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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Joshua 4:6

They will be a sign among you. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?'

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 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?'
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 After all the people had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe. 3 Tell them to get twelve rocks from the middle of the river, from where the priests stood. Carry the rocks and put them down where you stay tonight." 4 So Joshua chose one man from each tribe. Then he called the twelve men together 5 and said to them, "Go out into the river where the Ark of the Lord your God is. Each of you bring back one rock, one for each tribe of Israel, and carry it on your shoulder. 6 They will be a sign among you. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?' 7 Tell them the water stopped flowing in the Jordan when the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord crossed the river. These rocks will always remind the Israelites of this." 8 So the Israelites obeyed Joshua and carried twelve rocks from the middle of the Jordan River, one rock for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded Joshua. They carried the rocks with them and put them down where they made their camp. 9 Joshua also put twelve rocks in the middle of the Jordan River where the priests had stood while carrying the Ark of the Agreement. These rocks are still there today.

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
Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. Eve said, "With the Lord 's help, I have given birth to a man."
Genesis 4:3
Later, Cain brought some food from the ground as a gift to God.
Genesis 4:4
Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
Genesis 4:5
but he did not accept Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry and felt rejected.
Genesis 4:8
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out into the field." While they were out in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Genesis 4:11
And now you will be cursed in your work with the ground, the same ground where your brother's blood fell and where your hands killed him.
Genesis 4:13
Then Cain said to the Lord , "This punishment is more than I can stand!
Job 5:2
Anger kills the fool, and jealousy slays the stupid.
Isaiah 1:18
The Lord says, "Come, let us talk about these things. Though your sins are like scarlet, they can be as white as snow. Though your sins are deep red, they can be white like wool.
Jeremiah 2:5
This is what the Lord says: "I was fair to your ancestors, so why did they turn away from me? Your ancestors worshiped useless idols and became useless themselves.

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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