Joshua 3:16

Authorized King James Version

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That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Original Language Analysis

וַיַּֽעַמְד֡וּ stood H5975
וַיַּֽעַמְד֡וּ stood
Strong's: H5975
Word #: 1 of 26
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
הַמַּיִם֩ That the waters H4325
הַמַּיִם֩ That the waters
Strong's: H4325
Word #: 2 of 26
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְהַיֹּֽרְדִ֗ים and those that came down H3381
וְהַיֹּֽרְדִ֗ים and those that came down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 3 of 26
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מִלְמַ֜עְלָה from above H4605
מִלְמַ֜עְלָה from above
Strong's: H4605
Word #: 4 of 26
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
קָ֣מוּ and rose up H6965
קָ֣מוּ and rose up
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 5 of 26
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
נֵד heap H5067
נֵד heap
Strong's: H5067
Word #: 6 of 26
a mound, i.e., wave
אֶחָ֗ד upon an H259
אֶחָ֗ד upon an
Strong's: H259
Word #: 7 of 26
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
הַרְחֵ֨ק far H7368
הַרְחֵ֨ק far
Strong's: H7368
Word #: 8 of 26
to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
מְאֹ֜ד very H3966
מְאֹ֜ד very
Strong's: H3966
Word #: 9 of 26
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
בֵֽאָדָ֤ם Adam H121
בֵֽאָדָ֤ם Adam
Strong's: H121
Word #: 10 of 26
adam the name of the first man, also of a place in palestine
הָעִיר֙ from the city H5892
הָעִיר֙ from the city
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 11 of 26
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
אֲשֶׁר֙ H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's: H834
Word #: 12 of 26
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מִצַּ֣ד that is beside H6654
מִצַּ֣ד that is beside
Strong's: H6654
Word #: 13 of 26
a side; figuratively, an adversary
צָֽרְתָ֔ן Zaretan H6891
צָֽרְתָ֔ן Zaretan
Strong's: H6891
Word #: 14 of 26
tsarethan, a place in palestine
וְהַיֹּֽרְדִ֗ים and those that came down H3381
וְהַיֹּֽרְדִ֗ים and those that came down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 15 of 26
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
עַ֣ל H5921
עַ֣ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 16 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יָם sea H3220
יָם sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 17 of 26
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
הָֽעֲרָבָ֛ה of the plain H6160
הָֽעֲרָבָ֛ה of the plain
Strong's: H6160
Word #: 18 of 26
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea
יָם sea H3220
יָם sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 19 of 26
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
הַמֶּ֖לַח even the salt H4417
הַמֶּ֖לַח even the salt
Strong's: H4417
Word #: 20 of 26
properly, powder, i.e., (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved)
תַּ֣מּוּ failed H8552
תַּ֣מּוּ failed
Strong's: H8552
Word #: 21 of 26
to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
נִכְרָ֑תוּ and were cut off H3772
נִכְרָ֑תוּ and were cut off
Strong's: H3772
Word #: 22 of 26
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
וְהָעָ֥ם and the people H5971
וְהָעָ֥ם and the people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 23 of 26
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
עָֽבְר֖וּ passed over H5674
עָֽבְר֖וּ passed over
Strong's: H5674
Word #: 24 of 26
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
נֶ֥גֶד H5048
נֶ֥גֶד
Strong's: H5048
Word #: 25 of 26
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
יְרִיחֽוֹ׃ right against Jericho H3405
יְרִיחֽוֹ׃ right against Jericho
Strong's: H3405
Word #: 26 of 26
jericho or jerecho, a place in palestine

Analysis & Commentary

The waters standing 'upon an heap very far from...Adam' shows miracle's comprehensive scope affecting long river stretches, not local phenomenon.

Historical Context

This verse appears in the Jordan crossing narrative, one of Joshua's most significant events demonstrating God's power and faithfulness in bringing Israel into the Promised Land.

Questions for Reflection

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