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Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible

Joshua 4:6

"This shall be a sign among you; when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'

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?'
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?'
Darby Translation
that this may be a sign in your midst. When your children ask hereafter, saying, What mean ye 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 Now when the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, 'Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet are standing firmly, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the encampment where you will spend the night.'" 4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, "Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 6 "This shall be a sign among you; when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'7 then you shall say to them, 'That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever." 8 So the sons of Israel did exactly as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the encampment and put them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, 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
Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have obtained a male child with the help of the LORD."
Genesis 4:3
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.
Genesis 4:4
Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering;
Genesis 4:5
but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy.
Genesis 4:8
Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Genesis 4:11
"Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
Genesis 4:13
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to endure!
Job 5:2
"For irritation kills the fool, And jealousy brings death to the simple.
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us debate your case," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.
Jeremiah 2:5
This is what the LORD says: "What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me, And walked after emptiness and became empty?

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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