King James Version

Joshua 3:16

That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

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Hebrew

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וַיַּעַמְד֡וּvayaamdvand standעָמַדconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and stand”, the next action in the storyH5975to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, m…הַמַּיִם֩hamayimthe waterמַיִםdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the water”, the ordinary formH4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen[phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).הַיֹּרְדִ֨יםhayoredimthe bring downיָרַדdefinite article, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “the bring down”, a verb used as a describing wordH3381to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)[idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take…מִלְמַ֜עְלָהmilmalahfrom to aboveמַעַלpreposition, preposition, adverb, directional ending — “from to above”H4605properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on ([idiom] very) high, over, up(-on, -ward), very.קָ֣מוּqamvriseקוּםverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “rise”, a completed actionH6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (u…נֵדnedheapנֵדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “heap”, the ordinary formH5067a mound, i.e. waveheap.אֶחָ֗דechadfirstאֶחָדadjective, cardinal, masculine, singular, absolute — “first”, the ordinary formH259properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) firsta, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,הַרְחֵ֨קharcheqlooseרָחַקverb, hiphil, infinitive absolute — “loose”, the verb used for emphasisH7368to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)(a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, [idiom] refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).מְאֹ֜דmeodespeciallyמְאֹדadverb — “especially”H3966properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated)diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well.באדםvdmin Adamאָדָםpreposition, with the article, noun, proper name — “in Adam”H121Adam the name of the first man, also of a place in PalestineAdam.מֵֽאָדָ֤םmeadamfrom Adamאָדָםpreposition, noun, proper name — “from Adam”H121Adam the name of the first man, also of a place in PalestineAdam.הָעִיר֙hairthe cityעִירdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the city”, the ordinary formH5892a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.אֲשֶׁר֙asherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…מִצַּ֣דmitsadfrom sideצַדpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “from side”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6654a side; figuratively, an adversary(be-) side.צָֽרְתָ֔ןtsaretanZarthan. qצָרְתָןnoun, proper name — “Zarthan. q”H6891Tsarethan, a place in PalestineZarthan. qוְהַיֹּרְדִ֗יםvehayoredimand the bring downיָרַדconjunction, definite article, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “and the bring down”, a verb used as a describing wordH3381to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)[idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take…עַ֣לalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…יָ֧םyamseaיָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “sea”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3220a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the southsea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward).הָעֲרָבָ֛הhaaravahthe desertעֲרָבָהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the desert”, the ordinary formH6160a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red SeaArabah, champaign, desert, evening, heaven, plain, wilderness. See also H1026 (בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה).יָםyamseaיָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “sea”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3220a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the southsea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward).הַמֶּ֖לַחhamelachthe saltמֶלַחdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the salt”, the ordinary formH4417properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved)salt(-pit).תַּ֣מּוּtamvaccomplishתָּמַםverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “accomplish”, a completed actionH8552to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitiveaccomplish, cease, be clean (pass-) ed, consume, have done, (come to an, have an, make an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone, [idiom] be all here, be (make) perfect, be spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted, whole.נִכְרָ֑תוּnikhratvcovenantכָּרַתverb, niphal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “covenant”, a completed actionH3772to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.וְהָעָ֥םvehaamand the peopleעַםconjunction, definite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and the people”, the ordinary formH5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flockfolk, men, nation, people.עָבְר֖וּavervalienateעָבַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “alienate”, a completed actionH5674to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way…נֶ֥גֶדnegedagainstנֶגֶדpreposition — “against”H5048a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or beforeabout, (over) against, [idiom] aloof, [idiom] far (off), [idiom] from, over, presence, [idiom] other side, sight, [idiom] to view.יְרִיחֽוֹyerichvoJerichoיְרִיחוֹnoun, proper name — “Jericho”H3405Jericho or Jerecho, a place in PalestineJericho.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off from Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off; and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Young’s Literal Translation

that the waters stand; those coming down from above have risen — one heap, very far above Adam the city, which [is] at the side of Zaretan; and those going down by the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, have been completely cut off; and the people have passed through over-against Jericho;

World English Bible

the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over near Jericho.

Darby Translation

the waters which flowed down from above stood [and] rose up in a heap, very far, by Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan; and those that flowed down towards the sea of the plain, the salt sea, were completely cut off. And the people went over opposite to Jericho.

Douay-Rheims

The waters that came down from above stood in one place, and swelling up like a mountain, were seen afar off from the city that is called Adom, to the place of Sarthan: but those that were beneath, ran down into the sea of the wilderness (which now is called the Dead Sea) until they wholly failed.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

then the waters that came down from above stopped; there stood one solid heap very far off, as far as the region of Kariathiarim, and the lower part came down to the sea of Araba, the salt sea, till it completely failed; and the people stood opposite Jericho.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ ἔστη τὰ ὕδατα τὰ καταβαίνοντα ἄνωθεν, ἔστη πῆγμα ἓν ἀφεστηκὸς μακρὰν σφόδρα σφοδρῶς ἕως μέρους Καριαθιαρίμ· τὸ δὲ καταβαῖνον κατέβη εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν Ἄραβα θάλασσαν ἁλὸς, ἕως εἰς τὸ τέλος ἐξέλιπε· καὶ ὁ λαὸς εἱστήκει ἀπέναντι Ἱεριχώ.