King James Version

Joshua 3:4

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

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Hebrew

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אַ֣ךְakhonlyאַךְparticle, affirmation — “only”H389a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyalso, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, [phrase] wherefore, yet (but).רָח֣וֹקrachoqof oldרָחוֹקadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “of old”, the ordinary formH7350remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)(a-) far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.יִהְיֶ֗הyihyehbeהָיָהverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be”, an unfinished actionH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙beyneykhembetweenבֵּיןpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “between”H996between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...oramong, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), [phrase] from (the widest), [idiom] in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.ובינוvvynvand betweenבֵּיןconjunction, preposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and between”H996between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...oramong, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), [phrase] from (the widest), [idiom] in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.וּבֵינָ֔יוuveynayvand betweenבֵּיןconjunction, preposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and between”H996between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...oramong, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), [phrase] from (the widest), [idiom] in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִםkealpayimas thousandאֶלֶףpreposition, adjective, cardinal, both genders, plural, absolute — “as thousand”, the ordinary formH505hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandthousand.אַמָּ֖הamahcubitאַמָּהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “cubit”, the ordinary formH520properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for H3967 (מֵאָה)), measure, post.בַּמִּדָּ֑הbamidahin garmentמִדָּהpreposition, with the article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “in garment”, the ordinary formH4060properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard); hence a portion (as measured) or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as measured)garment, measure(-ing, meteyard, piece, size, (great) stature, tribute, wide.אַֽלalnotאַלparticle, negative — “not”H408not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothingnay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.תִּקְרְב֣וּtiqrevvapproachקָרַבverb, qal, jussive, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “approach”, a wish or indirect commandH7126to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose(cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.אֵלָ֗יוelayvamongאֵלpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “among”H413near, with or among; often in general, toabout, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).לְמַ֤עַןlemaanthatמַעַןpreposition — “that”H4616properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order thatbecause of, to the end (intent) that, for (to,... 's sake), [phrase] lest, that, to.אֲשֶׁרasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, 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,…תֵּֽדְעוּ֙tedevknowיָדַעverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “know”, an unfinished actionH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙haderekhthe alongדֶּרֶךְdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the along”, the ordinary formH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).אֲשֶׁ֣רasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, 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,…תֵּֽלְכוּtelekhvcarryיָלַךְverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “carry”, an unfinished actionH3212to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)[idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue,…בָ֔הּvahinבָ֔הּpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “in”inכִּ֣יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…לֹ֧אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…עֲבַרְתֶּ֛םavartemalienateעָבַרverb, qal, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, 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…בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְbaderekhin alongדֶּרֶךְpreposition, with the article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “in along”, the ordinary formH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).מִתְּמ֥וֹלmitmolfrom yesterdayתְּמוֹלpreposition, adverb — “from yesterday”H8543properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday[phrase] before (-time), [phrase] these (three) days, [phrase] heretofore, [phrase] time past, yesterday.שִׁלְשֽׁוֹםshilshomexcellent thingsשִׁלְשׁוֹםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “excellent things”, the ordinary formH8032trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday[phrase] before (that time, -time), excellent things (from the margin), [phrase] heretofore, three days, [phrase] time past.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure; come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Young’s Literal Translation

only, a distance is between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure; ye do not come near unto it, so that ye know the way in which ye go, for ye have not passed over in the way heretofore.'

World English Bible

Yet there shall be a space between you and it of about two thousand cubits by measure—don’t come closer to it—that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before.”

Darby Translation

yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Ye shall not come near it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Douay-Rheims

And let there be between you and the ark the space of two thousand cubits: that you may see it afar off, and know which way you must go: for you have not gone this way before: and take care you come not near the ark.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure; come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.'

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

But let there be a distance between you and it; ye shall stand as much as two thousand cubits from it . Do not draw nigh to it, that ye may know the way which ye are to go; for ye have not gone the way before.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀλλὰ μακρὰν ἔστω ἀναμέσον ὑμῶν καὶ ἐκείνης, ὅσον δισχιλίους πήχεις στήσεσθε· μὴ προσεγγίσητε αὐτῇ, ἵνα ἐπίστησθε τὴν ὁδὸν, ἣν πορεύσεσθε αὐτήν· οὐ γὰρ πεπόρευσθε τὴν ὁδὸν ἀπʼ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας.