Joshua 4:15-18 Meaning: The Command to Come Up
15Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
16“Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, that they come up out of the Jordan.”
17Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”
18When the priests who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet had been lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.
15And the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,
16Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
17Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
18And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
15And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
16Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.
17Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of the Jordan.
18And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned unto their place, and went over all its banks, as aforetime.
15And Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua, saying,
16`Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony, and they come up out of the Jordan.'
17And Joshua commandeth the priests, saying, `Come ye up out of the Jordan.'
18And it cometh to pass, in the coming up of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the midst of the Jordan--the soles of the feet of the priests have been drawn up into the dry ground--and the waters of the Jordan turn back to their place, and go as heretofore over all its banks.
15And Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying,
16Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.
17And Joshua commanded the priests, saying, Come up out of the Jordan.
18And it came to pass when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah had come up out of the midst of the Jordan, [when] the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on to the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and they flowed as previously, over all its banks.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did God command the priests to leave the Jordan only after the people crossed? The return of the waters shows the miracle was His alone.
Context
The nation has crossed the Jordan on dry ground. Forty thousand armed men stand ready on the plains of Jericho. But the priests carrying the ark are still standing in the middle of the riverbed. They have been there since God held back the water. Now God speaks to Joshua with a direct command: tell the priests to come up out of the Jordan. Joshua obeys immediately. The moment the priests step onto dry land, the waters return, flowing over the banks as before. This is the final piece of the miracle. The crossing is not complete until God says it is complete. The chapter emphasizes that every step was under God's direction, from the first touch of the water to the last foot on the bank.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words give this scene its weight.
Come up (עָלָה, alah). This is the verb used throughout the crossing. The people came up from the Jordan into the land of promise. It is a word of ascent, of arrival. When God tells the priests to come up, He is not just saying "walk out." He is saying the time of waiting in the riverbed is finished. The miracle has done its work.
Soles of their feet (כַּפּוֹת רַגְלֵי, kappot raglei). The word for "soles" is the same as "palms" of the hand. The text draws attention to the exact moment of contact with dry ground. As soon as that contact happens, the water returns. The precision shows that the miracle was timed to the step, not a second sooner or later.
Were drawn out (נִתְּקוּ, nittku). This verb means to tear loose, to pull away. The priests’ feet had been planted in the soft riverbed. They had to pull free. It suggests a deliberate, effortful movement. Even in leaving, the priests are active participants in God’s plan.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage as a clear sign of God’s sovereign control over creation. Calvin emphasized that God directed "almost every step" of the priests, and that the immediate return of the waters removed any doubt that the event was a miracle. John Wesley noted that the priests "stayed contentedly in the river till God by Joshua called them out," highlighting their patient obedience.
Other commentators, like those in the Reformed tradition, point to the ark as the symbol of God’s presence. The waters remained parted as long as the ark was in the river. When the ark left, the natural order resumed. This reinforces the belief that God works through specific means and times of His choosing. All traditions agree that the miracle is not just in the parting but in the precise timing of the return.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the main miracle was the waters parting for the people to cross. But the more remarkable detail is that the waters stayed parted the entire time the priests stood in the riverbed, and then returned exactly when God commanded. The miracle is as much about God’s control over the timing as it is over the water itself. In fact, the text highlights God’s direct word to Joshua after the crossing, showing that even the exit from the river was divinely orchestrated.
Living This Out
You may be in a season where God has done something extraordinary, and now you are waiting to take the next step. The priests did not leave the riverbed until God said so. Your task is not to rush the ending. Trust that God knows when to bring you up out of the dry place. The return of normal waters is not a failure. It is the natural order restored by God’s design. This week, ask yourself: am I waiting for God’s command to move, or am I moving ahead on my own? The safest place is in obedience to His timing.
Main takeaway: God’s miracles begin and end at His command; our part is to trust His timing and obey His word.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The priests had to wait in the river until God told them to come out. When they obeyed, the water came back. God is the boss of the water and the boss of when we move.
For ages 9, 12
The priests stood in the middle of the Jordan River for a long time holding the ark. They did not climb out until God told Joshua to give the command. That took patience and trust. When the priests finally stepped onto dry ground, the river went back to normal. God showed that He controls everything, including the exact moment the miracle ends. Sometimes we have to wait for God’s signal before we take the next step.
Questions People Ask
Why didn't the priests come out of the Jordan as soon as the people finished crossing?
God commanded them to stay until He gave the word through Joshua. This shows that the entire miracle was under God's direct authority, not human timing. The priests' obedience also emphasized that God's presence, symbolized by the ark, remained with the people until the very end.
What does the phrase 'the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry ground' mean?
It pictures a deliberate movement: the priests pulling their feet free from the riverbed. The Hebrew verb used means 'to tear loose' or 'to draw out.' This highlights the exact moment of transition from the miraculous dry path back to the normal landscape. The water returned at that precise instant.
Why is the ark called both 'the ark of the covenant' and 'the ark of the testimony' in these verses?
The terms are interchangeable in this context. 'Covenant' refers to God's binding promise with Israel, and 'testimony' refers to the law inside the ark (the Ten Commandments). Both names remind the reader that the miracle happens because of God's faithful promises and His holy commands.
Does the return of the waters mean the miracle was undone?
No, the return of the waters shows that the miracle was completed on God's terms. The crossing had already happened. The waters returning to their natural course confirmed that God had suspended the laws of nature for a specific time and purpose. The miracle was not undone; it was finished.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study