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Read the Bible

The Darby Translation

Joshua 4:6

that this may be a sign in your midst. When your children ask hereafter, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Instruction;   Pillar;   Stones;   Token;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jordan, the River;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ark;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jordan;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Miracles, Signs, Wonders;   Sign;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - God;   Jericho;   Joshua;   Quarry;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jordan ;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Gourd;   Stone;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Conquest of Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Catechist;   Images;   Joshua (2);   Joshua, Book of;   Sign;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
Hebrew Names Version
that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, What do you mean by these stones?
King James Version
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?
Lexham English Bible
so that this may be a reminder among you. When your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?'
English Standard Version
that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?'
New Century Version
They will be a sign among you. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?'
New English Translation
The stones will be a reminder to you. When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?'
Amplified Bible
so that this may be a sign among you; when your children ask later, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
New American Standard Bible
"This shall be a sign among you; when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
Geneva Bible (1587)
That this may bee a signe among you, that whe your children shal aske their fathers in time to come, saying, What meane you by these stones?
Legacy Standard Bible
in order that this would be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?'
Contemporary English Version
Someday your children will ask, "Why are these rocks here?" Then you can tell them how the water stopped flowing when the chest was being carried across the river. These rocks will always remind our people of what happened here today.
Complete Jewish Bible
This will be a sign for you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do you mean by these stones?'
Easy-to-Read Version
These rocks will be a sign for you. In the future, your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?'
George Lamsa Translation
That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask you in time to come, saying, What is the meaning of these stones?
Good News Translation
These stones will remind the people of what the Lord has done. In the future, when your children ask what these stones mean to you,
Literal Translation
that this shall be a sign among you, when your children ask hereafter, saying, What are these stones to you?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
yt they maye be a token amonge you. And whan youre children are their fathers here after, and saye: What do these stones there?
American Standard Version
that this may be a sign among you, that, when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
Bible in Basic English
So that this may be a sign among you; when your children say to you in time to come, What is the reason for these stones?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
That this may be a signe among you: That when your chyldren aske their fathers in tyme to come, saying, What [meane] these stones with you?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying: What mean ye by these stones?
King James Version (1611)
That this may be a signe among you, that when your children aske their fathers in time to come, saying, What meane you by these stones?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
that these may be to you continually for an appointed sign, that when thy son asks thee in future, saying, What are these stones to us?
English Revised Version
that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
Berean Standard Bible
to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that it be a signe bitwixe you. And whanne youre sones schulen axe you to morewe, that is, in tyme `to comynge, and schulen seie, What wolen these stonus `to hem silf?
Young's Literal Translation
so that this is a sign in your midst, when your children ask hereafter, saying, What [are] these stones to you?
Update Bible Version
that this may be a sign among you, that, when your sons ask in time to come, saying, What do you mean by these stones?
Webster's Bible Translation
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?
World English Bible
that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, What do you mean by these stones?
New King James Version
that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, "What do these stones mean to you?'
New Living Translation
We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?'
New Life Bible
Let this be something special among you. Your children will ask you later, ‘What do these stones mean to you?'
New Revised Standard
so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
that this may be a sign in your midst, - for your sons will ask in time to come, saying, What mean these stones to you?
Douay-Rheims Bible
That it may be a sign among you: and when your children shall ask you tomorrow, saying: What means these stones?
Revised Standard Version
that this may be a sign among you, when your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'

Contextual Overview

1 And it came to pass when the whole nation had completely gone over the Jordan, that Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 Take you twelve men out of the people, one man out of every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, Take up hence out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place where ye shall lodge this night. 4 And Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had appointed of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, Pass before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and lift up each of you a stone [and put it] upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign in your midst. When your children ask hereafter, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 7 then ye shall say to them, That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it went through the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. 8 And the children of Israel did so, as Joshua had commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging-place, and laid them down there. 9 And twelve stones did Joshua set up in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant had stood firm; and they are there to this day.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a sign: Joshua 22:27, Exodus 12:14, Exodus 13:9, Exodus 31:13, Numbers 16:38, Isaiah 55:13, Ezekiel 20:12, Ezekiel 20:20

when your: Joshua 4:21, Exodus 12:26, Exodus 12:27, Exodus 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:20, Deuteronomy 6:21, Deuteronomy 11:19, Psalms 44:1, Psalms 71:18, Psalms 78:3-8, Isaiah 38:19, Acts 2:39

in time to come: Heb. to-morrow

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:9 - teach them Joshua 4:7 - memorial Joshua 22:24 - In time to come Psalms 78:4 - showing Psalms 111:4 - He hath Psalms 119:27 - so shall I talk Ezekiel 17:12 - Know Joel 1:3 - General Ephesians 6:4 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
And Man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have acquired a man with Jehovah.
Genesis 4:3
And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to Jehovah.
Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat. And Jehovah looked upon Abel, and on his offering;
Genesis 4:5
and upon Cain, and on his offering, he did not look. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:8
And Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Genesis 4:11
And now be thou cursed from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.
Genesis 4:13
And Cain said to Jehovah, My punishment is too great to be borne.
Job 5:2
For vexation killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the simple.
Isaiah 1:18
Come now, let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Jeremiah 2:5
Thus saith Jehovah: What injustice have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and become vain?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That this may be a sign among you,.... A commemorative one:

[that] when your children ask [their fathers] in time to come; or "tomorrow" g and so in all time, or any time hereafter:

saying, what mean you by these stones? what is the reason of setting them up, and in this place, and being just of such a number?

g מחר αυριον, Sept. "eras", Pagninus, Montanus.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 4:6. This may be a sign — Stand as a continual memorial of this miraculous passage, and consequently a proof of their lasting obligation to God.


 
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