Joshua 3:15

Authorized King James Version

And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּכְב֞וֹא
were come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#2
נֹֽשְׂאֵ֣י
And as they that bare
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#3
הָֽאָר֔וֹן
the ark
a box
#4
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#5
וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן
for Jordan
jarden, the principal river of palestine
#6
וְרַגְלֵ֤י
and the feet
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
#7
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙
of the priests
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
#8
נֹֽשְׂאֵ֣י
And as they that bare
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#9
הָֽאָר֔וֹן
the ark
a box
#10
נִטְבְּל֖וּ
were dipped
to dip, to immerse
#11
בִּקְצֵ֣ה
in the brim
an extremity
#12
הַמָּ֑יִם
of the water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#13
וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן
for Jordan
jarden, the principal river of palestine
#14
מָלֵא֙
overfloweth
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
#15
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#16
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#17
גְּדוֹתָ֔יו
all his banks
a border of a river (as cut into by the stream)
#18
כֹּ֖ל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#19
יְמֵ֥י
all the time
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#20
קָצִֽיר׃
of harvest
severed, a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Joshua Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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