Joshua 4 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Joshua 4
Twelve stones of remembrance: witness to Christ’s saving work
Editorial Christian reading: remembrance is joined to testimony for the next generation. Cyril compares Joshua’s twelve men for dividing the inheritance with Christ’s twelve apostles; he does not identify the twelve memorial stones in this passage [CYR, §11].
4:1–9 | Twelve stones taken and a memorial set in the Jordan
Verse MT 4:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:1
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, YHWH said to Joshua:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:1
When the whole people had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua:
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The command follows the completed crossing in both texts.
Verse MT 4:2 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:2
“Take twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:2
“Take men from the people, one from each tribe,
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek leaves the number implicit here; twelve is explicit in its verses 3–4.
Verse MT 4:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:3
and command them: ‘Take twelve stones from here, from the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firmly. Carry them across with you and set them down at the lodging place where you spend tonight.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:3
and direct them: ‘Take twelve ready stones from the middle of the Jordan, carry them across with you, and set them in your camp where you camp tonight.’”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew locates the stones where the priests stood; Greek describes the stones themselves as ready or prepared.
Verse MT 4:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:4
Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:4
Joshua summoned twelve distinguished men from the sons of Israel, one from each tribe,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew emphasizes appointment; Greek describes the men as distinguished.
Saints: Cyril compares Joshua’s twelve appointed men for dividing the inheritance with Christ’s twelve apostles. He does not identify the twelve memorial stones in this passage [CYR, §11].
Verse MT 4:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:5
Joshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of YHWH your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you lift one stone onto his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:5
and said to them, “Come forward before me, before the Lord, into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you shall take a stone from there and lift it onto his shoulders, according to the number of Israel’s twelve tribes,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek has “before me, before the Lord,” where Hebrew explicitly mentions the ark; Greek also specifies twelve.
Verse MT 4:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:6
so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:6
so that these may remain a permanent sign for you. When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek emphasizes permanence and uses a singular parent–child address.
Verse MT 4:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:7
you shall tell them, ‘The Jordan’s waters were cut off before the ark of the covenant of YHWH. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s waters were cut off.’ These stones shall be a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:7
you shall explain to your son, ‘The River Jordan failed before the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth as it crossed.’ These stones shall be a memorial for you, the sons of Israel, forever.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew repeats the cutting-off statement; Greek expands the divine title and compresses the explanation.
Verse MT 4:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:8
The sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, as YHWH had told Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. They carried them to the lodging place and set them down there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:8
The sons of Israel did as the Lord commanded Joshua. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord directed Joshua when the sons of Israel finished crossing. They carried them with them into the camp and set them there.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek links the instruction to completion of the crossing; Hebrew links the number to the tribes and names Joshua as the people’s commander.
Verse MT 4:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:9
Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the covenant had stood. They remain there to this day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:9
Joshua also set up another twelve stones in the Jordan itself, in the place beneath the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They are there to this day.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly says “another twelve,” clarifying a second group of stones.
4:10–18 | The crossing completed; the waters return
Verse MT 4:10 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:10
The priests carrying the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything YHWH had commanded Joshua to tell the people was completed, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried and crossed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:10
The priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood in the Jordan until Joshua completed everything the Lord had commanded him to announce to the people. The people hurried and crossed.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the additional reference to everything Moses had commanded Joshua.
Verse MT 4:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:11
When all the people had finished crossing, the ark of YHWH and the priests crossed before the people.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:11
When all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the covenant of the Lord crossed, and the stones were before them.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has “the priests”; Greek has “the stones” (lithoi). The Greek object is retained without correction toward Hebrew.
Verse MT 4:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:12
The sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed armed before the sons of Israel, as Moses had told them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:12
The sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed equipped before the sons of Israel, just as Moses had commanded them.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both describe the eastern tribes fulfilling their obligation.
Verse MT 4:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:13
About forty thousand equipped for war crossed before YHWH for battle, to the plains of Jericho.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:13
Forty thousand equipped for battle crossed before the Lord for war, toward the city of Jericho.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives an approximate number and the plains; Greek states forty thousand and the city.
Verse MT 4:14 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:14
On that day YHWH exalted Joshua in the eyes of all Israel. They revered him as they had revered Moses, all the days of his life.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:14
On that day the Lord exalted Joshua before the whole race of Israel. They feared him as they had Moses, as long as he lived.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Joshua’s enduring public authority corresponds; reverence/fear reflects the shared expression.
Verse MT 4:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:15
YHWH said to Joshua:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:15
The Lord said to Joshua:
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The speaker and recipient correspond.
Verse MT 4:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:16
“Command the priests carrying the ark of the testimony to come up from the Jordan.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:16
“Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the Lord to come out of the Jordan.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek gives a fuller ark title; testimony is retained in both.
Verse MT 4:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:17
Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:17
Joshua commanded the priests, “Come out of the Jordan.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The command to leave the river corresponds.
Verse MT 4:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:18
When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of YHWH came up from the middle of the Jordan and the soles of their feet reached dry ground, the Jordan’s waters returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:18
When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord came out of the Jordan and set their feet on the land, the Jordan’s water rushed into its place and flowed along its whole bank as before.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek highlights the water’s rush; both describe its restoration after the priests leave.
4:19–24 | Tell your children what God has done
Verse MT 4:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:19
The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal, on the eastern edge of Jericho.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:19
The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. The sons of Israel camped at Gilgal, in the region east of Jericho.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Date and campsite correspond.
Verse MT 4:20 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:20
Joshua set up at Gilgal these twelve stones that they had taken from the Jordan.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:20
Joshua set up at Gilgal these twelve stones that he had taken from the Jordan,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew has the plural “they took”; Greek grammatically assigns the taking to Joshua.
Verse MT 4:21 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:21
He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What are these stones?’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:21
saying, “When your sons ask you, ‘What are these stones?’
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The parent–child teaching setting corresponds; Greek is more concise.
Verse MT 4:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:22
tell your children, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:22
tell your sons, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground,
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The crossing is the stones’ central testimony.
Verse MT 4:23 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:23
For YHWH your God dried up the Jordan’s waters before you until you crossed, as YHWH your God did to the Sea of Reeds, which He dried up before us until we crossed,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:23
when the Lord our God dried up the Jordan’s water before them until they crossed, just as the Lord our God did to the Red Sea, which the Lord our God dried up before us until we passed through,’
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek shifts you/your to them/our and repeats the divine title; both connect Jordan with the earlier sea crossing.
Verse MT 4:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 4:24
so that all the peoples of the earth may know that YHWH’s hand is mighty, and so that you may fear YHWH your God always.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 4:24
so that all the nations of the earth may know that the Lord’s power is mighty, and so that you may revere the Lord your God at all times.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek power expresses Hebrew’s hand imagery; worldwide testimony and lasting reverence correspond.