that'; here introduces the content/manner of the knowing — the parallel between YHWH's presence with Moses and with Joshua.
ἤμηνI wasImpf Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίverb of comparative clause (protasis of 'as … so')→ imperfective imperfect (sustained past presence)εἰμί (impf. 1 sg. ἤμην): 'I was'; the Koine middle imperfect ἤμην (for classical ἦν); the imperfect expresses YHWH's continuous past accompaniment of Moses — the model now extended to Joshua.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετά + genitive: 'with'; the accompaniment-formula 'I was with Moses … I will be with you' is the heart of the divine-presence promise (cf. Josh 1:5; Exod 3:12).
ΜωυσῆMosesGenitivegenitive object of μετάΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined in Rahlfs' LXX (gen. Μωυσῆ); Joshua is being established as Moses' divinely-accompanied successor.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (apodosis of 'as … so')οὕτως: 'thus, so'; correlates with καθότι to complete the comparison 'just as … so also.'
ἔσομαιI will beFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis (divine promise)→ predictive future (assured divine accompaniment)εἰμί (fut. mid. ἔσομαι): 'I will be'; the divine promise of continued presence with Joshua, sealing the leadership transition begun in ch. 1.
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction (ascensive: 'also')καί: here adverbial/ascensive 'also, even' — 'so I will be with you also,' extending the Mosaic privilege to Joshua.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά (Joshua)σύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; the object of the divine accompaniment-promise — Joshua himself.
8
καὶ νῦν ἔντειλαι τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν τοῖς αἴρουσιν τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης λέγων ὡς ἂν εἰσέλθητε ἐπὶ μέρους τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ ἐν τῷ Ιορδάνῃ στήσεσθε
And now command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'
The transitional καὶ νῦν ('and now') moves from the promise (v. 7) to its operational command: Joshua is to instruct the priests so that, on reaching the water's edge, they halt in the Jordan (στήσεσθε). The standing of the priests is the human action that occasions the divine arrest of the waters — the same verb (ἵστημι) governs both the priests (here) and the waters (v. 13).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandtransitional conjunction (with νῦν)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical transition)νῦν: 'now'; the formula καὶ νῦν renders Hebrew וְעַתָּה, a standard hinge from declaration to consequent instruction.
ἔντειλαιcommandAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (divine command to Joshua)→ ingressive aorist imperative (issue the order)ἐντέλλομαι (aor. mid. impv. ἔντειλαι): 'command, charge'; deponent; YHWH directs Joshua to relay the command to the priests — the same verb the officers used to the people (ἐνετείλαντο, v. 3), now in the chain of divine authority.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῦσινpriestsDativedative object of ἔντειλαι (those commanded)ἱερεύς (dat. pl. ἱερεῦσιν): 'priest'; the ark-bearers, recipients of the order.
τοῖςthe (ones)Dativearticle (with attributive participle)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἴρουσινbearingPres Act Ptcp Dat Masc Pl · αἴρωattributive participle (modifying ἱερεῦσιν: 'who bear')→ imperfective participle (ongoing bearing)αἴρω: 'carry, bear'; the articular present participle τοῖς αἴρουσιν ('the [priests] who bear') is the chapter's standing epithet for the ark-bearers (cf. vv. 13, 15, 17 with αἰρόντων/αἴροντες).
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἴρουσινκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 3.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 3.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (introducing direct speech)→ imperfective participle (speech-framing)λέγω: the participle λέγων ('saying') after a verb of commanding is a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר; introduces the content of the order to the priests.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive)ὡς: here temporal 'when, as soon as'; with ἄν and the subjunctive it marks an indefinite-temporal clause ('whenever/as soon as you enter').
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with ὡς + subjunctive)ἄν: the modal particle that, with ὡς and the subjunctive, gives the temporal clause its contingent-future sense.
εἰσέλθητεyou come / enterAor Act Subj 2 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ aorist subjunctive (the moment of entering, as a single event)εἰσέρχομαι: 'come into, enter'; the priests' entry to the water's edge is the trigger-event; the aorist views it as a single point in time.
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + genitive (place reached: the edge)ἐπί + genitive: 'on, at, to'; here marking the point reached — the brink of the water; cf. the parallel ἐπὶ τὸν Ιορδάνην at v. 15.
μέρουςedge / partGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίμέρος: 'part, portion, edge'; ἐπὶ μέρους τοῦ ὕδατος ('to the edge/margin of the water') names the brink where the priests halt; recurs at v. 15 (εἰς μέρος τοῦ ὕδατος).
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατοςwaterGenitivegenitive (the water of the Jordan)ὕδωρ (gen. ὕδατος): 'water'; renders מַיִם; the waters of the Jordan are the object of the coming miracle.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive of relationship (the water of the Jordan)Ιορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): the Jordan; see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the apodosis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location of the halt)ἐν + dative: 'in'; the priests are to stand 'in the Jordan' itself — at the very threshold of the divided waters.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνῃJordanDativedative object of ἐν (place of standing)Ιορδάνης (dat. Ιορδάνῃ): the Jordan; see v. 1.
στήσεσθεyou shall stand stillFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb of apodosis (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command to halt and remain standing)ἵστημι (fut. mid. στήσεσθε): 'stand, take a stand, halt'; the priests' standing in the Jordan is the pivot of the miracle — their motionless stance (cf. v. 17 ἔστησαν … ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Ιορδάνου) holds open the path while the waters are arrested; the same verb governs the standing waters (στήσεται v. 13; ἔστη v. 16).
9
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ προσαγάγετε ὧδε καὶ ἀκούσατε τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν
And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, 'Draw near here and hear the word of the LORD our God.'
Joshua gathers the people with a double imperative (προσαγάγετε … ἀκούσατε) to receive the oracle of vv. 10–13. The phrase τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ('the word of the LORD') frames what follows as authoritative divine revelation, and the confessional τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν binds Joshua and Israel as one worshiping community.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Joshua's summons to the people.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (addressees)υἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the people.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable genitive of relationship ('sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
προσαγάγετεdraw nearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · προσάγωmain verb (command to approach)→ ingressive aorist imperative (come near)προσάγω: 'bring to, approach, draw near'; here intransitive 'come near' (the active used absolutely); Joshua summons the people to gather and attend; the verb carries a cultic overtone of approaching to receive sacred instruction.
ὧδεhereadverb of place (goal of approach)ὧδε: 'here, to this place'; marks the point of assembly before Joshua.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second imperative)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀκούσατεhearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (command to listen)→ ingressive aorist imperative (give heed)ἀκούω: 'hear, listen, heed'; renders שָׁמַע; the call to 'hear the word of the LORD' has the covenantal force of attentive obedience (cf. the Shema, Deut 6:4).
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαwordAccusativedirect object of ἀκούσατεῥῆμα: 'word, saying, utterance'; renders דָּבָר; τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ('the word of the LORD') marks the following oracle as authoritative divine speech.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (the word that comes from YHWH)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the word belongs to and proceeds from YHWH.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (apposition: 'the LORD, our God')τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίουθεός: 'God'; κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ — the covenant name joined to the confessional 'our God.'
ἡμῶνourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)ἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): the confessional possessive binding Joshua and Israel as one community under YHWH.
10
ἐν τούτῳ γνώσεσθε ὅτι θεὸς ζῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ ὀλεθρεύων ὀλεθρεύσει ἀπὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν τὸν Χαναναῖον καὶ τὸν Χετταῖον καὶ τὸν Φερεζαῖον καὶ τὸν Ευαῖον καὶ τὸν Αμορραῖον καὶ τὸν Γεργεσαῖον καὶ τὸν Ιεβουσαῖον
By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will surely destroy from before us the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Amorite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite:
The cataphoric ἐν τούτῳ ('by this') points forward to the heaped-waters sign of vv. 13–16: the miracle is the empirical proof of the theological claim θεὸς ζῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ('the living God is among you'). The verbless predication (no copula in the Greek) renders the Hebrew nominal clause; the cognate-emphatic ὀλεθρεύων ὀλεθρεύσει ('destroying he will destroy' = 'he will utterly destroy') and the canonical seven-nation list ground the crossing in the larger conquest-promise.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental/evidential)ἐν + dative: instrumental 'by, by means of'; the cataphoric ἐν τούτῳ ('by this') points forward to the sign about to be described — the means by which the people will gain certain knowledge.
τούτῳthisDativedemonstrative pronoun (object of ἐν, cataphoric)οὗτος (dat. n. τούτῳ): 'this'; points ahead to the heaped-waters miracle as the proof-sign.
γνώσεσθεyou shall knowFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (recognition-formula)→ predictive future (assured coming knowledge)γινώσκω (fut. mid. γνώσεσθε): 'know, recognize'; the recognition-formula ('by this you shall know that …') is a hallmark of the Exodus/conquest narratives (cf. Exod 7:5; 14:4) — the miracle generates certain knowledge of the living God's presence.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of γνώσεσθε)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the knowledge — the living God's presence and his destroying power.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of verbless predication (θεὸς ζῶν ἐν ὑμῖν)θεός: 'God'; in θεὸς ζῶν ('a living God / the living God') it renders אֵל חַי; the anarthrous noun stresses the qualitative truth — the God who acts is alive, in contrast to the lifeless idols of the nations about to be dispossessed.
ζῶνlivingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying θεός: 'living God')→ imperfective participle (continuous state of being alive)ζάω: 'live, be alive'; the participle ζῶν renders Hebrew חַי; 'the living God' (θεὸς ζῶν) is the interpretive heart of the chapter — the heaped-waters miracle proves that the God present in Israel's midst is the living, acting God, not a dead idol (cf. Ps 41[42]:3; Hos 2:1[1:10]; the same phrase animates Deut 5:26).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among you')ἐν + dative: 'in, among'; ἐν ὑμῖν ('among you') echoes ἐν ὑμῖν of v. 5 — the wonder-working LORD is the living God present in the midst of his people.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν (no copula: 'is among you')σύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'you'; the clause θεὸς ζῶν ἐν ὑμῖν has no expressed copula — a verbless nominal clause rendering the Hebrew; 'is' must be supplied in English.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second knowledge-content)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὀλεθρεύωνdestroyingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ὀλεθρεύωcognate participle (intensifying ὀλεθρεύσει: figura etymologica)→ imperfective participle (in cognate-emphatic construction)ὀλεθρεύω: 'destroy, ruin, annihilate'; the participle + finite-verb construction ὀλεθρεύων ὀλεθρεύσει ('destroying he will destroy') is the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew infinitive-absolute + finite verb (הוֹרֵשׁ יוֹרִישׁ vel sim.), expressing emphatic certainty — 'he will surely/utterly destroy'; cf. the parallel ἐκβαλεῖ ὑμᾶς ἐκβολῇ at Exod 11:1.
ὀλεθρεύσειhe will destroyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀλεθρεύωmain verb (subject: the living God)→ predictive future (assured, total dispossession)ὀλεθρεύω (fut. ὀλεθρεύσει): the finite verb of the cognate construction; the living God's own act of dispossessing the seven nations is the long-range fulfilment that the crossing inaugurates (cf. Deut 7:1; Josh 24:11).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from before')ἀπό: 'from'; in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before, from the presence of'), a Hebraism rendering מִפְּנֵי.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before us')πρόσωπον: 'face, presence'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν ('from before us, from our presence') is a Hebraism for the expulsion of the nations as Israel advances; renders מִפְּנֵינוּ.
ἡμῶνusGenitivepossessive genitive (with προσώπου)ἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'us'; Joshua identifies with the people — the nations will be driven out 'from before us.'
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναῖονCanaaniteAccusativedirect object of ὀλεθρεύσει (first of seven)Χαναναῖος: 'Canaanite'; gentilic noun declined in Greek; renders כְּנַעֲנִי; the first of the canonical list of nations to be dispossessed (cf. the seven-nation lists at Deut 7:1; Josh 24:11).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧετταῖονHittiteAccusativedirect object of ὀλεθρεύσει (second of seven)Χετταῖος: 'Hittite'; renders חִתִּי; second nation of the list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΦερεζαῖονPerizziteAccusativedirect object of ὀλεθρεύσει (third of seven)Φερεζαῖος: 'Perizzite'; renders פְּרִזִּי; third nation of the list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕυαῖονHiviteAccusativedirect object of ὀλεθρεύσει (fourth of seven)Ευαῖος: 'Hivite'; renders חִוִּי; fourth nation of the list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραῖονAmoriteAccusativedirect object of ὀλεθρεύσει (fifth of seven)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; renders אֱמֹרִי; fifth nation of the list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεργεσαῖονGirgashiteAccusativedirect object of ὀλεθρεύσει (sixth of seven)Γεργεσαῖος: 'Girgashite'; renders גִּרְגָּשִׁי; sixth nation of the list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεβουσαῖονJebusiteAccusativedirect object of ὀλεθρεύσει (seventh of seven)Ιεβουσαῖος: 'Jebusite'; renders יְבוּסִי; the seventh and last nation of the canonical list — the inhabitants of Jebus/Jerusalem; the complete sevenfold enumeration signals the totality of the promised dispossession.
11
ἰδοὺ ἡ κιβωτὸς διαθήκης κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς διαβαίνει τὸν Ιορδάνην
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth crosses over the Jordan.
The deictic ἰδού ('behold') focuses attention on the ark itself as the lead agent of the crossing. The expanded title κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς ('the Lord of all the earth') universalizes YHWH's sovereignty: the God who parts the Jordan rules all the earth, so the dispossession of the seven nations is the act of the cosmic Lord, not a tribal deity.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἰδοὺbeholddemonstrative interjection (attention-marker)ἰδού: 'behold, look'; frozen aorist middle imperative of ὁράω used as an interjection; renders Hebrew הִנֵּה; focuses the hearers' attention on the ark as it advances to the river.
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of διαβαίνεικιβωτός: 'ark' (of the covenant); see v. 3; here the grammatical subject — the ark itself 'crosses over,' representing the leading presence of YHWH.
διαθήκηςof covenantGenitivegenitive of relationship (anarthrous: 'ark of covenant')διαθήκη: 'covenant'; here anarthrous in the construct chain ἡ κιβωτὸς διαθήκης κυρίου ('the ark of the covenant of the Lord').
κυρίουof the LordGenitivegenitive of possession (expanded: 'Lord of all the earth')κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here qualified by πάσης τῆς γῆς ('of all the earth'), a title of universal sovereignty.
πάσηςof allGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying γῆς)πᾶς (gen. fem. πάσης): 'all, the whole'; in the title κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς ('Lord of all the earth') it universalizes YHWH's dominion (cf. v. 13; Ps 96[97]:5; Mic 4:13).
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearth / landGenitivegenitive (with κυρίου πάσης: 'of all the earth')γῆ: 'earth, land'; renders אֶרֶץ; the phrase 'Lord of all the earth' asserts that YHWH's reign extends over the whole world, not merely Canaan — a polemic against the territorial gods of the nations.
διαβαίνειcrosses overPres Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (the ark as subject)→ futuristic/vivid present (imminent crossing presented as underway)διαβαίνω: 'cross over, pass through'; the leitmotif verb (vv. 1, 14, 17); the present tense vividly presents the imminent crossing as already in motion — the ark, bearing the divine presence, leads Israel over.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διαβαίνειΙορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): the Jordan; διαβαίνω here takes the accusative of the thing crossed.
12
προχειρίσασθε ὑμῖν δώδεκα ἄνδρας ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἕνα ἀφ᾿ ἑκάστης φυλῆς
Choose for yourselves twelve men from the sons of Israel, one from each tribe.
The command to designate twelve men, one per tribe, prepares for the memorial-stones episode of ch. 4; the twelvefold representation makes the crossing the act of the whole covenant people, every tribe included. The reflexive dative ὑμῖν ('for yourselves') marks the appointment as Israel's own corporate act under Joshua's direction.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
προχειρίσασθεchoose / appointAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · προχειρίζωmain verb (command to designate)→ ingressive aorist imperative (select and appoint)προχειρίζω (mid. προχειρίσασθε): 'take in hand beforehand, choose, appoint, designate'; the middle 'choose for yourselves'; a deliberative selection of representatives — one per tribe — anticipating the twelve memorial stones of ch. 4 (cf. the related use at Acts 22:14; 26:16).
ὑμῖνfor yourselvesDativedative of advantage/reflexive (with middle verb)σύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): the reflexive-dative 'for yourselves' reinforces the middle voice — the appointment is Israel's own corporate act.
δώδεκαtwelveindeclinable numeral (modifying ἄνδρας)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable; the twelvefold number represents the whole tribal confederation of Israel; the twelve men foreshadow the twelve memorial stones taken from the Jordan (ch. 4).
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of προχειρίσασθεἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the chosen representatives, one from each tribe.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source/origin)ἀπό: 'from'; marks the source-pool from which the twelve are drawn — the tribes of Israel.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόυἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people; the twelve are drawn from across the whole nation.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable genitive of relationship ('sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
ἕναoneAccusativeappositional numeral (distributive: 'one [man]' per tribe)εἷς (acc. m. ἕνα): 'one'; the distributive 'one … from each tribe' ensures equal representation of all twelve tribes in the crossing.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (distributive, elided before vowel)ἀπό (elided ἀφ᾽): 'from'; with the distributive ἑκάστης ('each') it specifies one man per tribe.
ἑκάστηςeachGenitivedistributive adjective (modifying φυλῆς)ἕκαστος (gen. fem. ἑκάστης): 'each, every'; the distributive ensures no tribe is omitted from the representative body.
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive object of ἀφ᾿ (distributive: 'from each tribe')φυλή: 'tribe, clan'; renders שֵׁבֶט / מַטֶּה; the twelve tribes together constitute the whole people that crosses into the inheritance.
13
καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἂν καταπαύσωσιν οἱ πόδες τῶν ἱερέων τῶν αἰρόντων τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς ἐν τῷ ὕδατι τοῦ Ιορδάνου τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἐκλείψει τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ τὸ καταβαῖνον στήσεται
And it shall be that when the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth come to rest in the water of the Jordan, the water of the Jordan shall fail, but the water coming down shall stand still.
The future-frame formula καὶ ἔσται (וְהָיָה) introduces the precise mechanics of the sign: when the priests' feet rest in the water, the lower flow will fail (ἐκλείψει) and the upper, descending water will stand (στήσεται). The two contrasting verbs — failing below, standing above — anticipate the report at v. 16 (ἐξέλιπεν … ἔστη), making this verse the predictive blueprint of the miracle.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἔσται: future-frame formula)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίimpersonal verb (future-temporal frame: 'and it shall come to pass')→ predictive future (scene-setting for the prophesied event)εἰμί (fut. mid. ἔσται): the formula καὶ ἔσται renders Hebrew וְהָיָה, the future counterpart of καὶ ἐγένετο — it frames a temporal clause and projects the prophesied sign.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive)ὡς: temporal 'when, as soon as'; with ἄν and the subjunctive it sets the contingent-future moment of the feet's rest.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with ὡς + subjunctive)ἄν: the modal particle marking the temporal clause as contingent-future.
καταπαύσωσινcome to restAor Act Subj 3 Pl · καταπαύωverb of temporal clause (subject: οἱ πόδες)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the moment the feet settle)καταπαύω: 'cause to rest, settle, come to rest'; here intransitive 'rest, settle'; the priests' feet 'resting' in the water is the precise trigger of the miracle; the verb also evokes the larger 'rest' (κατάπαυσις) of the inheritance the conquest secures (cf. Josh 1:13; Heb 4).
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδεςfeetNominativesubject of καταπαύσωσινπούς (nom. pl. πόδες): 'foot'; renders רֶגֶל; the feet of the priests are the point of contact between the bearers of the divine presence and the waters — the human action that occasions the divine miracle.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωνpriestsGenitivegenitive of possession (the priests' feet)ἱερεύς (gen. pl. ἱερέων): 'priest'; the bearers of the ark whose feet trigger the sign (cf. vv. 15, 17).
τῶνthe (ones)Genitivearticle (with attributive participle)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰρόντωνbearingPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · αἴρωattributive participle (modifying ἱερέων: 'who bear')→ imperfective participle (ongoing bearing)αἴρω: 'carry, bear'; the articular participle τῶν αἰρόντων is the standing epithet of the ark-bearing priests (cf. vv. 8, 15, 17).
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἰρόντωνκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 3.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 3.
κυρίουof the LordGenitivegenitive of possession (expanded: 'Lord of all the earth')κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; again titled 'Lord of all the earth' (cf. v. 11).
πάσηςof allGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying γῆς)πᾶς (gen. fem. πάσης): 'all'; the universal-sovereignty title repeated from v. 11, underscoring that the cosmic Lord works the miracle.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive (with κυρίου πάσης: 'of all the earth')γῆ: 'earth, land'; see v. 11.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place where the feet rest)ἐν + dative: 'in'; locates the feet's rest in the very water of the Jordan.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατιwaterDativedative object of ἐν (place of contact)ὕδωρ (dat. ὕδατι): 'water'; the water of the Jordan, into which the priests' feet rest.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive of relationship (the water of the Jordan)Ιορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): the Jordan; see v. 1.
τὸtheNominativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of ἐκλείψειὕδωρ: 'water'; here the subject — the existing flow of the Jordan that 'fails' as the upper waters are held back.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive of relationshipΙορδάνου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκλείψειshall failFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκλείπωmain verb (the lower water fails)→ predictive future (the lower flow's draining away)ἐκλείπω: 'fail, give out, cease, be cut off'; renders כָּרַת (Niphal); the downstream water 'fails' (drains away toward the sea), leaving the channel dry; fulfilled at v. 16 (ἐξέλιπεν).
τὸtheNominativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive: contrast of upper vs. lower water)δέ: 'but'; sets the upper, descending water in contrast to the lower water that fails.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of στήσεταιὕδωρ: 'water'; here the upper, descending water that stands still in a heap.
τὸthe (one)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβαῖνονcoming downPres Act Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · καταβαίνωattributive participle (modifying ὕδωρ: 'the water that comes down')→ imperfective participle (the continuously descending flow)καταβαίνω: 'go/come down, descend'; the participle τὸ καταβαῖνον specifies the upper water flowing downstream from above; it is this descending water that 'stands' in a heap (cf. v. 16, τὰ καταβαίνοντα … ἔστη).
στήσεταιshall stand stillFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (the upper water stands)→ predictive future (the arrest of the descending water)ἵστημι (fut. mid. στήσεται): 'stand, stand still, halt'; the descending water 'shall stand' — the central miracle, fulfilled at v. 16 (ἔστη πῆγμα ἕν); the verb deliberately echoes the standing of the priests (στήσεσθε, v. 8) and recalls the standing waters of the Red Sea (Exod 15:8, ἔστη … τὰ ὕδατα).
14
καὶ ἀπῆρεν ὁ λαὸς ἐκ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν διαβῆναι τὸν Ιορδάνην οἱ δὲ ἱερεῖς ἤροσαν τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου πρότεροι τοῦ λαοῦ
And the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, and the priests took up the ark of the covenant of the LORD ahead of the people.
The narrative resumes after the speeches: the people break camp to cross, and the priests — exactly as commanded (vv. 6, 8) — take up the ark and go πρότεροι τοῦ λαοῦ ('ahead of the people'). The infinitive of purpose διαβῆναι ('to cross') recalls v. 1's πρὸ τοῦ διαβῆναι, signalling that the long-withheld crossing is now underway.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆρενset outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαίρωmain verb (the people break camp)→ constative aorist (act of decamping)ἀπαίρω: 'set out, break camp, depart'; renders נָסַע; the singular agrees with the collective ὁ λαός; the same verb as v. 3 (ἀπαρεῖτε) — the command is now executed.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of ἀπῆρενλαός: 'people'; the whole covenant community, now in motion toward the river.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of, from'; marks departure from the encampment.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνωμάτωνtents / dwellingsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκσκήνωμα (gen. pl. σκηνωμάτων): 'tent, dwelling, encampment'; renders אֹהֶל / מִשְׁכָּן; the people leave their tents to cross — the wilderness mode of dwelling is left behind at the threshold of the inheritance.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive (with σκηνωμάτων)αὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; refers to the people's own tents.
διαβῆναιto crossAor Act Inf · διαβαίνωinfinitive of purpose (with ἀπῆρεν)→ aoristic infinitive (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; the infinitive of purpose ('in order to cross') echoes πρὸ τοῦ διαβῆναι at v. 1 — the long-deferred crossing is now the people's goal.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διαβῆναιΙορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): the Jordan; the object crossed.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲand / nowmild adversative/continuative (post-positive: shift to the priests)δέ: here a continuative marking the shift of focus from the people to the priests.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject of ἤροσανἱερεύς (nom. pl. ἱερεῖς): the priests, who take up the ark.
ἤροσανtook upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (the priests lift the ark)→ constative aorist (act of taking up)αἴρω: 'lift, take up, carry'; the Hellenistic ending -οσαν (ἤροσαν for ἦραν, cf. ἤλθοσαν v. 1) is characteristic of the LXX; the priests execute the command of vv. 6, 8.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἤροσανκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 3.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 3.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possessionκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
πρότεροιahead / beforeNominativepredicate adjective (with the priests: 'going ahead')πρότερος (nom. pl. πρότεροι): 'former, earlier, ahead'; the comparative adjective used predicatively ('the priests [went] ahead of the people'); the genitive τοῦ λαοῦ functions as a genitive of comparison; the priests with the ark precede the people into the river (cf. ἔμπροσθεν, v. 6).
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of comparison (with πρότεροι: 'ahead of the people')λαός: 'people'; the genitive of comparison after πρότεροι — the priests go before the people.
15
ὡς δὲ εἰσεπορεύοντο οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης ἐπὶ τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ οἱ πόδες τῶν ἱερέων τῶν αἰρόντων τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου ἐβάφησαν εἰς μέρος τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ Ιορδάνου ὁ δὲ Ιορδάνης ἐπλήρου καθ᾿ ὅλην τὴν κρηπῖδα αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ ἡμέραι θερισμοῦ πυρῶν
But as the priests who bear the ark of the covenant were entering upon the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD were dipped into the edge of the water of the Jordan — and the Jordan was overflowing along its whole bank, as in the days of the wheat harvest —
A long temporal protasis sets the precise moment: the priests enter upon the Jordan and their feet are dipped (ἐβάφησαν) into the water's edge — and, by way of heightening, the narrator notes that the Jordan was at flood stage along its whole bank, since it was the wheat-harvest season (spring snowmelt). The faith of stepping into a river in full spate is the precondition of the miracle reported in v. 16.
Word-by-word analysis· 46 words
ὡςas / whentemporal conjunction (introducing protasis + indicative)ὡς: temporal 'as, when'; with the imperfect indicative it frames the ongoing action during which the miracle occurs.
δὲbut / nowcontinuative particle (post-positive)δέ: 'and, now'; advances the narrative to the decisive moment of entry into the river.
εἰσεπορεύοντοwere enteringImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰσπορεύομαιverb of temporal clause (subject: οἱ ἱερεῖς)→ imperfective imperfect (action in progress at the moment of the miracle)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'go into, enter'; the imperfect depicts the priests in the very act of advancing into the riverbed — the durative aspect frames the simultaneous miracle.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject of εἰσεπορεύοντοἱερεύς (nom. pl. ἱερεῖς): the ark-bearing priests.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἴροντεςbearingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · αἴρωattributive participle (modifying ἱερεῖς: 'who bear')→ imperfective participle (ongoing bearing)αἴρω: 'carry, bear'; the standing epithet of the priests (cf. vv. 8, 13, 17).
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἴροντεςκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 3.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 3.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (motion toward/onto the river)ἐπί + accusative: 'onto, upon, to'; the priests advance 'onto/into' the Jordan; cf. the parallel ἐπὶ μέρους at v. 8.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίΙορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): the Jordan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second clause of the protasis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδεςfeetNominativesubject of ἐβάφησανπούς (nom. pl. πόδες): 'foot'; the priests' feet, whose dipping into the water triggers the sign predicted at v. 13.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωνpriestsGenitivegenitive of possession (the priests' feet)ἱερεύς (gen. pl. ἱερέων): 'priest.'
τῶνthe (ones)Genitivearticle (with attributive participle)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰρόντωνbearingPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · αἴρωattributive participle (modifying ἱερέων)→ imperfective participle (ongoing bearing)αἴρω: 'carry, bear'; the repeated epithet emphasizes that it is the consecrated bearers of the ark whose feet effect the sign.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἰρόντωνκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 3.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 3.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possessionκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἐβάφησανwere dippedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · βάπτωmain verb (the feet dipped into the water)→ constative aorist passive (the single act of immersion)βάπτω: 'dip, immerse'; the passive ἐβάφησαν ('were dipped') describes the priests' feet entering the water's edge; renders Hebrew טָבַל (Niphal); the moment of contact is the precise trigger of the miracle foretold at v. 13.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (extent of immersion)εἰς + accusative: 'into'; marks how far the feet entered — to the edge/margin of the water.
μέροςedge / partAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςμέρος: 'part, edge, margin'; εἰς μέρος τοῦ ὕδατος ('into the edge of the water') echoes ἐπὶ μέρους τοῦ ὕδατος at v. 8 — the feet need only touch the brink for the miracle to begin.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατοςwaterGenitivegenitive (the edge of the water)ὕδωρ (gen. ὕδατος): 'water'; the Jordan's flood-water.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive of relationshipΙορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): the Jordan.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲnowparenthetical particle (post-positive: narrator's aside)δέ: 'now'; introduces the narrator's parenthetical note on the river's flood condition, heightening the wonder.
ΙορδάνηςJordanNominativesubject of ἐπλήρουΙορδάνης: the Jordan; here the grammatical subject of the parenthetical flood-note.
ἐπλήρουwas overflowingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · πληρόωmain verb (parenthetical: the river at flood)→ imperfective imperfect (the ongoing flood-state)πληρόω: 'fill, make full, overflow'; here used intransitively/absolutely, 'was full, was in flood'; the imperfect describes the river's continuous flood-state — the Jordan in spring spate, making the dry crossing all the more miraculous; renders Hebrew מָלֵא ('be full').
καθ᾿along / throughoutpreposition + accusative (extent, elided before vowel)κατά (elided καθ᾽) + accusative: 'along, throughout, over the whole of'; with ὅλην it marks the flood as covering the entire bank.
ὅληνwholeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying κρηπῖδα)ὅλος (acc. fem. ὅλην): 'whole, entire'; the water overflows the river's whole bank — the spate is at its fullest.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρηπῖδαbank / edgeAccusativeaccusative object of καθ᾿ (extent)κρηπίς (acc. κρηπῖδα): 'foundation, base, embankment, bank'; here the bank/edge of the river-channel; the flood fills the Jordan to the top of its banks (cf. the MT's 'overflows all its banks,' 1 Chr 12:15).
αὐτοῦitsGenitivepossessive genitive (with κρηπῖδα)αὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'its'; refers to the Jordan — its own bank.
ὡσεὶas / aboutcomparative particle (introducing the seasonal comparison)ὡσεί: 'as, like, about'; introduces the temporal comparison — the flood as in the wheat-harvest season; renders Hebrew כְּ.
ἡμέραιdaysNominativenominative of comparison (with ὡσεί: 'as the days')ἡμέρα (nom. pl. ἡμέραι): 'day'; ὡσεὶ ἡμέραι θερισμοῦ ('as in the days of harvest') dates the crossing to spring, when snowmelt from Hermon swells the Jordan — the hardest, not the easiest, time to cross.
θερισμοῦof harvestGenitivegenitive of relationship (the days of harvest)θερισμός: 'harvest, reaping'; renders קָצִיר; the wheat harvest falls in late spring, the very season of the Jordan's flood — God works the miracle at the river's high-water mark.
πυρῶνof wheatGenitivegenitive of definition (harvest of wheat)πυρός (gen. pl. πυρῶν): 'wheat'; renders חִטָּה; specifies the harvest as the wheat-harvest (late spring), fixing the season and underlining the flood conditions.
16
καὶ ἔστη τὰ ὕδατα τὰ καταβαίνοντα ἄνωθεν ἔστη πῆγμα ἓν ἀφεστηκὸς μακρὰν σφόδρα σφοδρῶς ἕως μέρους Καριαθιαριμ τὸ δὲ καταβαῖνον κατέβη εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν Αραβα θάλασσαν ἁλός ἕως εἰς τὸ τέλος ἐξέλιπεν καὶ ὁ λαὸς εἱστήκει ἀπέναντι Ιεριχω
then the waters that were coming down from above stood still; it stood as one heap, drawn back very far indeed, as far as the region of Kariathiarim, but the water coming down went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Sea of Salt, until it completely failed; and the people stood opposite Jericho.
The apodosis of the long protasis (v. 15): the descending waters stand still — the doubled ἔστη … ἔστη πῆγμα ἕν ('it stood; it stood as one heap') is emphatic, and πῆγμα ('a congealed/solid mass') vividly recalls the Red Sea, where the waters 'congealed' (ἐπάγη, Exod 15:8). The lower waters drain away completely (ἐξέλιπεν) into the Dead Sea, and the people take their position opposite Jericho — the conquest's first objective now in view.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶthen / andnarrative conjunction (apodosis-marker)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστηstood stillAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (the waters stand; neuter pl. subject with sg. verb)→ ingressive aorist (the waters came to a halt)ἵστημι (aor. ἔστη): 'stand, stand still, halt'; the intransitive second aorist; the neuter plural subject τὰ ὕδατα takes a singular verb (standard Greek concord); the fulfilment of στήσεται (v. 13) and the central Exodus echo (Exod 15:8, ἔστη … τὰ ὕδατα).
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδαταwatersNominativesubject of ἔστη (neuter plural)ὕδωρ (nom. pl. ὕδατα): 'water(s)'; the descending flood-waters that stand still.
τὰthe (ones)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβαίνονταcoming downPres Act Ptcp Nom Neut Pl · καταβαίνωattributive participle (modifying ὕδατα: 'the waters that come down')→ imperfective participle (the descending flow)καταβαίνω: 'go/come down, descend'; τὰ καταβαίνοντα is the upper, downstream-flowing water (cf. τὸ καταβαῖνον, v. 13) — it is this that halts in a heap.
ἄνωθενfrom aboveadverb of place (source of the descending water)ἄνωθεν: 'from above, from upstream'; marks the upper waters (north of the crossing-point) that pile up while the lower waters drain south.
ἔστηstoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (emphatic repetition: 'it stood')→ ingressive aorist (the waters came to a standstill)ἵστημι (aor. ἔστη): the verb is repeated for vividness and emphasis — 'the waters stood … it stood as one heap'; the doubling dramatizes the abrupt, miraculous arrest of the flood.
πῆγμαa heap / solid massNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔστη: 'stood as a heap')πῆγμα: 'something fixed/congealed, a solid mass, a heap'; from πήγνυμι ('make fast, congeal'); a vivid term recalling the Red Sea, where the waters 'were congealed' (ἐπάγη τὰ ὕδατα, Exod 15:8); the Hebrew has נֵד ('a heap'); the water stands as a single firm wall.
ἓνoneNominativeattributive numeral (modifying πῆγμα: 'one heap')εἷς (nom. n. ἕν): 'one'; πῆγμα ἕν ('one heap') stresses the singularity and solidity of the standing mass of water — one unbroken wall.
ἀφεστηκὸςdrawn back / standing apartPerf Act Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · ἀφίστημιattributive/circumstantial participle (modifying πῆγμα)→ perfect participle (settled state of being drawn off)ἀφίστημι (perf. act. ptcp. ἀφεστηκός): 'stand off, withdraw, be removed'; the perfect participle denotes the resultant state — the heaped water stands withdrawn far upstream; from the same ἵστημι-root that dominates the chapter.
μακρὰνfaradverb of distanceμακράν: 'far, at a distance'; with the doubled σφόδρα σφοδρῶς it stresses how far upstream the waters backed up.
σφόδραveryadverb of degree (intensifying μακράν)σφόδρα: 'very, exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; the first member of an emphatic doubling.
σφοδρῶςexceedinglyadverb of degree (reinforcing σφόδρα)σφοδρῶς: 'exceedingly, vehemently'; the pleonastic pairing σφόδρα σφοδρῶς ('very, exceedingly') is an intensive doubling rendering the Hebraic emphatic — the waters retreated an extraordinary distance.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (limit of the retreat)ἕως: 'as far as, up to'; marks the upstream extent of the backed-up water.
μέρουςregion / partGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςμέρος: 'part, region, district'; ἕως μέρους Καριαθιαριμ ('as far as the region of Kariathiarim') marks the far point of the dammed waters (the MT reads 'Adam … beside Zarethan').
ΚαριαθιαριμKariathiarimindeclinable place-name (genitive of relationship with μέρους)Καριαθιαριμ: transliteration of Hebrew קִרְיַת יְעָרִים ('Kiriath-jearim'); indeclinable; the LXX names a different locale than the MT (אָדָם, 'Adam'), a notable text-historical divergence in the place-names of the dammed waters.
τὸthe (one)Nominativearticle (with substantival participle)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive: contrast of lower vs. upper water)δέ: 'but'; contrasts the lower water (draining away) with the upper water (standing in a heap).
καταβαῖνονthe water coming downPres Act Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · καταβαίνωsubstantival participle (subject of κατέβη: 'the downward-flowing [water]')→ imperfective participle (the seaward-draining flow)καταβαίνω: 'go down, descend'; here substantival, 'the (water) flowing down(stream)' — the portion below the crossing-point that drains away toward the Dead Sea, in contrast to the heaped upper waters.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (the lower water drains seaward)→ constative aorist (the completed draining)καταβαίνω (aor. κατέβη): 'go down, descend'; the cognate figura (τὸ καταβαῖνον κατέβη, 'the descending water descended') stresses the total drainage of the lower channel toward the sea.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of the draining)εἰς + accusative: 'into'; marks the destination of the draining water — the Dead Sea.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσανseaAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςθάλασσα: 'sea'; renders יָם; θάλασσαν Αραβα θάλασσαν ἁλός = 'the Sea of the Arabah, the Sea of Salt' — the Dead Sea, into which the Jordan empties.
ΑραβαArabahindeclinable place-name (in apposition/attribution to θάλασσαν)Αραβα: transliteration of Hebrew עֲרָבָה ('the Arabah,' the Jordan rift-valley); indeclinable; 'the Sea of the Arabah' is the Dead Sea (cf. Deut 3:17).
θάλασσανseaAccusativeaccusative in apposition (second naming: 'the Sea of Salt')θάλασσα: 'sea'; the second θάλασσαν begins the appositional renaming 'Sea of Salt.'
ἁλόςof saltGenitivegenitive of definition (the Sea of Salt)ἅλς (gen. ἁλός): 'salt'; θάλασσα ἁλός ('Sea of Salt') renders יָם הַמֶּלַח, the standard biblical name of the Dead Sea — a double designation pinning the geography precisely.
ἕωςuntilpreposition (with εἰς τὸ τέλος: 'until the very end')ἕως: 'until'; in the idiom ἕως εἰς τὸ τέλος ('until the very end, completely') it marks the totality of the draining.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (with τὸ τέλος: 'to the end')εἰς + accusative: in the phrase εἰς τὸ τέλος ('to the end, completely').
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέλοςendAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'to the very end')τέλος: 'end, completion'; ἕως εἰς τὸ τέλος ('until completely') stresses that the lower channel was wholly emptied — the riverbed lay entirely dry.
ἐξέλιπενit failedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκλείπωmain verb (the lower water gave out completely)→ constative aorist (the completed failing of the flow)ἐκλείπω (aor. ἐξέλιπεν): 'fail, give out, be cut off'; the fulfilment of ἐκλείψει (v. 13) — the downstream water drained away entirely, leaving the channel dry for the crossing.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of εἱστήκειλαός: 'people'; the whole nation, now positioned to cross.
εἱστήκειstood / was standingPlpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (the people's position opposite Jericho)→ stative pluperfect (with imperfect/durative sense: 'was standing')ἵστημι (plpf. εἱστήκει): the pluperfect of ἵστημι functions as a stative imperfect ('was standing, stood'); the people stood ready opposite Jericho — the same root that governs the standing priests and standing waters now describes the waiting nation.
ἀπέναντιopposite / over againstimproper preposition + genitive (position facing)ἀπέναντι: 'opposite, over against, in front of'; with the genitive renders נֶגֶד / מוּל; the people stand directly facing Jericho — the first city of the conquest now in view.
ΙεριχωJerichoindeclinable place-name (genitive object of ἀπέναντι)Ιεριχω: transliteration of Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ; indeclinable; the city whose fall (ch. 6) will be the first act of the conquest — its naming here orients the whole crossing toward the coming campaign.
17
καὶ ἔστησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ διέβαινον διὰ ξηρᾶς ἕως συνετέλεσεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς διαβαίνων τὸν Ιορδάνην
And the priests who bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the sons of Israel crossed over on dry ground, until the whole people had finished crossing the Jordan.
The chapter's resolution: the ark-bearing priests stand (ἔστησαν) firm on dry ground in the very midst of the Jordan while all Israel crosses 'on dry ground' (διὰ ξηρᾶς) — the explicit Red Sea echo (Exod 14:22). The closing ἕως συνετέλεσεν … διαβαίνων τὸν Ιορδάνην ('until the whole people had finished crossing') consummates the διαβῆναι withheld since v. 1, closing the inclusio: what the chapter announced at its outset is now complete.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστησανstoodAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (the priests stand firm)→ constative/ingressive aorist (the priests took their stand)ἵστημι (aor. ἔστησαν): 'stand, take a stand'; the intransitive aorist; the priests stand motionless in the midst of the riverbed — the fulfilment of στήσεσθε (v. 8); their standing holds the path open while the nation crosses; the ἵστημι-cluster (vv. 8, 13, 16, 17) reaches its narrative goal.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject of ἔστησανἱερεύς (nom. pl. ἱερεῖς): the ark-bearing priests, standing firm in the midst of the river.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἴροντεςbearingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · αἴρωattributive participle (modifying ἱερεῖς: 'who bear')→ imperfective participle (ongoing bearing)αἴρω: 'carry, bear'; the final occurrence of the standing epithet of the ark-bearers (cf. vv. 8, 13, 15).
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἴροντεςκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 3.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationshipδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 3.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possessionκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (place: 'on dry ground')ἐπί + genitive: 'on, upon'; ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς ('on dry ground') marks the miraculous dry footing in the riverbed.
ξηρᾶςdry groundGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (substantival adjective: 'dry [land]')ξηρός (fem. substantive ξηρά): 'dry, dry land'; ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς ('on dry ground') deliberately echoes the Red Sea crossing (Exod 14:22, διὰ ξηρᾶς) — the Jordan becomes a second Red Sea.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place: 'in the midst')ἐν + dative: 'in'; ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Ιορδάνου ('in the midst of the Jordan') locates the priests at the very heart of the riverbed — standing where the water had been.
μέσῳmidstDativedative (with ἐν: 'in the midst of')μέσος (dat. n. μέσῳ): 'middle, midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Ιορδάνου — the priests hold the central position in the dry channel.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive of relationship (the midst of the Jordan)Ιορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): the Jordan; see v. 1.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (shift to the crossing of the people)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying οἱ υἱοί)πᾶς (nom. pl. πάντες): 'all'; the totality of Israel crosses — not a remnant but the whole people, echoing the πᾶς ὁ λαός below.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of διέβαινονυἱός (nom. pl. υἱοί): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the sons of Israel — the whole nation crossing.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable genitive of relationship ('sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
διέβαινονwere crossingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (the people's ongoing crossing)→ imperfective imperfect (the continuous procession across)διαβαίνω (impf. διέβαινον): 'cross over'; the imperfect depicts the whole nation crossing in continuous procession over the dry riverbed — the leitmotif verb in its climactic use.
διὰthrough / overpreposition + genitive (the path of crossing: 'on dry ground')διά + genitive: 'through, across'; διὰ ξηρᾶς ('on/through dry ground') is the precise phrase of the Red Sea crossing (Exod 14:22, 29 LXX) — the deliberate verbal echo casts the Jordan-crossing as a new Exodus.
ξηρᾶςdry groundGenitivegenitive object of διά (substantival adjective)ξηρός (fem. substantive ξηρά): 'dry land'; the people cross on dry ground, as Israel did at the Red Sea — the same God, the same deliverance, the same dry path.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (introducing the terminus)ἕως: 'until'; with the aorist συνετέλεσεν it marks the completion-point of the crossing.
συνετέλεσενfinished / completedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of temporal clause (subject: πᾶς ὁ λαός)→ constative aorist (the completed crossing)συντελέω: 'complete, finish, accomplish'; renders כָּלָה / תָּמַם; 'until the whole people finished crossing' consummates the διαβῆναι withheld since v. 1 — the crossing is now wholly accomplished, closing the chapter's inclusio.
πᾶςall / wholeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ὁ λαός)πᾶς: 'all, whole'; πᾶς ὁ λαός ('the whole people') reiterates the totality — every Israelite crossed, none left behind.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of συνετέλεσενλαός: 'people'; the whole covenant nation, now fully across into the land of inheritance.
διαβαίνωνcrossingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · διαβαίνωcomplementary/supplementary participle (with συνετέλεσεν: 'finished crossing')→ imperfective participle (the action being completed)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; the supplementary participle with συντελέω ('finished crossing') is a Greek idiom for completing an action; the leitmotif verb closes the chapter exactly as it opened (πρὸ τοῦ διαβῆναι, v. 1) — the crossing is consummated.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διαβαίνωνΙορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): the Jordan; the object crossed — the river that marked the boundary of the promised inheritance, now passed through on dry ground.