The Meaning of Joshua 3:16 Explained

Joshua 3:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: that the waters stand; those coming down from above have risen -- one heap, very far above Adam the city, which is at the side of Zaretan; and those going down by the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, have been completely cut off; and the people have passed through over-against Jericho;

Darby: the waters which flowed down from above stood and rose up in a heap, very far, by Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan; and those that flowed down towards the sea of the plain, the salt sea, were completely cut off. And the people went over opposite to Jericho.

ASV: that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Joshua 3:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 3:1-17 - The Jordan Safely Crossed
For three days the host faced that swollen river. It was enough to appall them, except that, like Abraham, they dared to behold it in the light of the divine promise. Every method was adopted to impress on them that the river was cleft by and for the Ark. The distance between the people and the advancing priests was purposely widened that there might be no doubt about the miracle. Whenever we step out on the unknown path, the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolizes Christ, precedes, Isaiah 52:12.
The waters far up the stream were arrested and formed themselves into a vast lake. The bed of the river became dry for miles. The priests stood still till all Israel was safely over. Not only the leaders and priests, but the rank and file. Each of the blood-bought is dear to God. They shall not come into judgment, John 5:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 3

1  Joshua come to Jordan
2  The officers instruct the people for their passage
7  The Lord encourages Joshua
9  Joshua encourages the people
14  The water of Jordan are divided

What do the individual words in Joshua 3:16 mean?

That stood [still] the waters which came down from upstream [and] rose in heap a far away very Adam at Adam the city that [is] beside Zaretan so the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah Sea the Salt failed [and] were cut off and the people crossed over opposite Jericho
וַיַּעַמְד֡וּ הַמַּיִם֩ הַיֹּרְדִ֨ים מִלְמַ֜עְלָה קָ֣מוּ נֵד־ אֶחָ֗ד הַרְחֵ֨ק מְאֹ֜ד [באדם] (מֵֽאָדָ֤ם) הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִצַּ֣ד צָֽרְתָ֔ן וְהַיֹּרְדִ֗ים עַ֣ל יָ֧ם הָעֲרָבָ֛ה יָם־ הַמֶּ֖לַח תַּ֣מּוּ נִכְרָ֑תוּ וְהָעָ֥ם עָבְר֖וּ נֶ֥גֶד יְרִיחֽוֹ

וַיַּעַמְד֡וּ  That  stood  [still] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
הַמַּיִם֩  the  waters 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
הַיֹּרְדִ֨ים  which  came  down 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
מִלְמַ֜עְלָה  from  upstream 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
קָ֣מוּ  [and]  rose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
נֵד־  in  heap 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵד  
Sense: heap.
הַרְחֵ֨ק  far  away 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: רָחַק  
Sense: to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away.
מְאֹ֜ד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
[באדם]  Adam 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
(מֵֽאָדָ֤ם)  at  Adam 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: first man.
הָעִיר֙  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
אֲשֶׁר֙  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
מִצַּ֣ד  beside 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צַד 
Sense: side.
צָֽרְתָ֔ן  Zaretan 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרְתָן  
Sense: a place in the Jordan valley where the river parted for Israel to pass over for the conquest of Canaan.
וְהַיֹּרְדִ֗ים  so  the  waters  that  went  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
עַ֣ל  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יָ֧ם  the  Sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
הָעֲרָבָ֛ה  of  the  Arabah 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲרָבָה  
Sense: desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness.
יָם־  Sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
הַמֶּ֖לַח  the  Salt 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלַח  
Sense: salt.
תַּ֣מּוּ  failed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: תָּמַם  
Sense: to be complete, be finished, be at an end.
נִכְרָ֑תוּ  [and]  were  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
וְהָעָ֥ם  and  the  people 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
עָבְר֖וּ  crossed  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
נֶ֥גֶד  opposite 
Parse: Preposition
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
יְרִיחֽוֹ  Jericho 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.