The Meaning of Joshua 3:4 Explained

Joshua 3:4

KJV: Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

YLT: only, a distance is between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure; ye do not come near unto it, so that ye know the way in which ye go, for ye have not passed over in the way heretofore.'

Darby: yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Ye shall not come near it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

ASV: Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yet there shall be a space  between you and it, about two thousand  cubits  by measure:  come not near  unto it, that ye may know  the way  by which ye must go:  for ye have not passed  [this] way  heretofore. 

What does Joshua 3:4 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 3:4 mean?

Yet a space there shall be between you and it among about two thousand cubits by measure Not do come near it that by which you may know - the way which you must go in for not you have passed [this] way before before -
אַ֣ךְ ׀ רָח֣וֹק יִהְיֶ֗ה בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙ [ובינו] (וּבֵינָ֔יו) כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם אַמָּ֖ה בַּמִּדָּ֑ה אַֽל־ תִּקְרְב֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו לְמַ֤עַן אֲשֶׁר־ תֵּֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־ הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־ בָ֔הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֧א עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ מִתְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם ס

אַ֣ךְ ׀  Yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
רָח֣וֹק  a  space 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.
יִהְיֶ֗ה  there  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙  between  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
[ובינו]  and  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine singular
כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם  about  two  thousand 
Parse: Preposition-k, Number, md
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
אַמָּ֖ה  cubits 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַמָּה 
Sense: cubit—a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 8 in (.
בַּמִּדָּ֑ה  by  measure 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִדָּה 
Sense: measure, measurement, stature, size, garment.
תִּקְרְב֣וּ  do  come  near 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
לְמַ֤עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
אֲשֶׁר־  by  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תֵּֽדְעוּ֙  you  may  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙  the  way 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
תֵּֽלְכוּ־  you  must  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם  you  have  passed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ  [this]  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
מִתְּמ֥וֹל  before 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: תְּמֹול  
Sense: before, before that time, beforetime, heretofore, of late, of old, these days, time(s) past, yesterday, day before yesterday, recently, formerly.
שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם  before 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שִׁלְשֹׁום  
Sense: day before yesterday, three days ago.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation