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Joshua 4:16

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Tell the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant to come up out of the Jordan River.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is instructing Joshua to have the priests carrying the sacred ark leave the Jordan River.

📚 Historical Context

In the book of Joshua, the Israelites had just crossed the Jordan River on dry ground through a miraculous parting of the waters, similar to the Red Sea crossing during the Exodus. The priests were carrying the Ark of the Testimony and standing in the middle of the river to hold the waters back until all the people passed. Now, God is commanding Joshua to instruct the priests to leave the river, signaling the completion of this divine act that allowed the Israelites to enter the Promised Land.

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Translation & Methodology Sources

The original manuscript text provided is based on the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain. Our modern English simplifications are generated via proprietary philological synthesis, cross-referenced against Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and the Textus Receptus to ensure unwavering theological and etymological precision.

Read our full translation methodology →