Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Joshua, Chapter 4ΙΗΣΟΥΣ Δ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Twelve stones memorialize the crossing so Israel and the nations remember the Lord's mighty hand.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Joshua 4 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. Joshua 4 in the LXX (the so-called Old Greek, which is appreciably shorter than the Masoretic text and frequently smooths the Hebrew's doublets) is the memorial-stones chapter: after the people have crossed the Jordan on dry ground, YHWH commands that twelve men, one per tribe, take twelve stones ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ιορδάνου ('from the midst of the Jordan') where the priests' feet stood, to be carried to the camp and set up as a lasting σημεῖον ('sign', v. 6) and μνημόσυνον ('memorial', v. 7). The chapter's theological heart is catechetical: ὅταν ἐρωτᾷ σε ὁ υἱός σου αὔριον … τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι ('when your son asks you tomorrow … what are these stones?', vv. 6, 21) — the parent is to answer by recounting how the Jordan ἐξέλιπεν ('failed / was cut off') before the ark of the covenant (v. 7), binding this crossing to the catechesis of Passover (Exod 12:26; 13:14). Joshua himself sets up a second set of twelve stones in the riverbed itself (v. 9, ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, 'to this very day'). The priests stand in the midst until all is finished (v. 10); the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh cross armed at the head of the host (vv. 12–13); and YHWH exalts Joshua in the sight of all Israel ὥσπερ Μωυσῆν ('as Moses', v. 14). When the priests come up, the waters ὥρμησεν … κατὰ χώραν ('rushed back into their place', v. 18). The people camp at Gilgal on the tenth of the first month (v. 19) — the same date as the selection of the Passover lamb (Exod 12:3) — and the chapter closes with the universal purpose of the wonder: ὅπως γνῶσιν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς ὅτι ἡ δύναμις τοῦ κυρίου ἰσχυρά ἐστιν ('that all the nations of the earth may know that the power of the LORD is mighty'), and that Israel may revere (σέβησθε) the LORD their God always (v. 24). The Old Greek renders the LORD's covenant chest with κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης and at v. 16 expands to τῆς διαθήκης τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('of the covenant of the testimony'); διαβαίνω ('cross over') is the chapter's leitmotif verb, recurring at vv. 1, 3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23.

1

καὶ ἐπεὶ συνετέλεσεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς διαβαίνων τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ εἶπεν κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ λέγων

And when all the people had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD also said to Joshua, saying:

Temporal protasis opening a new narrative scene (consequent to the crossing of ch. 3)καὶ ἐπεὶ συνετέλεσεν
The chapter opens with a temporal clause (ἐπεὶ + aorist) marking the completion of the great event of ch. 3 — the whole people's crossing — and the consequent new divine speech-act. The Hebraizing paratactic καὶ before εἶπεν resumes the main line after the subordinate clause; the participle διαβαίνων ('crossing') frames the crossing as the action just completed.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (chapter-opening connective)καί: the LXX's pervasive paratactic connective, rendering Hebrew waw; here it links the new scene to the crossing narrative of ch. 3, treating the chapter division as continuous narrative.
ἐπεὶwhentemporal conjunction (introducing protasis)ἐπεί: 'when / since / after'; temporal-causal conjunction; here purely temporal, marking the moment when the crossing was complete as the trigger for the divine word.
συνετέλεσενfinishedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist (completed action viewed as a whole)συντελέω: 'complete / finish / accomplish'; renders Hebrew תָּמַם / כָּלָה; the verb recurs as a leitmotif of completion in this chapter (vv. 1, 10, 11), marking the orderly accomplishment of each divinely ordained stage of the crossing.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying λαός)πᾶς: 'all / whole / every'; the totalizing πᾶς ὁ λαός ('all the people') stresses that the entire nation, without exception, completed the crossing — a point repeated at v. 11.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of συνετέλεσενλαός: 'people'; the standard LXX term for Israel as covenant community, rendering עַם; here the whole assembled nation crossing the Jordan into the land of promise.
διαβαίνωνcrossingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · διαβαίνωsupplementary participle (complementing συνετέλεσεν)→ imperfective participle (the crossing as ongoing action being completed)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; the chapter's leitmotif verb (vv. 1, 3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23); here as a supplementary participle with συντελέω ('finished crossing'); διαβαίνω renders Hebrew עָבַר, the key verb of the Jordan-crossing narrative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διαβαίνωνΙορδάνης: transliteration of Hebrew יַרְדֵּן; declined as a first-declension masculine noun in the LXX (gen. Ιορδάνου, dat. Ιορδάνῃ, acc. Ιορδάνην); the river is the geographical and theological boundary into the promised land, and the focal site of the chapter's wonder.
καὶalso / thenapodotic καί (resuming the main clause after the temporal protasis)καί: here apodotic, a Hebraism (rendering the waw of the apodosis) that resumes the main narrative line after the ἐπεί-clause; idiomatic English leaves it untranslated or renders it 'then / also.'
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces direct YHWH-speech; the formula εἶπεν κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ is the standard LXX introduction to divine commands to Joshua, recurring at v. 15 and throughout the book.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject of the speech-formula marks this as unmediated divine speech directed to Joshua as Moses' successor.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ἰησοῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῖJoshuaDativedative indirect object (recipient of the speech)Ἰησοῦς: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ('YHWH saves'); declined in the LXX as a contract noun (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ, but here the alternative dative Ἰησοῖ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the same Greek name borne by Jesus, giving Joshua typological weight as the one who leads the people into the inheritance.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωredundant participle of speech (Hebraism introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): the pleonastic λέγων renders the Hebrew לֵאמֹר, a fixed formula introducing direct discourse; idiomatically untranslated in English but standard in the LXX as a quotation marker.
2

παραλαβὼν ἄνδρας ἀπὸ τοῦ λαοῦ ἕνα ἀφ᾿ ἑκάστης φυλῆς

'Take men from the people, one from each tribe,

Opening of divine command (circumstantial participle anticipating the imperative of v. 3)παραλαβὼν ἄνδρας
The divine command begins with a circumstantial aorist participle (παραλαβών, 'having taken') that functions as an attendant-circumstance to the main imperative σύνταξον in v. 3 — a common LXX construction rendering a Hebrew sequence of imperatives. The distributive ἕνα ἀφ᾿ ἑκάστης φυλῆς ('one from each tribe') establishes the tribal symbolism that controls the whole memorial-stones motif.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
παραλαβὼνhaving takenAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · παραλαμβάνωcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance to σύνταξον, v. 3)→ antecedent aorist participle (action prior to / coincident with the main imperative)παραλαμβάνω: 'take to oneself / take along / receive'; the compound παρα- denotes taking alongside; the participle here carries imperatival force by attraction to the following imperative, a frequent LXX rendering of a chain of Hebrew imperatives (cf. v. 3 σύνταξον).
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of παραλαβώνἀνήρ: 'man / male / husband'; renders Hebrew אִישׁ; here the twelve representative men, each standing for his tribe, who will become the agents of the memorial act.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from the people')ἀπό: 'from'; here partitive-source, designating the men as drawn out from the whole people.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of source (object of ἀπό)λαός: 'people'; see v. 1; the men are representatives drawn from the covenant community as a whole.
ἕναoneAccusativeappositional numeral (distributive: 'one [man] from each tribe')εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the masculine accusative ἕνα is distributive in apposition to ἄνδρας; the construction ἕνα ἀφ᾿ ἑκάστης φυλῆς ('one from each tribe') is repeated verbatim at v. 4, framing the twelve as a complete tribal representation of Israel.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (elided ἀπό before rough breathing: distributive 'from each')ἀπό (elided ἀφ᾿): 'from'; here distributive with ἑκάστης, 'from each (tribe).'
ἑκάστηςeachGenitiveattributive adjective (distributive, modifying φυλῆς)ἕκαστος: 'each / every'; the distributive adjective ensures every one of the twelve tribes is represented — the number twelve is the chapter's structuring symbol (twelve men, twelve stones).
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive (object of ἀφ᾿, distributive)φυλή: 'tribe / clan'; renders Hebrew שֵׁבֶט / מַטֶּה; the twelve tribes are the constitutive units of Israel, so that the twelve stones embody the whole nation in the memorial.
3

σύνταξον αὐτοῖς λέγων ἀνέλεσθε ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἑτοίμους δώδεκα λίθους καὶ τούτους διακομίσαντες ἅμα ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς θέτε αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ στρατοπεδείᾳ ὑμῶν οὗ ἐὰν παρεμβάλητε ἐκεῖ τὴν νύκτα

command them, saying, "Take up from the midst of the Jordan twelve ready stones, and carrying these across together with you yourselves, set them in your encampment, wherever you bivouac there for the night."'

Main imperative of the divine command (with embedded direct speech to the twelve)σύνταξον αὐτοῖς
σύνταξον is the main imperative that the participle παραλαβών (v. 2) anticipated. The verse nests a second-level command: Joshua is to command (σύνταξον) the men, and the content of that command is itself a string of imperatives (ἀνέλεσθε … θέτε) addressed to the twelve. The locative ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ιορδάνου ('from the midst of the Jordan') fixes the stones' origin precisely at the miraculous standing-place of the priests.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
σύνταξονcommand / instructAor Act Impv 2 Sg · συντάσσωmain verb (divine imperative to Joshua)→ ingressive aorist imperative (issue the command)συντάσσω: 'arrange / order / command'; renders Hebrew צִוָּה; a verb of authoritative ordering, recurring in this chapter (v. 8 συνέταξεν); here Joshua is commanded to relay YHWH's order to the twelve men.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative indirect object (the twelve men)αὐτός: 'he / it / they'; here the dative plural referring to the twelve men of v. 2, recipients of Joshua's command.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωredundant participle of speech (introducing the content of the command)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): pleonastic λέγων = Hebrew לֵאמֹר, introducing the direct quotation that follows; here marks the embedded command to the twelve.
ἀνέλεσθεtake upAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · ἀναιρέωmain verb of embedded command (imperative to the twelve)→ ingressive aorist imperative (lift up, take up)ἀναιρέω (mid. ἀναιρέομαι): 'take up / lift up / pick up'; the middle voice ('take up for yourselves') suits the personal involvement of each man; the related middle ἀνελόμενος recurs at v. 5; here the action is lifting the stones out of the riverbed.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of / from'; with μέσου designates the precise origin of the stones.
μέσουmidstGenitivegenitive (substantival: 'the midst', object of ἐκ)μέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ιορδάνου ('from the midst of the Jordan') renders Hebrew מִתּוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן; the phrase is theologically loaded — the stones come from the very heart of the river where the waters had stood as a heap before the ark.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (with μέσου: 'the midst of the Jordan')Ιορδάνης: see v. 1; the genitive Ιορδάνου specifies the river whose midst is the source of the memorial stones.
ἑτοίμουςreadyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λίθους)ἕτοιμος: 'ready / prepared'; the adjective implies the stones are at hand and suitable — perhaps already exposed and fit for carrying; a distinctive LXX touch underscoring the providential availability of the stones in the dry riverbed.
δώδεκαtwelveAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying λίθους)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable cardinal numeral, classed here as 'n' (numeral); the controlling number of the chapter — twelve men, twelve stones, twelve tribes (cf. vv. 4, 5, 8, 9, 20).
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of ἀνέλεσθελίθος: 'stone'; renders Hebrew אֶבֶן; the twelve stones are the central objects of the chapter, becoming both σημεῖον ('sign', v. 6) and μνημόσυνον ('memorial', v. 7).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τούτουςtheseAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of διακομίσαντες, anticipating αὐτούς)οὗτος: 'this / these'; the demonstrative τούτους refers to the twelve stones just mentioned; placed forward for emphasis ('and these, carrying across …').
διακομίσαντεςcarrying acrossAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · διακομίζωcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance to θέτε)→ antecedent aorist participle (action prior to the main imperative)διακομίζω: 'carry across / transport / convey'; the compound δια- suits the carrying of the stones across (out of the river) to the camp; the cognate διεκόμισαν recurs at v. 8 describing the obedient execution.
ἅμαtogether withadverb / improper preposition + dative (accompaniment)ἅμα: 'at the same time / together with'; here with the dative ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς it emphasizes that the men personally carry the stones with them; cf. v. 8 ἅμα ἑαυτοῖς.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative of accompaniment (with ἅμα)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the dative ὑμῖν with ἅμα and the intensive αὐτοῖς stresses the men's own bodily participation in transporting the stones.
αὐτοῖςyourselvesDativeintensive pronoun (reinforcing ὑμῖν: 'with you yourselves')αὐτός: here intensive in the dative, reinforcing ὑμῖν ('with you yourselves'); the redundancy emphasizes personal agency, a Hebraizing intensification.
θέτεset / placeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · τίθημιmain verb of embedded command (second imperative to the twelve)→ ingressive aorist imperative (set them down)τίθημι: 'put / place / set'; renders Hebrew שׂוּם / נוּחַ; the act of depositing the stones in the camp; the cognate ἀπέθηκαν ('they laid down') reports its fulfillment at v. 8.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of θέτε (the stones)αὐτός: the accusative plural resumes τούτους / λίθους as the object of θέτε.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: 'in / at'; locative, designating the camp as the place where the stones are set.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στρατοπεδείᾳencampmentDativedative of place (object of ἐν)στρατοπεδεία: 'military encampment / bivouac'; a martial term presenting Israel as an army on campaign; near-synonym of παρεμβολή (used at v. 8), reflecting the LXX's depiction of the conquest host as a marching camp.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying στρατοπεδείᾳ)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the possessive genitive 'your (encampment)'; the second-person address keeps the twelve men as the agents responsible for the stones.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place (introducing locative clause)οὗ: 'where'; relative adverb of place (genitive of ὅς used adverbially); introduces the indefinite locative clause specifying the night's lodging.
ἐὰνeverconditional particle (with subjunctive, making the relative clause indefinite)ἐάν: 'if / -ever'; here generalizes the place-clause (οὗ ἐάν = 'wherever'); takes the subjunctive παρεμβάλητε.
παρεμβάλητεyou bivouacAor Act Subj 2 Pl · παρεμβάλλωverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite future condition)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / pitch camp / draw up in array'; a military term (cognate of παρεμβολή, 'camp'); renders Hebrew חָנָה; the subjunctive with οὗ ἐάν leaves the lodging-place open: wherever they should camp for the night.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, pleonastic with οὗ)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive adverb after οὗ ('where … there') is a Hebraism rendering the resumptive שָׁם after אֲשֶׁר, pleonastic in Greek but idiomatic in the LXX.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of duration of time ('for the night')νύξ: 'night'; the accusative τὴν νύκτα expresses extent of time ('for the night'), marking the lodging as a single night's bivouac before the encampment at Gilgal.
4

καὶ ἀνακαλεσάμενος Ἰησοῦς δώδεκα ἄνδρας τῶν ἐνδόξων ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἕνα ἀφ᾿ ἑκάστης φυλῆς

And Joshua, having summoned twelve men of the honored ones from the sons of Israel, one from each tribe,

Narrative execution: Joshua obeys (circumstantial participle anticipating εἶπεν, v. 5)καὶ ἀνακαλεσάμενος Ἰησοῦς
The narrative shifts from divine command to obedient execution. The circumstantial participle ἀνακαλεσάμενος ('having summoned') sets up the main verb εἶπεν in v. 5. The qualification τῶν ἐνδόξων ('of the notable ones') is a distinctively Greek elevation: the twelve are not random but men of standing. The phrase ἕνα ἀφ᾿ ἑκάστης φυλῆς repeats v. 2 verbatim, marking exact compliance.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνακαλεσάμενοςhaving summonedAor Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἀνακαλέωcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance to εἶπεν, v. 5)→ antecedent aorist participle (action prior to the main verb)ἀνακαλέω (mid. ἀνακαλέομαι): 'call to oneself / summon / call up'; the middle voice ('summoned to himself') suits Joshua's authoritative gathering of the chosen men; the participle anticipates the main verb εἶπεν of v. 5.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject (of the participle and the coming main verb)Ἰησοῦς: see v. 1; the nominative subject; Joshua acts as the obedient executor of YHWH's command, mediating between God and the twelve.
δώδεκαtwelveAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἄνδρας)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; see v. 3; the recurring controlling number, here numbering the summoned men.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἀνακαλεσάμενοςἀνήρ: 'man'; see v. 2; the twelve summoned tribal representatives.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (partitive, with ἐνδόξων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνδόξωνhonored / notable onesGenitivepartitive genitive substantive ('men [from] among the notable ones')ἔνδοξος: 'honored / glorious / of repute'; substantivized partitive genitive; a distinctively Greek expansion (the Hebrew simply has the twelve men) presenting the chosen twelve as men of rank and reputation, fit to bear the tribes' memorial.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπό: 'from'; partitive-source, designating the men as drawn from the sons of Israel.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of source (object of ἀπό)υἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') is the standard LXX designation of the nation, rendering בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; recurs throughout the chapter (vv. 4, 8, 12).
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun, 'of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here in genitive relation to υἱῶν ('sons of Israel'), the covenant people descended from the patriarch.
ἕναoneAccusativeappositional numeral (distributive: 'one from each tribe')εἷς: 'one'; see v. 2; the distributive ἕνα ἀφ᾿ ἑκάστης φυλῆς repeats v. 2 verbatim, signaling Joshua's exact compliance with the divine command.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (elided ἀπό: distributive 'from each')ἀπό (elided ἀφ᾿): distributive with ἑκάστης; see v. 2.
ἑκάστηςeachGenitiveattributive adjective (distributive, modifying φυλῆς)ἕκαστος: 'each'; see v. 2; ensures full tribal representation.
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive (object of ἀφ᾿, distributive)φυλή: 'tribe'; see v. 2; the twelve tribes whose representatives carry the stones.
5

εἶπεν αὐτοῖς προσαγάγετε ἔμπροσθέν μου πρὸ προσώπου κυρίου εἰς μέσον τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ ἀνελόμενος ἐκεῖθεν ἕκαστος λίθον ἀράτω ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν δώδεκα φυλῶν τοῦ Ισραηλ

said to them, 'Come forward before me, before the face of the LORD, into the midst of the Jordan, and let each man, having taken up a stone from there, lift it onto his shoulders according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel,

Main verb of v. 4's sentence: Joshua's instruction to the twelveεἶπεν αὐτοῖς
εἶπεν supplies the main verb the participle ἀνακαλεσάμενος (v. 4) anticipated. Joshua's instruction echoes the divine command of v. 3 but adds the liturgical qualification πρὸ προσώπου κυρίου ('before the face of the LORD'), framing the stone-taking as an act of worship before the ark. The distributive ἕκαστος … ἀράτω and the explicit κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν δώδεκα φυλῶν make plain the one-stone-per-tribe symbolism.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (resuming Joshua's subject from v. 4)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν is the main verb whose subject is Ἰησοῦς of v. 4; Joshua now relays YHWH's command to the assembled twelve.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative indirect object (the twelve men)αὐτός: dative plural, the twelve summoned men of v. 4.
προσαγάγετεcome forward / draw nearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · προσάγωmain verb of direct command (imperative to the twelve)→ ingressive aorist imperative (advance, draw near)προσάγω: 'bring to / lead forward'; here intransitive-reflexive in sense ('come forward / approach'), a usage common in the LXX; the verb has cultic overtones (drawing near before the LORD), reinforced by the following πρὸ προσώπου κυρίου.
ἔμπροσθένbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (place: 'before me')ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of / before'; improper preposition governing the genitive; here spatial, locating the men's approach in Joshua's presence.
μουmeGenitivegenitive (object of ἔμπροσθεν: 'before me')ἐγώ: the genitive μου ('me') refers to Joshua, before whom and before the ark the men are to advance.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (with προσώπου, idiomatic)πρό: 'before / in front of'; here in the fixed Hebraism πρὸ προσώπου ('before the face of'), rendering לִפְנֵי.
προσώπουfaceGenitivegenitive (object of πρό; Hebraism with κυρίου)πρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; the phrase πρὸ προσώπου κυρίου ('before the face of the LORD') renders Hebrew לִפְנֵי יהוה, a cultic idiom locating the act in the LORD's presence — i.e., before the ark standing in the river; it gives the stone-taking a liturgical character.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with προσώπου)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive κυρίου specifies whose presence — the LORD's, manifest in the ark of the covenant present in the riverbed.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: 'into'; directional, marking the goal of the approach — the midst of the Jordan.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative (substantival, object of εἰς: 'into the midst')μέσος: 'middle / midst'; εἰς μέσον τοῦ Ιορδάνου ('into the midst of the Jordan') parallels ἐκ μέσου of v. 3, marking both the destination of the approach and the source of the stones.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (with μέσον: 'the midst of the Jordan')Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνελόμενοςhaving taken upAor Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἀναιρέωcircumstantial participle (antecedent to ἀράτω; agreeing with ἕκαστος)→ antecedent aorist participle (action prior to the main imperative)ἀναιρέω (mid.): 'take up for oneself'; see v. 3 (ἀνέλεσθε); the singular middle participle agrees with the distributive ἕκαστος — each man individually takes up his stone.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source: 'from there')ἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; refers back to the midst of the Jordan as the place from which each stone is lifted.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativesubject (distributive: 'each man')ἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; the distributive subject of ἀράτω, individualizing the corporate act — each of the twelve carries one stone, so that the tribes are personally represented.
λίθονstoneAccusativedirect object (of ἀνελόμενος and ἀράτω)λίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3; here the single stone borne by each man.
ἀράτωlet him liftAor Act Impv 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb of command (third-person distributive imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (take up and carry)αἴρω: 'lift / take up / carry'; renders Hebrew נָשָׂא; the third-person imperative ἀράτω applies distributively to each man (ἕκαστος); the same verb describes the priests 'bearing' (αἴροντες) the ark at vv. 9, 10, 16, 18, knitting the stone-bearers to the ark-bearers.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (position: 'upon the shoulders')ἐπί: 'upon / on'; with the genitive denotes the resting-place of the stone — the shoulders.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὤμωνshouldersGenitivegenitive (object of ἐπί: 'upon the shoulders')ὦμος: 'shoulder'; renders Hebrew שֶׁכֶם / כָּתֵף; carrying the stone 'on the shoulders' depicts a deliberate, burdensome bearing fit for a memorial of weight and permanence.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὤμων)αὐτός: possessive genitive 'his (shoulders)', keeping the act individual to each man.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm / standard)κατά: 'according to / corresponding to'; with the accusative expresses the standard governing the number of stones — the number of the tribes.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀριθμὸνnumberAccusativeaccusative (object of κατά: 'according to the number')ἀριθμός: 'number / count'; renders Hebrew מִסְפָּר; the phrase κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν δώδεκα φυλῶν makes explicit the numerical correspondence: twelve stones for twelve tribes, the symbolic core of the memorial.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δώδεκαtwelveGenitiveattributive numeral (modifying φυλῶν)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable numeral; here numbering the tribes whose count fixes the number of stones.
φυλῶνtribesGenitivegenitive (with ἀριθμόν: 'number of the tribes')φυλή: 'tribe'; see v. 2; the twelve tribes of Israel.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with the indeclinable Ισραηλ)ὁ: the article is occasionally prefixed to the indeclinable Ισραηλ in the LXX to mark its case (here genitive: 'of Israel').
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')Ισραηλ: see v. 4; here the tribes 'of Israel', the whole covenant nation represented by the twelve stones.
6

ἵνα ὑπάρχωσιν ὑμῖν οὗτοι εἰς σημεῖον κείμενον διὰ παντός ἵνα ὅταν ἐρωτᾷ σε ὁ υἱός σου αὔριον λέγων τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι ὑμῖν

that these may be for you a sign set in place perpetually, so that when your son asks you tomorrow, saying, "What are these stones to you?"—

Purpose clause stating the memorial's catechetical functionἵνα ὑπάρχωσιν
Two nested ἵνα-clauses unfold the purpose of the stones: first that they 'be a sign set up perpetually' (εἰς σημεῖον κείμενον διὰ παντός), and second that this sign provoke the child's question. The verse poses the question (τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι;) that v. 7 will answer; this is the pedagogy of remembrance, paralleling the Passover catechesis of Exod 12:26 and 13:14.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἵναthat / in order thatpurpose conjunction (introducing first final clause)ἵνα: 'in order that / so that'; introduces a purpose clause with the subjunctive; here the first of two nested ἵνα-clauses stating why the stones are taken.
ὑπάρχωσινmay be / existPres Act Subj 3 Pl · ὑπάρχωverb of purpose clause (subjunctive with ἵνα)→ imperfective subjunctive (durative existence as a standing sign)ὑπάρχω: 'be / exist / be at hand'; a fuller equivalent of εἰμί stressing continued existence; the present subjunctive suits the enduring, perpetual character of the sign (διὰ παντός).
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage / possession ('for you')σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): dative of advantage; the stones are a sign 'for you' — for Israel and its generations.
οὗτοιtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative: 'these [stones]')οὗτος: 'this / these'; the masculine plural οὗτοι refers to the stones (λίθοι, masculine), the subject of ὑπάρχωσιν.
εἰςfor / aspreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as a sign'; Hebraism)εἰς: 'into / for / as'; the predicative εἰς (εἰς σημεῖον, 'to be a sign') is a Hebraism rendering לְ of product/result; the stones 'become a sign.'
σημεῖονsignAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'as a sign')σημεῖον: 'sign / token'; renders Hebrew אוֹת; the stones function as a perpetual visible token pointing beyond themselves to the saving act at the Jordan; closely paired with μνημόσυνον ('memorial') at v. 7.
κείμενονset in place / laid upPres Mid Ptcp Acc Neut Sg · κεῖμαιattributive participle (modifying σημεῖον)→ stative participle (a sign in a settled, fixed condition)κεῖμαι: 'lie / be set / be appointed'; the participle κείμενον ('set in place / established') with διὰ παντός depicts the sign as permanently fixed; κεῖμαι often serves as the passive of τίθημι, so the stones 'set' (θέτε, v. 3) are now 'lying set' as a standing monument.
διὰthrough(out)preposition + genitive (extent of time, idiomatic with παντός)διά: 'through'; in the fixed phrase διὰ παντός ('continually / perpetually'), with χρόνου understood, expresses unbroken duration.
παντόςall (time)Genitivegenitive (with διά, idiomatic: 'perpetually')πᾶς: 'all'; in διὰ παντός the genitive (χρόνου implied) yields 'for all time / perpetually'; matches the 'forever' (ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος) of v. 7 — the memorial is meant to outlast the founding generation.
ἵναso thatpurpose conjunction (introducing second, nested final clause)ἵνα: here the second ἵνα subordinates the catechetical scenario (the child's question) to the sign's perpetual existence — the sign exists so that it may prompt teaching.
ὅτανwhen(ever)temporal conjunction (with subjunctive, indefinite future)ὅταν: 'when(ever)'; with the subjunctive ἐρωτᾷ projects an indefinite future occasion — the moment, sure to come, when a child will ask about the stones.
ἐρωτᾷasksPres Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐρωτάωverb of indefinite temporal clause (subjunctive with ὅταν)→ imperfective subjunctive (the asking envisaged as it may recur)ἐρωτάω: 'ask / question / inquire'; renders Hebrew שָׁאַל; the child's question is the hinge of the catechesis; the same scenario, with the plural ἐρωτῶσιν, recurs at v. 21, framing the chapter.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐρωτᾷ (the parent)σύ: the accusative σε ('you') is the parent addressed by the child — the addressee shifts to the individual Israelite who must transmit the memory.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with υἱός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόςsonNominativesubject of ἐρωτᾷυἱός: 'son / child'; the questioning son is the next generation, the recipient of the saving tradition; the singular here, plural οἱ υἱοί at v. 21; cf. the inquiring son of the Passover catechesis (Exod 12:26; 13:14; Deut 6:20).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱός: 'your son')σύ: possessive genitive 'your (son)', binding the catechesis to the family line.
αὔριονtomorrow / in time to comeadverb of timeαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; here renders Hebrew מָחָר in the idiomatic sense 'in time to come / in the future' (cf. Exod 13:14; Josh 4:21) — the coming generations who did not witness the crossing.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωredundant participle of speech (introducing the child's question)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): pleonastic λέγων = Hebrew לֵאמֹר, here introducing the direct question of the child.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of εἰσιν)τίς, τί: interrogative 'who / what'; the neuter τί heads the child's question τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι; ('what are these stones?'), the catechetical prompt repeated at v. 21.
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (in the child's question)→ stative present (existence/identity question)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula in the direct question; 'what are these stones [to you]?' — an inquiry into the meaning, not the mere identity, of the monument.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with λίθοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθοιstonesNominativesubject of εἰσινλίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3; the stones whose meaning the child asks about.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (attributive with λίθοι: 'these stones')οὗτος: 'these'; deictic, pointing to the visible monument that prompts the question.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative of relation ('what are these stones to you?')σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the dative ὑμῖν ('to/for you') asks not merely what the stones are but what they signify for the people — what story they hold; the plural broadens from the single parent (σε) to the whole community.
7

καὶ σὺ δηλώσεις τῷ υἱῷ σου λέγων ὅτι ἐξέλιπεν ὁ Ιορδάνης ποταμὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου κιβωτοῦ διαθήκης κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς ὡς διέβαινεν αὐτόν καὶ ἔσονται οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι ὑμῖν μνημόσυνον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος

then you shall make clear to your son, saying, "Because the Jordan river failed before the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth, when it crossed it"; and these stones shall be for you a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.'

Apodosis: the parent's prescribed answer (completing the catechetical exchange of v. 6)καὶ σὺ δηλώσεις
The apodosis to the child's question (v. 6): the emphatic σύ ('you yourself') charges the parent to explain (δηλώσεις) the saving event. The content (ὅτι-clause) recalls the cutting-off of the Jordan before the ark of κύριος πάσης τῆς γῆς ('the LORD of all the earth', a title from 3:11, 13). The verse climaxes with μνημόσυνον ('memorial') and ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ('forever'), sealing the stones as an everlasting reminder.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶthen / andapodotic καί (introducing the consequent of the ὅταν-clause)καί: here apodotic (Hebraism), introducing the parent's response that answers the child's question of v. 6.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun)σύ: the explicit nominative pronoun is emphatic ('you yourself'), laying the duty of transmission squarely on the parent — the catechesis is a personal obligation, not a public ceremony.
δηλώσειςyou shall make clear / explainFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δηλόωmain verb (imperatival future: prescribed answer)→ imperatival future (a command expressed as future fact)δηλόω: 'make clear / show / declare'; renders Hebrew נָגַד (Hiphil, 'tell / declare'); the future has imperatival force (a Hebraism: 'you shall tell') — the parent is bound to explain the meaning of the stones to the child.
τῷthe / to yourDativearticle (with υἱῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῷsonDativedative indirect object (recipient of the explanation)υἱός: 'son'; see v. 6; the recipient of the parental teaching.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱῷ: 'your son')σύ: possessive genitive.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωredundant participle of speech (introducing the parent's answer)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): pleonastic λέγων = Hebrew לֵאמֹר; introduces the content of the prescribed explanation.
ὅτιbecause / thatconjunction (introducing the content/cause of the explanation)ὅτι: 'that / because'; here introduces the substance of the parent's answer — both reciting the fact and giving its cause: the Jordan failed before the ark.
ἐξέλιπενfailed / gave outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκλείπωmain verb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (the completed cutting-off of the river)ἐκλείπω: 'fail / give out / cease / be cut off'; renders Hebrew כָּרַת (Niphal, 'be cut off') of the waters; the vivid 'the Jordan river failed' presents the miracle as the river's waters ceasing/being cut off before the advancing ark.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with Ιορδάνης)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηςJordanNominativesubject of ἐξέλιπενΙορδάνης: see v. 1; here in the nominative as subject, in apposition with ποταμός ('the Jordan river').
ποταμὸςriverNominativenoun in apposition to Ιορδάνηςποταμός: 'river / stream'; renders Hebrew נָהָר; the apposition ὁ Ιορδάνης ποταμός ('the Jordan river') emphasizes the watercourse whose flow was halted.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (with προσώπου, Hebraism: 'from before')ἀπό: 'from'; in the phrase ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before the face of'), a Hebraism rendering מִפְּנֵי, expressing the river's recoil before the ark's presence.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (object of ἀπό; Hebraism with κιβωτοῦ)πρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἀπὸ προσώπου κιβωτοῦ ('before the face of the ark') renders מִפְּנֵי אֲרוֹן; the waters fail before the very presence of the covenant ark, the sign of YHWH's enthroned presence.
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive (with προσώπου: 'the face of the ark')κιβωτός: 'ark / chest / box'; renders Hebrew אֲרוֹן; the ark of the covenant is the focal sacred object of chs. 3–4, before which the waters part; the same word renders Noah's ark in Genesis, but here it is the covenant chest.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κιβωτοῦ: 'ark of the covenant')διαθήκη: 'covenant / testament'; renders Hebrew בְּרִית; the κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης ('ark of the covenant') is the central title in this chapter (vv. 7, 9, 18), expanded at v. 16 to 'ark of the covenant of the testimony.'
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with διαθήκης / πάσης τῆς γῆς)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the covenant is the LORD's, and the following πάσης τῆς γῆς qualifies κυρίου — 'the LORD of all the earth' (cf. 3:11, 13).
πάσηςof allGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying γῆς)πᾶς: 'all'; in the title κυρίου πάσης τῆς γῆς ('the LORD of all the earth'), the universal lordship that makes the local wonder a sign for all nations (cf. v. 24).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive (with κυρίου: 'LORD of all the earth')γῆ: 'earth / land'; renders Hebrew אֶרֶץ; the title 'LORD of all the earth' asserts YHWH's sovereignty over the whole world, grounding the universal acknowledgment anticipated in v. 24.
ὡςas / whentemporal conjunction (introducing subordinate clause)ὡς: 'as / when / while'; here temporal, marking the simultaneity of the river's failing and the ark's crossing.
διέβαινενit was crossingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωverb of temporal clause→ imperfect (the crossing as ongoing action during which the waters failed)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; the imperfect διέβαινεν depicts the ark's crossing as in progress while the waters stood cut off; subject is the ark (or the LORD's presence in it).
αὐτόνitAccusativedirect object of διέβαινεν (the Jordan)αὐτός: the accusative αὐτόν ('it') refers to the Jordan (Ιορδάνης, masc.) as the object crossed — 'when [the ark] crossed it.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the closing memorial-statement)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predictive future of the memorial's standing function)→ predictive future (the stones' abiding role)εἰμί (fut. ἔσομαι): 'be'; the future ἔσονται with predicate μνημόσυνον declares the abiding function of the stones — they 'shall be a memorial'; a Hebraism (הָיָה לְ) rendered εἰς + accusative is here replaced by a plain predicate noun.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with λίθοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθοιstonesNominativesubject of ἔσονταιλίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3; the twelve stones now declared a perpetual memorial.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (attributive with λίθοι)οὗτος: 'these'; deictic of the memorial stones.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage ('for you')σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): dative of advantage; the memorial belongs to and benefits the whole people.
μνημόσυνονmemorialNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσονται: 'shall be a memorial')μνημόσυνον: 'memorial / remembrance'; renders Hebrew זִכָּרוֹן; the key theological term of the chapter (cf. v. 7 here and the catechesis of vv. 21–24) — the stones perpetuate the memory of the saving crossing; cf. the Passover μνημόσυνον (Exod 12:14; 13:9).
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage / reference ('a memorial to the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; the phrase τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ('to the sons of Israel') specifies the memorial's beneficiaries — the whole nation and its future generations.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοῖς)Ισραηλ: see v. 4.
ἕωςuntil / forpreposition + genitive (extent of time, with τοῦ αἰῶνος)ἕως: 'until / as far as'; with τοῦ αἰῶνος forms the idiom 'forever / for all time.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with αἰῶνος)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶνοςage / foreverGenitivegenitive (with ἕως: 'forever')αἰών: 'age / eternity'; the idiom ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ('forever') renders Hebrew עַד עוֹלָם; it matches διὰ παντός of v. 6, framing the stones as a perpetual, trans-generational sign.
8

καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καθότι ἐνετείλατο κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ καὶ λαβόντες δώδεκα λίθους ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ιορδάνου καθάπερ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ ἐν τῇ συντελείᾳ τῆς διαβάσεως τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ διεκόμισαν ἅμα ἑαυτοῖς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν καὶ ἀπέθηκαν ἐκεῖ

And the sons of Israel did so, just as the LORD commanded Joshua; and taking up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, just as the LORD had ordered Joshua, at the completion of the crossing of the sons of Israel, they carried them across with themselves into the camp and laid them down there.

Narrative report of obedient execution (matching command to fulfillment)καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως
The fulfillment notice ἐποίησαν οὕτως … καθότι ἐνετείλατο ('they did so, just as he commanded') is the LXX's standard obedience-formula, matching command to deed. The verse deliberately echoes the vocabulary of vv. 3–5 (δώδεκα λίθους, ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ιορδάνου, διεκόμισαν, παρεμβολήν) to show exact compliance. The double comparison (καθότι … καθάπερ) and double mention of κύριος / Ἰησοῦς underscore the chain of obedience: LORD → Joshua → people.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανdidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (report of execution)→ constative aorist (completed obedient act)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders Hebrew עָשָׂה; the formula ἐποίησαν οὕτως … καθότι ἐνετείλατο is the standard LXX obedience-notice, confirming exact compliance with the divine command.
οὕτωςthus / soadverb of mannerοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; refers back to the command of vv. 3–5; 'they did so' — exactly as instructed.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐποίησανυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people as a whole, act through their twelve representatives.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοί)Ισραηλ: see v. 4.
καθότιjust as / according ascomparative conjunction (introducing comparison clause)καθότι: 'just as / inasmuch as'; renders Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the standard of comparison — the LORD's command — confirming the people's obedience.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of comparison clause→ constative aorist (the prior completed command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / order'; renders Hebrew צִוָּה; a deponent middle; the standard LXX verb for authoritative command (cf. vv. 10, 12, 17); here the LORD's charge to Joshua is the measure of the people's compliance.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine commander at the head of the obedience-chain.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ἰησοῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῖJoshuaDativedative indirect object (recipient of the command)Ἰησοῦς: see v. 1; the dative Ἰησοῖ; Joshua as the human link between divine command and popular obedience.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λαβόντεςtaking upAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λαμβάνωcircumstantial participle (attendant to διεκόμισαν / ἀπέθηκαν)→ antecedent aorist participle (action prior to the main verbs)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive / pick up'; renders Hebrew לָקַח; the participle reports the men taking up the stones, fulfilling the command ἀνέλεσθε (v. 3) / ἀράτω (v. 5).
δώδεκαtwelveAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying λίθους)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; see v. 3.
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of λαβόντεςλίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3; the twelve memorial stones now actually taken.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of'; with μέσου, the precise source matching the command of v. 3.
μέσουmidstGenitivegenitive (substantival, object of ἐκ: 'the midst')μέσος: 'midst'; ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Ιορδάνου repeats v. 3 exactly, confirming the stones come from the miraculous standing-place.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (with μέσου)Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing second comparison)καθάπερ: 'just as / exactly as'; a near-synonym of καθότι, intensifying the note of exact obedience; recurs at v. 12 (καθάπερ ἐνετείλατο … Μωυσῆς).
συνέταξενordered / arrangedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντάσσωverb of second comparison clause→ constative aorist (the completed prior order)συντάσσω: 'order / arrange / command'; see v. 3 (σύνταξον); the LORD's ordering of Joshua is again invoked as the standard, doubling the obedience-formula.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of συνέταξενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; see above.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ἰησοῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῖJoshuaDativedative indirect objectἸησοῦς: see v. 1.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (temporal: 'at the completion')ἐν: 'in / at'; here temporal, locating the stone-taking at the moment the crossing was completed.
τῇtheDativearticle (with συντελείᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συντελείᾳcompletion / endDativedative of time (object of ἐν: 'at the completion')συντέλεια: 'completion / consummation / end'; the cognate noun of συντελέω (v. 1); 'at the completion of the crossing' marks the precise timing — the stone-taking caps the whole crossing event.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with διαβάσεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαβάσεωςcrossingGenitivegenitive (with συντελείᾳ: 'completion of the crossing')διάβασις: 'crossing / passage / ford'; the cognate noun of διαβαίνω (v. 1); 'the crossing of the sons of Israel' — the great event whose completion frames the memorial act.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (subjective: 'the sons of Israel's crossing')υἱός: 'son'; the crossing belongs to the sons of Israel, the whole nation.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱῶν)Ισραηλ: see v. 4.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διεκόμισανcarried acrossAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διακομίζωmain verb (report of transport)→ constative aorist (completed transport of the stones)διακομίζω: 'carry across / convey'; see v. 3 (διακομίσαντες); the fulfillment of the command to carry the stones to the camp.
ἅμαtogether withadverb / improper preposition + dative (accompaniment)ἅμα: 'together with'; see v. 3; with ἑαυτοῖς ('with themselves'), echoing ἅμα ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς of the command.
ἑαυτοῖςthemselvesDativereflexive pronoun (dative of accompaniment, with ἅμα)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'themselves'; the dative ἑαυτοῖς with ἅμα stresses the men's personal bodily carriage of the stones, matching the command's ἅμα ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς (v. 3).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: 'into'; directional, marking the camp as the destination.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴνcampAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: 'into the camp')παρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment / army in array'; renders Hebrew מַחֲנֶה; near-synonym of στρατοπεδεία (v. 3); the military 'camp' is the destination where the stones are deposited before the move to Gilgal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέθηκανlaid down / depositedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποτίθημιmain verb (report of depositing)→ constative aorist (completed depositing)ἀποτίθημι: 'lay down / put away / deposit'; the compound of τίθημι (cf. θέτε, v. 3); the men 'laid down' the stones in the camp, fulfilling the command to 'set' them.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; refers to the camp; the stones rest there until set up at Gilgal (v. 20).
9

ἔστησεν δὲ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἄλλους δώδεκα λίθους ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ Ιορδάνῃ ἐν τῷ γενομένῳ τόπῳ ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἱερέων τῶν αἰρόντων τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου καί εἰσιν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας

And Joshua also set up another twelve stones in the Jordan itself, in the place that came to be under the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD; and they are there to this very day.

Distinct narrative act: Joshua's own second set of stones (δέ marks the shift)ἔστησεν δὲ Ἰησοῦς
δέ marks a distinct, parallel act: alongside the camp-stones, Joshua personally sets up a second twelve in the riverbed itself (ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ Ιορδάνῃ), precisely where the priests' feet stood. The etiological note καί εἰσιν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ('and they are there to this day') anchors the monument to the narrator's present, a hallmark of the conquest etiologies.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ἔστησενset up / erectedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (Joshua's distinct act)→ constative aorist (completed act of erecting)ἵστημι: 'cause to stand / set up / erect'; the transitive (1st) aorist ἔστησεν renders Hebrew הֵקִים; Joshua personally sets up this second set of stones; the same verb recurs at v. 20 for the Gilgal stones, while the intransitive pluperfect εἱστήκεισαν (v. 10) describes the priests standing.
δὲand / moreovernarrative particle (post-positive; marks a distinct act)δέ: post-positive particle marking a new, parallel action — distinct from the people's camp-stones (v. 8), Joshua now sets up his own stones in the river.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: see v. 1; the nominative subject; Joshua acts personally and on his own initiative here.
καὶalsoadverbial/adjunctive καί ('also / in addition')καί: here adjunctive ('also'), marking these stones as an additional set beyond the twelve carried to the camp.
ἄλλουςotherAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λίθους: 'other stones')ἄλλος: 'other / another'; explicitly distinguishes this second set of twelve from the camp-stones, so the chapter records two memorials — one in the riverbed, one at Gilgal.
δώδεκαtwelveAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying λίθους)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; see v. 3; the same tribal number governs this second monument.
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of ἔστησενλίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: 'in'; locative, placing this monument within the river itself.
αὐτῷitselfDativeintensive pronoun (with τῷ Ιορδάνῃ: 'in the Jordan itself')αὐτός: here intensive ('itself'), emphasizing that these stones stand in the very bed of the Jordan, not in the camp — a hidden monument beneath the returning waters.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ιορδάνῃ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνῃJordanDativedative of place (object of ἐν)Ιορδάνης: see v. 1; the dative Ιορδάνῃ; the river itself is the site of Joshua's stones.
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (locative, more precise)ἐν: 'in / at'; introduces the more precise location — the spot beneath the priests' feet.
τῷtheDativearticle (with τόπῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενομένῳthat came to beAor Mid Ptcp Dat Masc Sg · γίνομαιattributive participle (modifying τόπῳ: 'the place that came to be')→ ingressive aorist participle (the place as it came about)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be / happen'; the participle γενομένῳ ('that came to be / that was made') describes the spot 'that had come to be' under the priests' feet — the exact point the standing ark fixed in the riverbed.
τόπῳplaceDativedative of place (object of ἐν)τόπος: 'place / spot'; renders Hebrew מָקוֹם; the precise location of the priests' standing, sanctified as the site of the hidden memorial.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position: 'under the feet')ὑπό: 'under'; with the accusative denotes position beneath — the stones stand where the priests' feet had been planted.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πόδας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativeaccusative (object of ὑπό: 'under the feet')πούς: 'foot'; renders Hebrew רֶגֶל; the priests' feet mark the fixed standing-place; the stones rest exactly where their feet stood firm in the dry riverbed.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἱερέων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωνpriestsGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πόδας: 'the priests' feet')ἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders Hebrew כֹּהֵן; the ark-bearing priests are the focal liturgical agents of the crossing (cf. vv. 10, 16, 17, 18); their feet mark the sacred spot.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with αἰρόντων, attributive participle)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰρόντωνbearing / carryingPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · αἴρωattributive participle (modifying ἱερέων: 'the priests who bear')→ imperfective participle (continuous bearing of the ark)αἴρω: 'lift / carry / bear'; see v. 5; the present participle οἱ αἴροντες ('the ones bearing') is a standing description of the priests' office in this chapter (vv. 9, 10, 16, 18); they bear the ark just as the twelve bore the stones (ἀράτω, v. 5).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κιβωτόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἰρόντωνκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 7; the covenant chest the priests carry through the riverbed.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with διαθήκης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κιβωτόν)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 7; 'the ark of the covenant of the LORD.'
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with διαθήκης)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covenant is the LORD's.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (introducing etiological note)καί: links the etiological 'and they are there to this day' to the act of setting up.
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (etiological present)→ stative present (enduring existence to the narrator's day)εἰμί: 'be'; the present εἰσιν in the etiological formula 'they are there to this day' shifts to the narrator's own time, attesting the monument's continued presence — a standard feature of the conquest etiologies (cf. Josh 4:9; 7:26; 8:28–29).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; the riverbed spot beneath the priests' feet.
ἕωςuntil / topreposition + genitive (extent of time)ἕως: 'until / as far as'; with τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας forms the etiological idiom 'to this day.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σήμερονtoday / presentadverb used attributively (with ἡμέρας: 'the present day')σήμερον: 'today'; the indeclinable adverb is used attributively between article and noun (ἡ σήμερον ἡμέρα, 'the present day'); ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας renders Hebrew עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, the etiological 'to this very day.'
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive (with ἕως: 'to this day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; renders Hebrew יוֹם; the narrator's present, to which the monument endures.
10

εἱστήκεισαν δὲ οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης ἐν τῷ Ιορδάνῃ ἕως οὗ συνετέλεσεν Ἰησοῦς πάντα ἃ ἐνετείλατο κύριος ἀναγγεῖλαι τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἔσπευσεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ διέβησαν

Now the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood in the Jordan until Joshua had finished all that the LORD commanded him to announce to the people; and the people hastened, and they crossed over.

Background circumstance (pluperfect): the priests' continued standing during the eventsεἱστήκεισαν δὲ οἱ ἱερεῖς
The pluperfect εἱστήκεισαν ('had been standing / kept standing') supplies the durative background: throughout the stone-taking the priests held their station in midstream until everything was completed. The verse stresses the priests' patient liturgical endurance and the people's urgency (ἔσπευσεν), then closes the crossing with διέβησαν, the leitmotif verb.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
εἱστήκεισανstood / were standingPlpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (durative background)→ pluperfect with imperfect force (continuous standing throughout the scene)ἵστημι: 'stand'; the intransitive (2nd) pluperfect εἱστήκεισαν functions as a past continuous ('kept standing') — the priests held their position in midstream; contrast the transitive ἔστησεν of v. 9 ('set up').
δὲnownarrative particle (post-positive; marks background)δέ: post-positive; here introduces background circumstance running parallel to the main events.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject of εἱστήκεισανἱερεύς: 'priest'; see v. 9; the ark-bearers, here the standing subject.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with αἴροντες, 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: 'the priests who bear')→ imperfective participle (continuous bearing)αἴρω: 'bear / carry'; see vv. 5, 9; the standing epithet of the priests.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κιβωτόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἴροντεςκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 7.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with διαθήκης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κιβωτόν)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 7.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: 'in'; locative, the priests stand in the Jordan.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ιορδάνῃ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνῃJordanDativedative of place (object of ἐν)Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (with οὗ: temporal 'until')ἕως: 'until'; with the relative οὗ forms ἕως οὗ ('until the time when'), introducing the terminus of the priests' standing.
οὗwhich (time)relative adverb (with ἕως: 'until')οὗ: relative (genitive of ὅς) in the fixed phrase ἕως οὗ ('until'); marks the completion of Joshua's task as the endpoint.
συνετέλεσενfinished / completedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of temporal clause (with ἕως οὗ)→ constative aorist (completed accomplishment)συντελέω: 'complete / finish'; see v. 1; here Joshua completes all that the LORD commanded — the leitmotif of completion governs each stage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of συνετέλεσενἸησοῦς: see v. 1.
πάνταallAccusativesubstantival adjective (direct object of συνετέλεσεν: 'all things')πᾶς: 'all'; the neuter plural πάντα ('all [the things]') is the object of συνετέλεσεν — everything the LORD commanded.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐνετείλατο / ἀναγγεῖλαι)ὅς: relative pronoun; neuter plural ἅ ('which things') refers to πάντα, the content of the divine command.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the completed command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; see v. 8; the LORD's command, the content of which Joshua announces to the people.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine commander.
ἀναγγεῖλαιto announce / reportAor Act Inf · ἀναγγέλλωcomplementary infinitive (epexegetic: 'commanded [him] to announce')→ aorist infinitive (the content of the command)ἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report / declare'; renders Hebrew נָגַד (Hiphil); the infinitive specifies what the LORD commanded — that Joshua proclaim it to the people; the cognate imperative ἀναγγείλατε recurs at v. 22.
τῷto theDativearticle (with λαῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative indirect object (recipient of the announcement)λαός: 'people'; see v. 1; the recipients of Joshua's proclamation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσπευσενhastenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σπεύδωmain verb (the people's urgency)→ ingressive aorist (set about hastening)σπεύδω: 'hasten / hurry / be eager'; renders Hebrew מָהַר; the people 'hastened' to cross — perhaps in awe of the suspended waters, or in eagerness to enter the land; the singular agrees with the collective ὁ λαός.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of ἔσπευσενλαός: 'people'; see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέβησανthey crossed overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (completion of the crossing)→ constative aorist (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; the chapter's leitmotif verb here reports the people's actual crossing — the plural shifts from the collective singular ἔσπευσεν to the individual crossers.
11

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς συνετέλεσεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς διαβῆναι καὶ διέβη ἡ κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου καὶ οἱ λίθοι ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν

And it came to pass, when all the people had finished crossing, that the ark of the covenant of the LORD also crossed over, and the stones, before them.

Temporal-narrative formula marking sequential completionκαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς
The καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς … formula (a Hebraism rendering וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר) marks narrative sequence. Once all the people had crossed, the ark and the stones cross in turn. The note that the stones go ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν ('before them') gives the memorial stones an honored, processional place at the head of the ark's passage.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (part of the ἐγένετο formula)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of temporal formula (impersonal 'it happened')→ constative aorist (narrative event-marker)γίνομαι: 'become / happen'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, a fixed LXX device introducing a temporally marked narrative event; impersonal here.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunctionὡς: 'when / as'; temporal, marking the moment of completion that triggers the ark's crossing.
συνετέλεσενfinishedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist (completed action)συντελέω: 'complete / finish'; see v. 1; the completion-leitmotif recurs (cf. v. 1 συνετέλεσεν … διαβαίνων).
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying λαός)πᾶς: 'all'; the totalizing 'all the people' echoes v. 1, framing the crossing's completion.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of συνετέλεσενλαός: 'people'; see v. 1.
διαβῆναιto crossAor Act Inf · διαβαίνωcomplementary infinitive (with συνετέλεσεν: 'finished crossing')→ aorist infinitive (the crossing as a complete act)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; the aorist infinitive complements συντελέω ('finished to cross' = 'finished crossing').
καὶthen / andapodotic καί (resuming the main clause after the ὡς-clause)καί: apodotic (Hebraism), introducing the main clause after the temporal protasis — 'then the ark crossed.'
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (the ark's crossing)→ constative aorist (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; the ark crosses last, having gone before the people into the river and remaining until all had passed — its crossing closes the event.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with κιβωτός)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of διέβηκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 7; the subject that crosses after the people.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with διαθήκης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κιβωτός)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 7.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with διαθήκης)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the stones as co-subject)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with λίθοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθοιstonesNominativeco-subject (with κιβωτός: 'and the stones [crossed]')λίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3; the memorial stones cross with the ark, sharing in the procession of holy objects.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / in front ofimproper preposition + genitive (place: 'before them')ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of / before'; see v. 5; the stones go 'before them' — at the head of the procession, an honored position.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (object of ἔμπροσθεν)αὐτός: genitive plural; the referent is most naturally the priests / the people, before whom the stones are borne in procession.
12

καὶ διέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ καὶ οἱ ἡμίσεις φυλῆς Μανασση διεσκευασμένοι ἔμπροσθεν τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καθάπερ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς

And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, equipped for battle, ahead of the sons of Israel, just as Moses had commanded them.

Specification: the Transjordanian tribes cross armed in the vanguardκαὶ διέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην
The narrative specifies the order of march: the two-and-a-half Transjordanian tribes — Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh — cross armed (διεσκευασμένοι) at the head of Israel, fulfilling the pledge they gave Moses (Num 32:20–32; Deut 3:18–20). The comparison καθάπερ ἐνετείλατο … Μωυσῆς binds the conquest narrative back to Mosaic command, like the obedience-notices of vv. 8, 10.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέβησανcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (the Transjordanian tribes' crossing)→ constative aorist (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; here the armed vanguard tribes cross.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (first of three coordinated subjects)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην ('the sons of Reuben') = the tribe of Reuben.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοί)Ρουβην: transliteration of Hebrew רְאוּבֵן; indeclinable; the firstborn tribe, one of the two-and-a-half tribes settled east of the Jordan (Num 32).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (second coordinated subject)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ = the tribe of Gad.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοί)Γαδ: transliteration of Hebrew גָּד; indeclinable; the second Transjordanian tribe.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἡμίσεις)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσειςhalfNominativesubstantival adjective (third coordinated subject: 'the half [of the tribe]')ἥμισυς: 'half'; the plural οἱ ἡμίσεις (lit. 'the halves / the half-members') renders Hebrew חֲצִי 'the half (of the tribe)'; the half-tribe of Manasseh that settled in Transjordan (Num 32:33).
φυλῆςof the tribeGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἡμίσεις: 'half of the tribe')φυλή: 'tribe'; see v. 2; the half-tribe is a portion of the tribe of Manasseh.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with φυλῆς)Μανασση: transliteration of Hebrew מְנַשֶּׁה; indeclinable; the tribe of Joseph's elder son, half of which settled east of the Jordan.
διεσκευασμένοιequipped / armedPerf Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · διασκευάζωpredicative participle (describing the subjects: 'armed / in battle array')→ perfect participle (resultant state of being equipped)διασκευάζω: 'equip fully / arm / make ready'; the perfect participle διεσκευασμένοι denotes the settled state of being fully armed for battle; renders Hebrew חֲמֻשִׁים ('arrayed / in battle formation'); the Transjordanians cross ready for war, honoring their pledge (cf. v. 13 εὔζωνοι εἰς μάχην).
ἔμπροσθενahead of / beforeimproper preposition + genitive (place: 'ahead of')ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of / ahead of'; see vv. 5, 11; the armed tribes march in the vanguard, before the rest of Israel.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (object of ἔμπροσθεν)υἱός: 'son'; τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ, the rest of the nation, behind whom the armed tribes do not march — rather they go before them.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱῶν)Ισραηλ: see v. 4.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθάπερ: 'just as'; see v. 8; introduces the Mosaic command as the standard for the tribes' action (cf. Num 32; Deut 3).
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of comparison clause→ constative aorist (the prior Mosaic command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; see v. 8; here the commander is Moses, binding the conquest to the earlier covenant arrangement for the Transjordanian tribes.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative indirect object (the two-and-a-half tribes)αὐτός: dative plural; the tribes to whom Moses gave the command to cross armed before their brothers.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined in the LXX as a contract noun (gen./dat. Μωυσῆ, acc. Μωυσῆν); Joshua's predecessor, whose command still governs Israel — a theme climaxing in v. 14, where Joshua is exalted 'as Moses.'
13

τετρακισμύριοι εὔζωνοι εἰς μάχην διέβησαν ἐναντίον κυρίου εἰς πόλεμον πρὸς τὴν Ιεριχω πόλιν

Forty thousand lightly-armed for combat crossed over before the LORD to war, toward the city of Jericho.

Numerical specification of the armed vanguard (continuing v. 12)τετρακισμύριοι εὔζωνοι
The verse quantifies the vanguard: forty thousand light-armed troops cross 'before the LORD' (ἐναντίον κυρίου — i.e., before the ark) to war against Jericho. The military vocabulary (εὔζωνοι, μάχην, πόλεμον) and the naming of Jericho fix the narrative's forward trajectory toward the first conquest, while ἐναντίον κυρίου keeps the war theologically framed as YHWH's.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
τετρακισμύριοιforty thousandNominativesubstantival numeral (subject: 'forty thousand [men]')τετρακισμύριοι: 'forty thousand' (4 × 10,000); a compound numeral adjective used substantively for the number of the armed Transjordanian vanguard; renders the Hebrew 'about forty thousand armed for war' (Josh 4:13 MT).
εὔζωνοιlightly-armed / girdedNominativeadjective (attributive/predicative with τετρακισμύριοι)εὔζωνος: 'well-girded / lightly equipped / ready for action' (lit. 'with a good girdle'); a military term for nimble, battle-ready troops; renders Hebrew חֲלוּצֵי הַצָּבָא ('equipped for the army'); the girded loins evoke readiness for swift action.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for combat')εἰς: 'for / unto'; here of purpose — equipped for the purpose of battle.
μάχηνcombat / battleAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: purpose)μάχη: 'fight / battle / combat'; renders Hebrew מִלְחָמָה; the troops are equipped 'for combat,' anticipating the conquest campaigns.
διέβησανcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb→ constative aorist (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; the armed troops cross in fulfillment of v. 12.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the presence ofimproper preposition + genitive (place: 'before the LORD')ἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; ἐναντίον κυρίου ('before the LORD') frames the crossing as conducted in the LORD's presence (before the ark) — the war is YHWH's; the phrase recurs at v. 14 (ἐναντίον … Ισραηλ).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (object of ἐναντίον)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; before the LORD, present in the ark, the host marches to war.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose/goal)εἰς: 'for / unto'; here of purpose/goal — 'to war.'
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: purpose)πόλεμος: 'war / warfare'; renders Hebrew מִלְחָמָה; near-synonym of μάχη above; the doubling 'for combat … to war' underscores the martial purpose of the crossing.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)πρός: 'toward / to'; with the accusative, directional, marking Jericho as the objective.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεριχωJerichoattributive (indeclinable, with πόλιν: 'the city of Jericho')Ιεριχω: transliteration of Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ; indeclinable; the first city of the conquest (ch. 6); here the goal toward which the armed host advances; the appositional construction τὴν Ιεριχω πόλιν ('the Jericho city') treats the name attributively.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative (object of πρός; modified by Ιεριχω)πόλις: 'city'; renders Hebrew עִיר; 'the city of Jericho,' the fortified objective of the campaign across the Jordan.
14

ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ηὔξησεν κύριος τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ γένους Ισραηλ καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο αὐτὸν ὥσπερ Μωυσῆν ὅσον χρόνον ἔζη

On that day the LORD exalted Joshua before all the people of Israel, and they feared him as they feared Moses, all the time he lived.

Climactic summary: divine exaltation of Joshua (temporal frame 'on that day')ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ
The temporal frame ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ('on that day') signals a climactic summary statement. The crossing-wonder accomplishes YHWH's purpose stated in 3:7 — to magnify Joshua before all Israel; the people now fear him ὥσπερ Μωυσῆν ('as Moses'), establishing the succession. The imperfects (ἐφοβοῦντο, ἔζη) give the new reverence a durative, lifelong character.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: 'in / on'; temporal, with ἡμέρᾳ marking the specific day of the exaltation.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the phrase ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ('on that day') is a common LXX summarizing time-marker, here gathering the day's events under the heading of Joshua's exaltation.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (object of ἐν)ἡμέρα: 'day'; see v. 9; the day of the crossing, on which Joshua's standing is established.
ηὔξησενexalted / magnifiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αὐξάνωmain verb (divine act of exaltation)→ constative aorist (decisive act of magnifying)αὐξάνω: 'increase / make great / exalt'; the transitive aorist ηὔξησεν ('he made great / magnified') renders Hebrew גִּדַּל; fulfills YHWH's promise at 3:7 ('this day I will begin to exalt you'); the divine exaltation of Joshua legitimizes his succession to Moses.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ηὔξησενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD is the agent of Joshua's exaltation — his authority is divinely, not self-, conferred.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ἰησοῦν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativedirect object of ηὔξησενἸησοῦς: see v. 1; here the accusative Ἰησοῦν; the object of divine exaltation.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the sight ofimproper preposition + genitive (place: 'before all Israel')ἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; see v. 13; the exaltation is public — 'before all the people of Israel' — establishing Joshua's authority in the nation's eyes.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying γένους)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; the totalizing 'all the people of Israel' — none is exempt from the recognition of Joshua's new standing.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with γένους)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γένουςpeople / raceGenitivegenitive (object of ἐναντίον)γένος: 'race / kindred / nation / people'; renders Hebrew here the whole of Israel as a people-group; the choice of γένος (rather than λαός) stresses Israel as a single kindred or stock before whom Joshua is magnified.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with γένους)Ισραηλ: see v. 4.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφοβοῦντοthey feared / reveredImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (the people's response)→ imperfect (durative, customary reverence)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid / revere'; deponent; the imperfect ἐφοβοῦντο ('they kept fearing / revered') denotes the people's ongoing, lifelong reverence for Joshua; the same verb (σέβησθε / fear) governs the chapter's closing exhortation to fear the LORD (v. 24).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐφοβοῦντο (Joshua)αὐτός: accusative 'him' (Joshua), the object of the people's reverence.
ὥσπερjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing comparison with Moses)ὥσπερ: 'just as / even as'; introduces the comparison ὥσπερ Μωυσῆν ('as [they feared] Moses'), grounding Joshua's authority in continuity with Moses' — the great theme of the succession.
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative (object in elliptical comparison: 'as [they feared] Moses')Μωυσῆς: see v. 12; the accusative Μωυσῆν; the comparison with Moses crowns the verse — Joshua now holds the reverence once accorded to Moses himself.
ὅσονas much / as longAccusativerelative adjective (with χρόνον: 'as long a time as')ὅσος: 'as much/many as / as long as'; the phrase ὅσον χρόνον ('for as long a time as') is an accusative of duration introducing the temporal clause — the reverence lasts the whole span of Joshua's life.
χρόνονtimeAccusativeaccusative of duration of time (with ὅσον / ἔζη)χρόνος: 'time / span'; renders Hebrew here the duration of Joshua's life; ὅσον χρόνον ἔζη = 'all the time that he lived'; cf. the closing ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ ('always') of v. 24.
ἔζηhe livedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of temporal-relative clause→ imperfect (the whole continuous span of his life)ζάω: 'live / be alive'; the imperfect ἔζη ('was living / lived') depicts the entire continuous span of Joshua's life; the note looks back over his whole career from the narrator's standpoint, confirming that his authority endured to the end.
15

καὶ εἶπεν κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ λέγων

And the LORD said to Joshua, saying:

New divine speech-formula opening the priests'-ascent unit (vv. 15–18)καὶ εἶπεν κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ
The speech-formula, identical to v. 1, opens the final movement: the command to bring the priests up out of the Jordan and the consequent return of the waters. The repetition of the formula structurally pairs the chapter's two divine speeches (vv. 1, 15), each launching a phase of the crossing-and-memorial drama.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces direct YHWH-speech; the formula here exactly repeats v. 1, marking a new divine command.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine speaker.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ἰησοῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῖJoshuaDativedative indirect object (recipient of the speech)Ἰησοῦς: see v. 1; the dative Ἰησοῖ.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωredundant participle of speech (Hebraism)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): pleonastic λέγων = Hebrew לֵאמֹר; introduces the direct command of v. 16.
16

ἔντειλαι τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν τοῖς αἴρουσιν τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης τοῦ μαρτυρίου κυρίου ἐκβῆναι ἐκ τοῦ Ιορδάνου

'Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the LORD to come up out of the Jordan.'

Content of divine command: order the priests up out of the riverἔντειλαι τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν
The divine imperative ἔντειλαι ('command') instructs Joshua to relay the order. The expanded title κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης τοῦ μαρτυρίου κυρίου ('the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the LORD') is the fullest form in the chapter, layering 'covenant' and 'testimony' (the tablets within) onto the ark. The infinitive ἐκβῆναι ('to come up out') signals the reversal: the priests, who entered last, will now leave the riverbed, releasing the waters.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἔντειλαιcommandAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (divine imperative to Joshua)→ ingressive aorist imperative (issue the order)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; see v. 8; the deponent middle imperative ἔντειλαι ('command!') directs Joshua to order the priests; the cognate ἐνετείλατο reports its fulfillment at v. 17.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἱερεῦσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῦσινpriestsDativedative indirect object (recipients of the command)ἱερεύς: 'priest'; see v. 9; the ark-bearers who are to be ordered up.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with αἴρουσιν, 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: 'the priests who bear')→ imperfective participle (continuous bearing)αἴρω: 'bear / carry'; see vv. 5, 9, 10; the standing epithet of the ark-bearing priests, here in the dative.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κιβωτόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἴρουσινκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 7.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with διαθήκης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κιβωτόν)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 7; here within the fuller title 'ark of the covenant of the testimony of the LORD.'
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with μαρτυρίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουtestimonyGenitivegenitive of apposition/relationship (with διαθήκης)μαρτύριον: 'testimony / witness'; renders Hebrew עֵדוּת; the expanded title τῆς διαθήκης τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('of the covenant of the testimony') layers the ark's two designations — it houses both the covenant and the 'testimony' (the tablets of the law); the fullest ark-title in the chapter, lending solemnity to the climactic command.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with the whole title)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covenant-testimony is the LORD's.
ἐκβῆναιto come up / go outAor Act Inf · ἐκβαίνωcomplementary infinitive (object of ἔντειλαι: 'command [them] to come up')→ aorist infinitive (the commanded act of exiting)ἐκβαίνω: 'go out / step out / come up out'; the compound ἐκ- marks exit from the riverbed; the infinitive specifies the content of the command; the cognate imperative ἔκβητε recurs at v. 17 and the indicative ἐξέβησαν at v. 18, tracking command → relay → fulfillment.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of'; marks the Jordan as the place from which the priests are to emerge.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ: 'out of the Jordan')Ιορδάνης: see v. 1; the river the priests are to leave, occasioning the return of its waters.
17

καὶ ἐνετείλατο Ἰησοῦς τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν λέγων ἔκβητε ἐκ τοῦ Ιορδάνου

And Joshua commanded the priests, saying, 'Come up out of the Jordan.'

Obedient relay: Joshua transmits the divine command to the priestsκαὶ ἐνετείλατο Ἰησοῦς
Joshua faithfully relays the command of v. 16; ἐνετείλατο echoes the divine ἔντειλαι, and the imperative ἔκβητε ('come up!') directly enacts the infinitive ἐκβῆναι. The brevity matches the LXX's terse command-fulfillment style and keeps the focus on prompt obedience.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (Joshua's relay of the command)→ constative aorist (completed command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; see v. 8; Joshua's ἐνετείλατο directly echoes the divine ἔντειλαι (v. 16), marking exact obedience in relaying the order.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοἸησοῦς: see v. 1.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἱερεῦσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῦσινpriestsDativedative indirect object (recipients of the command)ἱερεύς: 'priest'; see v. 9; the ark-bearers, commanded up.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωredundant participle of speech (Hebraism)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): pleonastic λέγων = Hebrew לֵאמֹר; introduces the direct command.
ἔκβητεcome up / go outAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐκβαίνωmain verb of direct command (imperative to the priests)→ ingressive aorist imperative (come up out!)ἐκβαίνω: 'go out / come up out'; see v. 16; the imperative ἔκβητε directly enacts the infinitive ἐκβῆναι; the priests are to step out of the riverbed onto dry land.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of'; see v. 16.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ: 'out of the Jordan')Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
18

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξέβησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ ἔθηκαν τοὺς πόδας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὥρμησεν τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ Ιορδάνου κατὰ χώραν καὶ ἐπορεύετο καθὰ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς κρηπῖδος

And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the Jordan and set their feet upon the dry land, that the water of the Jordan rushed back into its place and flowed as the day before and the day before that, over its whole bank.

Climactic reversal: the priests' ascent and the return of the watersκαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξέβησαν
The καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς … formula (cf. v. 11) frames the climactic reversal: as the priests step onto dry ground, the waters ὥρμησεν κατὰ χώραν ('rushed back into their place') and resumed their normal flow 'as before' (καθὰ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν, lit. 'as yesterday and the third day,' a Hebraism for 'as previously'). The wonder ends precisely when the ark leaves, confirming that the parting was tied to the LORD's presence.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (part of ἐγένετο formula)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of temporal formula (impersonal)→ constative aorist (narrative event-marker)γίνομαι: 'happen'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο = Hebrew וַיְהִי; see v. 11.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunctionὡς: 'when / as'; temporal; the priests' ascent triggers the waters' return.
ἐξέβησανcame up / went outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκβαίνωverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist (completed ascent)ἐκβαίνω: 'go out / come up'; see vv. 16, 17; the indicative ἐξέβησαν reports the priests' actual exit, fulfilling the command ἔκβητε.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject of ἐξέβησανἱερεύς: 'priest'; see v. 9.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with αἴροντες, 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)→ imperfective participle (continuous bearing)αἴρω: 'bear'; see vv. 5, 9, 10, 16; the standing epithet of the priests.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κιβωτόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἴροντεςκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 7.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with διαθήκης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κιβωτόν)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; see v. 7.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with διαθήκης)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of'; the priests emerge from the Jordan.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ)Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the temporal clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔθηκανset / plantedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · τίθημιverb (second action of the temporal clause)→ constative aorist (completed setting of feet)τίθημι: 'put / set / place'; see v. 3; here the priests 'set their feet' on dry land — the moment that releases the waters.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πόδας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκανπούς: 'foot'; see v. 9; the priests' feet, which marked the riverbed monument (v. 9), now touch dry land.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (position)ἐπί: 'upon / on'; with the genitive, position on the ground.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςdry land / groundGenitivegenitive (object of ἐπί: 'upon the ground')γῆ: 'earth / land / ground'; see v. 7; here the dry bank, contrasted with the riverbed they leave; cf. ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς ('on dry ground', v. 22).
ὥρμησενrushedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁρμάωmain verb (the waters' return)→ ingressive aorist (set rushing / surged back)ὁρμάω: 'rush / surge / set in motion'; the vivid ὥρμησεν depicts the pent-up waters violently rushing back the instant the ark leaves; renders Hebrew שׁוּב ('return') with heightened force, dramatizing the suddenness of the wonder's reversal.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὕδωρ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of ὥρμησενὕδωρ: 'water'; renders Hebrew מַיִם; the Jordan's water, which had stood cut off (v. 7), now surges back; the same noun is the object of the drying at v. 23.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (with ὕδωρ: 'the water of the Jordan')Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
κατὰinto / according topreposition + accusative (with χώραν: 'into its place')κατά: 'according to / down to'; in κατὰ χώραν ('to its place / to its accustomed location') denotes the waters' return to their normal channel.
χώρανplace / channelAccusativeaccusative (object of κατά: 'into its place')χώρα: 'place / region / land'; κατὰ χώραν ('in/to its place') is an idiom for the proper or accustomed location; the waters resume their natural course.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύετοflowed / wentImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (durative: the water's resumed flow)→ imperfect (continuous resumption of the normal flow)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed / flow'; deponent; the imperfect ἐπορεύετο ('kept flowing') depicts the river resuming its ongoing course; used of the water 'going / flowing' as it had before the wonder.
καθὰas / according ascomparative conjunctionκαθά: 'as / just as'; introduces the comparison with the river's former state.
ἐχθὲςyesterdayadverb of time (in idiom with τρίτην ἡμέραν)ἐχθές: 'yesterday'; in the idiom (καθὰ) ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν ('as yesterday and the third day [before]') renders Hebrew כִּתְמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם, a fixed expression meaning 'as previously / as before'; the river returns to its normal state.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the temporal idiom)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τρίτηνthirdAccusativeattributive numeral adjective (with ἡμέραν, in idiom)τρίτος: 'third'; in the idiom τρίτην ἡμέραν ('the third day [before], i.e. the day before yesterday'); the whole phrase is the Hebraism for 'previously / formerly.'
ἡμέρανdayAccusativeaccusative of time (in the idiom 'the third day before')ἡμέρα: 'day'; see v. 9; part of the fixed temporal idiom 'as before.'
δι᾿over / throughpreposition + genitive (extent: 'over the whole')διά (elided δι᾿): 'through / over'; with the genitive ὅλης τῆς κρηπῖδος denotes the full spatial extent the water covered — 'over its whole bank.'
ὅληςwholeGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying κρηπῖδος)ὅλος: 'whole / entire'; the water flowed over the river's entire bank — i.e., it overflowed to its normal flood-level, as before the crossing.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with κρηπῖδος)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρηπῖδοςbank / embankmentGenitivegenitive (object of δι᾿: 'over the whole bank')κρηπίς: 'foundation / embankment / bank'; renders Hebrew גְּדוֹתָיו ('its banks'); the word elsewhere denotes a built foundation or quay; here the river's banks, over which the restored Jordan flows at full level — recalling that it was in flood at harvest (3:15).
19

καὶ ὁ λαὸς ἀνέβη ἐκ τοῦ Ιορδάνου δεκάτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου καὶ κατεστρατοπέδευσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐν Γαλγαλοις κατὰ μέρος τὸ πρὸς ἡλίου ἀνατολὰς ἀπὸ τῆς Ιεριχω

And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth of the first month, and the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal in the region toward the rising of the sun, away from Jericho.

Itinerary notice: ascent from the Jordan and encampment at Gilgalκαὶ ὁ λαὸς ἀνέβη
An itinerary notice with precise dating: the people come up on the tenth of the first month — the very day the Passover lamb was to be selected (Exod 12:3), binding the entry into the land to the exodus liturgy. They camp at Gilgal, east of Jericho, which becomes Israel's first base in Canaan (cf. 5:9–10). The geographical precision (κατὰ μέρος τὸ πρὸς ἡλίου ἀνατολάς) anchors the etiology of the Gilgal stones (v. 20).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of ἀνέβηλαός: 'people'; see v. 1.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the people's ascent)→ constative aorist (completed ascent)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up / ascend'; renders Hebrew עָלָה; the people 'came up' from the Jordan valley onto the western bank; the singular agrees with the collective ὁ λαός.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of'; the people ascend out of the Jordan valley.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ)Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
δεκάτῃon the tenthDativedative of time (ordinal: 'on the tenth [day]')δέκατος: 'tenth'; the dative δεκάτῃ (ἡμέρᾳ understood) gives the date; the tenth of the first month is the day the Passover lamb was selected (Exod 12:3), so the entry into the land coincides with the Passover preparation — a deliberate liturgical synchronism.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with μηνός)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὸςmonthGenitivegenitive of time (with δεκάτῃ: 'the tenth of the month')μήν: 'month'; renders Hebrew חֹדֶשׁ; the 'first month' is Abib/Nisan, the month of the exodus (Exod 12:2; 13:4).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πρώτου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρώτουfirstGenitiveattributive ordinal adjective (modifying μηνός)πρῶτος: 'first'; the first month (Nisan); the dating ties the conquest's beginning to the exodus calendar, framing the entry as a new Passover-deliverance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατεστρατοπέδευσανencampedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταστρατοπεδεύωmain verb (the encampment)→ constative aorist (completed act of encamping)καταστρατοπεδεύω: 'pitch camp / encamp'; the compound (κατα- + στρατόπεδον) is a martial term cognate with στρατοπεδεία (v. 3); renders Hebrew חָנָה; Israel establishes its first encampment in the land at Gilgal.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of κατεστρατοπέδευσανυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the nation now encamped in Canaan.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱοί)Ισραηλ: see v. 4.
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: 'in / at'; locative, marking Gilgal as the place of encampment.
ΓαλγαλοιςGilgalDativedative of place (object of ἐν)Γαλγαλα: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְגָּל ('circle [of stones]'); here in the dative plural form Γαλγαλοις (the LXX treats the name as a Greek plural); Israel's first base in Canaan, where the stones are set up (v. 20) and the people are circumcised and keep Passover (5:9–10); the name itself, evoking a 'circle' of stones, suits the memorial-stones motif.
κατὰaccording to / inpreposition + accusative (locale: 'in the region')κατά: 'according to / in'; with μέρος denotes the district/quarter where the camp lay.
μέροςregion / partAccusativeaccusative (object of κατά: 'in the region')μέρος: 'part / portion / district'; renders Hebrew here the locale or quarter; κατὰ μέρος τὸ πρὸς ἡλίου ἀνατολάς = 'in the district toward the sunrise' — the eastern side.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the πρός-phrase, modifying μέρος)ὁ: the neuter article τό makes the following prepositional phrase attributive to μέρος ('the [region] toward the sunrise').
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)πρός: 'toward'; with the accusative, directional — toward the sunrise (the east).
ἡλίουof the sunGenitivegenitive (with ἀνατολάς: 'rising of the sun')ἥλιος: 'sun'; in the phrase ἡλίου ἀνατολάς ('the risings of the sun'), the east; a standard LXX idiom for the eastern direction.
ἀνατολὰςrisings / eastAccusativeaccusative (object of πρός: 'toward the sunrise')ἀνατολή (pl. ἀνατολάς): 'rising / east'; renders Hebrew מִזְרָח; the plural is idiomatic for the eastern quarter; Gilgal lay east of Jericho, between the city and the Jordan.
ἀπὸfrom / away frompreposition + genitive (separation/distance)ἀπό: 'from / away from'; here of distance — Gilgal lay at some remove from Jericho, on its eastern side.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with the indeclinable Ιεριχω, marking case)ὁ: the article before indeclinable Ιεριχω marks the genitive (ἀπὸ τῆς Ιεριχω, 'from Jericho').
ΙεριχωJerichogenitive (indeclinable, object of ἀπό)Ιεριχω: see v. 13; here in genitive relation with the article — the encampment lay east of Jericho, the city soon to fall (ch. 6).
20

καὶ τοὺς δώδεκα λίθους τούτους οὓς ἔλαβεν ἐκ τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἔστησεν Ἰησοῦς ἐν Γαλγαλοις

And these twelve stones, which he had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.

Fulfillment: the camp-stones erected at Gilgal (fronted object for emphasis)καὶ τοὺς δώδεκα λίθους τούτους
The fronted object (τοὺς δώδεκα λίθους τούτους, 'these twelve stones') gives emphatic prominence to the memorial as the verse fulfills the command of v. 3: the stones taken from the Jordan are now permanently erected (ἔστησεν, as in v. 9) at Gilgal. This sets the stage for the renewed catechetical formula of vv. 21–24, which interprets the monument for future generations.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λίθους; fronted object)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δώδεκαtwelveAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying λίθους)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; see v. 3; the controlling number once more, here the camp-stones set up at Gilgal.
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of ἔστησεν (fronted for emphasis)λίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3; the memorial stones brought from the riverbed (vv. 3, 8).
τούτουςtheseAccusativedemonstrative (attributive with λίθους: 'these stones')οὗτος: 'these'; deictic, the very stones carried from the Jordan; the demonstrative ties this act back to vv. 3, 8.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔλαβεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; masculine accusative plural οὕς ('which'), referring to the stones; introduces the relative clause recalling their origin.
ἔλαβενhe had takenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the prior taking; here pluperfect in sense)λαμβάνω: 'take'; see v. 8 (λαβόντες); the singular ἔλαβεν ('he took') treats the corporate act as Joshua's, the responsible leader, gathering the relative clause's reference to vv. 3, 8.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of / from'; the stones' source — the Jordan.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ)Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
ἔστησενset up / erectedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (erection of the Gilgal monument)→ constative aorist (completed erection)ἵστημι: 'set up / erect'; see v. 9; the transitive aorist ἔστησεν here erects the camp-stones at Gilgal, parallel to the riverbed-stones of v. 9 — the two monuments answer each other.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἔστησενἸησοῦς: see v. 1; Joshua personally erects the Gilgal memorial, as he did the riverbed stones (v. 9).
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: 'in / at'; locative, Gilgal as the site of the monument.
ΓαλγαλοιςGilgalDativedative of place (object of ἐν)Γαλγαλα: see v. 19; at Gilgal — the 'circle [of stones]' — the twelve stones are permanently set, giving the place its enduring memorial character.
21

λέγων ὅταν ἐρωτῶσιν ὑμᾶς οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν λέγοντες τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι

saying, 'When your children ask you, saying, "What are these stones?"—

Renewed catechetical formula (resuming vv. 6–7 at Gilgal)λέγων ὅταν ἐρωτῶσιν
Joshua reopens the catechetical instruction of vv. 6–7, now at the Gilgal monument and addressed to the whole community: 'when your children ask … what are these stones?' The plural ἐρωτῶσιν … οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν broadens the singular child of v. 6 to all future generations. The question τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι; repeats v. 6 verbatim, framing the chapter's memorial pedagogy.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing Joshua's words, subject Ἰησοῦς of v. 20)→ imperfective participle (speech-marker continuing v. 20)λέγω (ptcp.): λέγων here continues from Ἰησοῦς (v. 20) — 'Joshua set up the stones … saying'; introduces the catechetical instruction; cf. the pleonastic λέγων of vv. 1, 3, 6, 7.
ὅτανwhen(ever)temporal conjunction (with subjunctive, indefinite future)ὅταν: 'when(ever)'; see v. 6; with the subjunctive ἐρωτῶσιν projects the future occasion when children will ask.
ἐρωτῶσινaskPres Act Subj 3 Pl · ἐρωτάωverb of indefinite temporal clause (subjunctive with ὅταν)→ imperfective subjunctive (the asking as it may recur)ἐρωτάω: 'ask'; see v. 6; the plural ἐρωτῶσιν (vs. singular ἐρωτᾷ in v. 6) broadens the catechesis to all the children of all the people.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐρωτῶσιν (the parents/community)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the accusative plural ὑμᾶς ('you') — the whole present generation, addressed as the bearers of the memory.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsons / childrenNominativesubject of ἐρωτῶσινυἱός: 'son / child'; see v. 6; οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν ('your sons / children') — the coming generations who did not witness the crossing.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱοί: 'your children')σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): possessive genitive.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωredundant participle of speech (introducing the children's question)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): pleonastic λέγοντες = Hebrew לֵאמֹר; introduces the direct question of the children.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of εἰσιν)τίς, τί: interrogative 'what'; see v. 6; the question τί εἰσιν οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι; ('what are these stones?') repeats v. 6 exactly, framing the chapter's catechesis.
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (in the children's question)→ stative present (identity/meaning question)εἰμί: 'be'; see v. 6; 'what are these stones?' — an inquiry into the monument's meaning.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with λίθοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθοιstonesNominativesubject of εἰσινλίθος: 'stone'; see v. 3; the Gilgal monument prompting the question.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (attributive with λίθοι: 'these stones')οὗτος: 'these'; deictic, pointing to the visible stones at Gilgal.
22

ἀναγγείλατε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν ὅτι ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς διέβη Ισραηλ τὸν Ιορδάνην

you shall declare to your children that Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground,

Prescribed answer (apodosis to v. 21): proclaim the dry-ground crossingἀναγγείλατε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν
The prescribed answer to the children's question (the apodosis to v. 21): the imperative ἀναγγείλατε ('declare!') charges the community to proclaim the saving fact — Israel crossed the Jordan ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς ('on dry ground'). The phrase ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς deliberately echoes the Red Sea crossing (Exod 14:22, 29), explicitly drawn out in v. 23, binding the two great water-crossings of Israel's founding story.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἀναγγείλατεdeclare / reportAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (imperative: the prescribed proclamation)→ ingressive aorist imperative (make the announcement)ἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / declare / report'; see v. 10 (ἀναγγεῖλαι); the imperative ἀναγγείλατε charges the people to transmit the meaning of the stones to their children — the verb of catechetical proclamation.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςchildrenDativedative indirect object (recipients of the proclamation)υἱός: 'son / child'; see vv. 6, 21; the children to whom the saving story is told.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱοῖς)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): possessive genitive 'your.'
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of the proclamation)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the substance of what is to be declared — the dry-ground crossing.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (place: 'on dry ground')ἐπί: 'on / upon'; with the genitive ξηρᾶς, 'on dry land.'
ξηρᾶςdry groundGenitivegenitive (substantival, object of ἐπί: 'on dry land')ξηρός (fem. subst. ξηρά): 'dry / dry land'; renders Hebrew יַבָּשָׁה / חָרָבָה; ἐπὶ ξηρᾶς ('on dry ground') is the very phrase used of the Red Sea crossing (Exod 14:22, 29 LXX), deliberately linking the Jordan-wonder to the exodus.
διέβηcrossedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; the chapter's leitmotif verb, here in the content of the catechetical answer — 'Israel crossed the Jordan.'
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of διέβη (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: see v. 4; here the indeclinable name as subject ('Israel crossed') — the nation as a single corporate actor.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διέβηΙορδάνης: see v. 1; the river crossed on dry ground.
23

ἀποξηράναντος κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἐκ τοῦ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν μέχρι οὗ διέβησαν καθάπερ ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν ἣν ἀπεξήρανεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν ἕως παρήλθομεν

the LORD our God having dried up the water of the Jordan before them until they crossed over, just as the LORD our God did to the Red Sea, which the LORD our God dried up before us until we passed through,

Genitive-absolute ground of the wonder, with explicit Red Sea typologyἀποξηράναντος κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν
A genitive absolute (ἀποξηράναντος κυρίου) supplies the divine cause: it was the LORD who dried up the Jordan before them. The verse then makes the Red Sea typology explicit (καθάπερ … τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν, cf. Exod 14), with threefold repetition of κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ('the LORD our God') binding the two crossings into one continuous act of salvation. The shift to the first person (ἡμῶν, παρήλθομεν) draws the confessing community into the saving story.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἀποξηράναντοςhaving dried upAor Act Ptcp Gen Masc Sg · ἀποξηραίνωgenitive absolute (causal/circumstantial, with κυρίου)→ antecedent aorist participle (the completed drying as ground of the crossing)ἀποξηραίνω: 'dry up completely / dry out'; the compound ἀπο- intensifies; the genitive absolute ἀποξηράναντος κυρίου ('the LORD having dried up') gives the divine cause of the dry-ground crossing; cognate with ἀπεξήρανεν below and ξηρά (v. 22).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivesubject of the genitive absoluteκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine agent of the drying; the title κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν recurs three times in this verse, emphatically attributing both crossings to Israel's own God.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου ('the LORD our God')θεός: 'God'; renders Hebrew אֱלֹהִים; in apposition to κύριος; the phrase κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ('the LORD our God') is covenantal, making the wonder the act of Israel's own covenant God.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεοῦ: 'our God')ἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): the possessive 'our' draws the confessing community into covenant relation with the God who dried up the waters.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὕδωρ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of ἀποξηράναντοςὕδωρ: 'water'; see v. 18; the Jordan's water, dried up before the crossing — the object that surged back at v. 18.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (with ὕδωρ: 'the water of the Jordan')Ιορδάνης: see v. 1.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (with τοῦ ἔμπροσθεν: 'from before')ἐκ: 'from / out of'; in the phrase ἐκ τοῦ ἔμπροσθεν ('from in front of'), the waters were removed from before the people.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing ἔμπροσθεν)ὁ: the article substantivizes the adverb ἔμπροσθεν ('the [region] in front'), object of ἐκ.
ἔμπροσθενin front of / beforeadverb (substantivized with τοῦ: 'from before them')ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of / before'; see vv. 5, 11, 12; here substantivized — the waters were dried up 'from before them' as they advanced.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (with ἔμπροσθεν: 'before them')αὐτός: genitive plural 'them' — the crossing generation; the third person here shifts to first person (ἡμῶν, παρήλθομεν) as the confession personalizes the event.
μέχριuntilconjunction (with οὗ: temporal 'until')μέχρι: 'until / as far as'; with the relative οὗ ('until the time when'), marks the endpoint of the drying — the completion of the crossing.
οὗwhich (time)relative adverb (with μέχρι: 'until')οὗ: relative in the fixed phrase μέχρι οὗ ('until'); cf. ἕως οὗ at v. 10.
διέβησανthey crossedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωverb of temporal clause (with μέχρι οὗ)→ constative aorist (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; see v. 1; the waters stayed dry 'until they crossed.'
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing Red Sea comparison)καθάπερ: 'just as'; see v. 8; introduces the explicit Red Sea typology — the Jordan-wonder is of a piece with the exodus deliverance.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aorist (the completed Red Sea act)ποιέω: 'do / make'; see v. 8; 'as the LORD did to the Red Sea' — the same divine action at the founding crossing.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; second occurrence of the title in the verse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenoun in apposition to κύριος ('the LORD our God')θεός: 'God'; see above; the covenant title repeated.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεός)ἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): 'our'; see above.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θάλασσαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρυθρὰνRedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θάλασσαν)ἐρυθρός: 'red'; in the fixed name ἡ ἐρυθρὰ θάλασσα ('the Red Sea'), the LXX's standard rendering of Hebrew יַם סוּף ('Sea of Reeds'); the site of the exodus deliverance (Exod 14–15).
θάλασσανseaAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησενθάλασσα: 'sea'; renders Hebrew יָם; the Red Sea, whose drying is the type of the Jordan-crossing.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπεξήρανεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; feminine accusative ἥν ('which'), referring to the Red Sea; introduces the clause elaborating its drying.
ἀπεξήρανενdried upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποξηραίνωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (completed drying of the sea)ἀποξηραίνω: 'dry up completely'; see ἀποξηράναντος above; the same verb used of both the Jordan and the Red Sea, lexically welding the two wonders into one saving pattern.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀπεξήρανενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; third occurrence of the title in the verse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenoun in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; the covenant title, thrice repeated for emphasis.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεός)ἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): 'our.'
ἔμπροσθενbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (place: 'before us')ἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; see above; here 'before us' — the first-person ἡμῶν draws the confessing community into the exodus generation's experience.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive (object of ἔμπροσθεν: 'before us')ἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): the shift to 'us' makes the Red Sea deliverance the present community's own story — a liturgical actualization of the past.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal 'until')ἕως: 'until'; here with the indicative παρήλθομεν, marking the completed endpoint.
παρήλθομενwe passed throughAor Act Indic 1 Pl · παρέρχομαιverb of temporal clause (first person plural)→ constative aorist (completed passage)παρέρχομαι: 'pass by / pass through / go past'; the first-person plural παρήλθομεν ('we passed through') is the climactic identification of the present generation with the exodus generation — the saving event is confessed as 'ours'; cf. the catechetical 'we' of the Passover Haggadah tradition.
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ὅπως γνῶσιν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς ὅτι ἡ δύναμις τοῦ κυρίου ἰσχυρά ἐστιν καὶ ἵνα ὑμεῖς σέβησθε κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ

so that all the nations of the earth may know that the power of the LORD is mighty, and that you may revere the LORD your God at all times.'

Double purpose clause: the universal and covenantal goal of the wonderὅπως γνῶσιν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη
The chapter closes with a double purpose statement: the wonder's outward aim (ὅπως γνῶσιν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, 'that all the nations may know' the LORD's mighty power) and its inward aim (ἵνα ὑμεῖς σέβησθε, 'that you may revere' the LORD always). The universal scope (πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς) answers the title κύριος πάσης τῆς γῆς of v. 7, while the call to perpetual reverence (ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ) makes the memorial's purpose finally doxological — knowledge leading to worship.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
ὅπωςso thatpurpose conjunction (introducing first final clause)ὅπως: 'so that / in order that'; introduces a purpose clause with the subjunctive; a near-synonym of ἵνα, here the outward, universal purpose of the wonder.
γνῶσινmay knowAor Act Subj 3 Pl · γινώσκωverb of purpose clause (subjunctive with ὅπως)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (come to know / recognize)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize / come to know'; renders Hebrew יָדַע; the ingressive aorist ('come to know') frames the wonder as revelatory to the nations; the 'recognition formula' (that they may know) is a major theme of the exodus plagues (cf. Exod 14:4, 18) here extended to all peoples.
πάνταallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)πᾶς: 'all'; the universal πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ('all the nations') extends the wonder's witness beyond Israel to the whole world, matching 'the LORD of all the earth' (v. 7).
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἔθνη)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsNominativesubject of γνῶσινἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nation / people / gentiles'; renders Hebrew גּוֹיִם; here the nations of the earth, who are to recognize the LORD's power through the Jordan-wonder — a missionary horizon to the conquest narrative.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive (with ἔθνη: 'the nations of the earth')γῆ: 'earth / land'; see v. 7; 'all the nations of the earth' — the global scope of the wonder's witness.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of the knowing)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the object of γνῶσιν — what the nations are to know: the LORD's mighty power.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with δύναμις)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύναμιςpowerNominativesubject of ἐστινδύναμις: 'power / might / strength'; renders Hebrew here the LORD's 'hand' (יָד) understood as his power; the Hebrew speaks of 'the hand of the LORD,' which the LXX renders 'the power of the LORD' — the might displayed in cutting off the Jordan.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with κυρίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying δύναμις: 'the power of the LORD')κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the power belongs to the LORD — it is his mighty deed that the nations must acknowledge.
ἰσχυράmighty / strongNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν: 'is mighty')ἰσχυρός: 'strong / mighty / powerful'; renders Hebrew חֲזָקָה ('strong / mighty'), used of the LORD's 'mighty hand'; the predicate declares the LORD's power irresistibly strong, the lesson the nations must learn from the wonder.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in the ὅτι-clause)→ stative present (timeless truth about the LORD's power)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula in 'the power of the LORD is mighty' — a present-tense statement of enduring truth, not merely a past event.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the two purpose clauses)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἵναthat / so thatpurpose conjunction (introducing second, inward final clause)ἵνα: 'in order that'; introduces the second purpose — the inward, covenantal aim directed at Israel itself: that they revere the LORD.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the explicit nominative ὑμεῖς is emphatic ('you yourselves'), distinguishing Israel's inward worship from the nations' outward recognition — the wonder has a double audience.
σέβησθεmay revere / worshipPres Mid Subj 2 Pl · σέβομαιverb of purpose clause (subjunctive with ἵνα)→ imperfective subjunctive (continuous reverence)σέβομαι: 'revere / worship / fear (God)'; deponent; renders Hebrew יָרֵא ('fear / reverence'); the present subjunctive denotes ongoing, settled worship; the verb echoes the people's fear of Joshua (ἐφοβοῦντο, v. 14) but directs the deeper reverence to the LORD himself.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of σέβησθεκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the object of Israel's reverence — the worship the wonder is meant to evoke.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativenoun in apposition to κύριον ('the LORD your God')θεός: 'God'; see v. 23; the covenant title κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν ('the LORD your God') seals the catechesis with the covenant relationship — the God of the wonder is Israel's own God.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεόν: 'your God')σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): possessive 'your'; the covenant bond — he is 'your God,' to be revered always.
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (temporal extent)ἐν: 'in / at'; in the phrase ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ ('at all times / always'), temporal extent.
παντὶallDativeattributive adjective (modifying χρόνῳ)πᾶς: 'all / every'; ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ ('at all times / always') makes the reverence perpetual, matching the 'forever' (ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος, v. 7) and 'perpetually' (διὰ παντός, v. 6) of the memorial — the worship is to be unceasing.
χρόνῳtimeDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'at all times')χρόνος: 'time'; see v. 14; ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ ('always') closes the chapter on a note of perpetual reverence — the enduring purpose of the memorial stones.