King James Version

What Does Joshua 4:23 Mean?

Joshua 4:23 in the King James Version says “For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

Joshua 4:23 · KJV


Context

21

And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? in time: Heb. to morrow

22

Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

23

For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

24

That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever. for ever: Heb. all days


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

This verse explicitly connects the Jordan crossing to the Red Sea deliverance, using the verb yabesh (יָבֵשׁ, "dried up") for both events. The phrase "until ye were passed over" (ad ovrekhem, עַד עָבְרְכֶם) emphasizes divine timing—God maintained the miracle exactly as long as necessary for Israel's complete passage. This demonstrates God's precision in providential care, neither premature nor delayed.

The typological connection between the two crossings is theologically rich. The Red Sea marked deliverance from bondage; the Jordan marked entry into inheritance. Together they bracket Israel's journey from slavery to freedom, from wandering to rest, from promise to possession. The shift from first person ("before us") to second person ("before you") in some Hebrew manuscripts creates continuity between generations—the same God who delivered fathers now delivers children.

This two-fold water crossing typologically prefigures Christian salvation. Baptism symbolizes both our Red Sea (deliverance from sin's bondage through Christ's death and resurrection) and our Jordan (entrance into new life and spiritual inheritance). The Apostle Paul explicitly connects the Red Sea crossing to baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2), establishing that these Old Testament events foreshadow New Testament realities. Just as Israel passed through water to freedom and inheritance, believers pass through baptismal waters symbolizing union with Christ in death and resurrection.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Red Sea crossing occurred approximately 40 years before the Jordan crossing (around 1446 BCE traditional dating, 1230 BCE alternate dating). The older generation that experienced the Red Sea deliverance had died in the wilderness (except Joshua and Caleb), making the Jordan crossing the defining salvation experience for this new generation. By deliberately connecting the two events, God established continuity of His salvific work across generations.

Ancient Near Eastern peoples viewed water as chaotic and threatening, with sea monsters (Leviathan, Rahab) symbolizing primordial chaos. Yahweh's mastery over water—splitting seas, stopping rivers, walking on lakes—demonstrated His absolute sovereignty over creation and chaos. While pagan gods supposedly battled water deities, Yahweh commanded waters with a word, displaying incomparable power.

The Gilgal memorial preserving this testimony became central to Israel's cultic life. Prophets later invoked these crossing miracles when calling Israel to renewed faith (Psalm 66:6, 114:3-5; Isaiah 43:16-19; 51:9-11). The pattern of water-crossing as salvation motif permeates Scripture, climaxing in Christian baptism and the eschatological vision of the sea of glass before God's throne (Revelation 4:6, 15:2) and the New Jerusalem with its river of life (Revelation 22:1-2).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do the combined Red Sea and Jordan crossings help you understand the full scope of salvation—deliverance from bondage and entrance into blessing?
  2. In what ways does your baptism symbolize both types of crossing—death to sin and new life in Christ?
  3. What testimonies of God's faithfulness across your life journey could you preserve for future generations?
  4. How does recognizing God's precise timing in maintaining miracles ("until ye were passed over") encourage trust in His providential care for you?
  5. What spiritual 'Jordan crossings' mark transitions from promise to possession in your Christian walk?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
אֲשֶׁר1 of 21
H834

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

הוֹבִ֥ישׁ2 of 21

dried up

H3001

to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)

יְהוָ֨ה3 of 21

For the LORD

H3068

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

אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֧ם4 of 21

your God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֶת5 of 21
H853

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

מֵ֧י6 of 21

the waters

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן7 of 21

of Jordan

H3383

jarden, the principal river of palestine

מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ8 of 21

from before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

עַֽד9 of 21
H5704

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

עָבְרֵֽנוּ׃10 of 21

us until we were gone over

H5674

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

כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר11 of 21
H834

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

עָשָׂה֩12 of 21

did

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

יְהוָ֨ה13 of 21

For the LORD

H3068

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

אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֧ם14 of 21

your God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

לְיַם15 of 21

sea

H3220

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

ס֛וּף16 of 21

to the Red

H5488

a reed, especially the papyrus

אֲשֶׁר17 of 21
H834

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

הוֹבִ֥ישׁ18 of 21

dried up

H3001

to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)

מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ19 of 21

from before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

עַד20 of 21
H5704

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

עָבְרֵֽנוּ׃21 of 21

us until we were gone over

H5674

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


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 4:23 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 4:23 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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