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Joshua 3:16

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

The water flowing down from upstream stopped and piled up in a heap very far away, near the city of Adam by Zaretan. The water flowing down toward the Dead Sea was completely cut off. So the people crossed the river directly across from Jericho on dry ground.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God miraculously stopped the Jordan River's flow so the Israelites could cross on dry land into the Promised Land.

📚 Historical Context

This miracle occurred around 1400 BC as the Israelites prepared to enter Canaan after 40 years in the wilderness. The Jordan River was at flood stage during harvest season, making it normally impossible to cross. This divine intervention paralleled God's earlier parting of the Red Sea when they escaped Egypt.

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