And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

JOSHUA 4:5KJV
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Joshua 4:5 (KJV)

What does Joshua 4:5 mean?

Joshua 4:5 describes Joshua instructing twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, to cross the Jordan River ahead of the ark of the LORD and each take a stone on his shoulder, matching the number of Israel’s tribes. This action is meant to create a physical reminder of the event for the whole nation.

In this verse, Joshua is speaking directly to the chosen representatives of each tribe as the Israelites are crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The ark of the LORD (the sacred chest representing God’s presence) is central to the event, and the act of carrying stones is a deliberate, symbolic gesture. The stones will later serve as a memorial to remind future generations of how God brought Israel safely across the river.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 4:5

  • "Ark" (אָרוֹן, aron): This word refers to the sacred chest that held the tablets of the covenant. Its mention highlights the importance of God’s presence in this crossing.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, emphasizing that the event is under God’s direct guidance and authority.
  • "Shoulder" (שֶׁכֶם, shekhem): The instruction to carry the stone on the shoulder shows that the stones were large and heavy, making the memorial significant and not just a casual act.
  • "Number" (מִסְפָּר, mispar): The specific mention of the number of tribes (twelve) underlines the unity and collective identity of all Israel in this act.

Why Joshua 4:5 matters

  • Joshua 4:5 clarifies that the memorial stones were not just random rocks but were chosen and carried with effort by representatives of every tribe, making the memorial deeply meaningful for all Israel.
  • The verse emphasizes the central role of the ark of the LORD, showing that God’s presence and leadership are at the heart of Israel’s journey.
  • This instruction sets up the memorial as a teaching tool for future generations, connecting the present moment to the ongoing story of Israel’s relationship with God.

Where else these words appear

“shoulder” Hebrew H7926 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
  • Judges 9:48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
  • Isaiah 9:4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

“number” Hebrew H4557 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
  • Ezra 3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;