King James Version

What Does Joshua 3:17 Mean?

Joshua 3:17 in the King James Version says “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 t...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Joshua 3:17 · KJV

Context

15

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,)

16

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.

17

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.

Read Joshua 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse describes the fulfillment of God's promise—the miracle occurred exactly as predicted. The phrase 'stood firm' (amad nakon, עָמַד נָכוֹן) emphasizes stability and security; the priests weren't tentatively balanced but firmly established on dry ground. Their position 'in the midst of Jordan' (betok hayarden, בְּתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן) meant they stood in the riverbed's center while waters were supernaturally held back upstream and downstream. The repeated phrase 'on dry ground' (becharavah, בֶּחָרָבָה) echoes Exodus 14:22, 29, deliberately connecting this miracle with the Red Sea crossing. God doesn't provide merely damp or muddy ground but completely dry passage. The phrase 'all the Israelites' (kol-Yisrael, כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל) stresses corporate participation—the entire nation, perhaps 2-3 million people, crossed. The final phrase 'until all the people were passed clean over' (ad asher-tamu kol-hagoy lavor, עַד אֲשֶׁר־תַּמּוּ כָל־הַגּוֹי לַעֲבֹר) indicates the miracle's duration; waters remained stopped until every last person safely crossed. This demonstrates God's patience and care for His people, holding back the waters supernaturally for the hours or days required.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Crossing 2-3 million people plus livestock through the Jordan riverbed required significant time, yet the miracle persisted throughout. Ancient military forces would have been vulnerable during such a crossing, but God's supernatural intervention protected Israel from attack. The priests' courage in stepping into flood-stage waters before seeing the miracle demonstrates faith—they had to get their feet wet before waters parted. This contrasts with the Red Sea where Moses stretched out his rod first; here, priestly obedience precedes visible miracle. The crossing occurred during Passover season (Joshua 4:19), connecting Israel's entrance into Canaan with their deliverance from Egypt 40 years earlier. This timing emphasizes the unity of God's redemptive acts—the same God who delivered from slavery now brings into inheritance. The generation that witnessed this miracle would remember it as undeniable proof of God's power and faithfulness, strengthening their courage for the conquest ahead. Caleb and Joshua, the only adults who saw both the Red Sea and Jordan crossings, witnessed God's bookend miracles framing the wilderness period.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the priests' courage to step into flood waters before seeing the miracle teach about the relationship between obedience and experiencing God's power?
  2. How should God's care in keeping the waters back 'until all the people were passed clean over' encourage you about His patience and attention to every believer's needs?
  3. In what ways does the dry ground through Jordan foreshadow believers' passage through death into resurrection life?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיַּֽעַמְד֣וּ1 of 22

“stood”

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֡ים2 of 22

“And the priests”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

נֹֽ֠שְׂאֵי3 of 22

“that bare”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

הָֽאָר֨וֹן4 of 22

“the ark”

H727

a box

בְּרִית5 of 22

“of the covenant”

H1285

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

יְהוָ֜ה6 of 22

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה7 of 22

“on dry ground”

H2724

a desert

בְּת֥וֹךְ8 of 22

“in the midst”

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃9 of 22

“Jordan”

H3383

jarden, the principal river of palestine

הָכֵ֑ן10 of 22

“firm”

H3559

properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

וְכָל11 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל12 of 22

“and all the Israelites”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לַֽעֲבֹ֖ר13 of 22

“over”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה14 of 22

“on dry ground”

H2724

a desert

עַ֤ד15 of 22
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

אֲשֶׁר16 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

תַּ֙מּוּ֙17 of 22

“clean”

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

כָּל18 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַגּ֔וֹי19 of 22

“until all the people”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

לַֽעֲבֹ֖ר20 of 22

“over”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

אֶת21 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃22 of 22

“Jordan”

H3383

jarden, the principal river of palestine

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 3:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 3:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 14:22Exodus 14:29Psalms 66:6Isaiah 25:82 Kings 2:8Joshua 4:3

Places in This Verse

JordanRiver · Modern: Jordan River · 31.76°N, 35.56°E202 verses across 21 books
View all places in Joshua 3 →

Test Your Knowledge

Joshua 3 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJoshua Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Joshua 3 with CommentaryAll Joshua ChaptersComplete Joshua QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes