The Meaning of Joshua 3:17 Explained

Joshua 3:17

KJV: And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

YLT: and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stand on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan -- established, and all Israel are passing over on dry ground till that all the nation hath completed to pass over the Jordan.

Darby: And the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan. And all Israel went over on dry ground, until all the nation had completely gone over the Jordan.

ASV: And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the priests  that bare  the ark  of the covenant  of the LORD  stood  firm  on dry ground  in the midst  of Jordan,  and all the Israelites  passed over  on dry ground,  until all the people  were passed  clean  over  Jordan. 

What does Joshua 3:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 3:1-17 - The Jordan Safely Crossed
For three days the host faced that swollen river. It was enough to appall them, except that, like Abraham, they dared to behold it in the light of the divine promise. Every method was adopted to impress on them that the river was cleft by and for the Ark. The distance between the people and the advancing priests was purposely widened that there might be no doubt about the miracle. Whenever we step out on the unknown path, the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolizes Christ, precedes, Isaiah 52:12.
The waters far up the stream were arrested and formed themselves into a vast lake. The bed of the river became dry for miles. The priests stood still till all Israel was safely over. Not only the leaders and priests, but the rank and file. Each of the blood-bought is dear to God. They shall not come into judgment, John 5:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 3

1  Joshua come to Jordan
2  The officers instruct the people for their passage
7  The Lord encourages Joshua
9  Joshua encourages the people
14  The water of Jordan are divided

What do the individual words in Joshua 3:17 mean?

And stood the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan firm and all Israel crossed over on dry ground until that completely all the people had crossed over - the Jordan
וַיַּעַמְד֣וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹ֠שְׂאֵי הָאָר֨וֹן בְּרִית־ יְהוָ֜ה בֶּחָֽרָבָ֛ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הָכֵ֑ן וְכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֹֽבְרִים֙ בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־ תַּ֙מּוּ֙ כָּל־ הַגּ֔וֹי לַעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּֽן

וַיַּעַמְד֣וּ  And  stood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
נֹ֠שְׂאֵי  who  bore 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
הָאָר֨וֹן  the  ark 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
בְּרִית־  of  the  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
יְהוָ֜ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בֶּחָֽרָבָ֛ה  on  dry  ground 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָרָבָה  
Sense: dry land, dry ground.
בְּת֥וֹךְ  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן  of  the  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
הָכֵ֑ן  firm 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
עֹֽבְרִים֙  crossed  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה  on  dry  ground 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָרָבָה  
Sense: dry land, dry ground.
עַ֤ד  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תַּ֙מּוּ֙  completely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: תָּמַם  
Sense: to be complete, be finished, be at an end.
הַגּ֔וֹי  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
לַעֲבֹ֖ר  had  crossed  over 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַיַּרְדֵּֽן  the  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).