King James Version
Joshua 4:6 in the King James Version says “That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by th...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? in time: Heb. to morrow”
Joshua 4:6 · KJV
Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? in time: Heb. to morrow
Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
KJV Study — Public Domain
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
“That this may be a sign”
H226a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc
“among”
H7130properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
“you that when your children”
H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
“their fathers in time to come”
H4279properly, deferred, i.e., the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
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.
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