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?
Jordan overflowed all its banks. This magnified the power of God, and his kindness to Israel.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Joshua 3:14-17 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Glossary
- Adam Place
-
Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell ed Damiyeh.
- City People
-
The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).
- Jericho Place
-
Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell es Sultan.
- Salt Sea Place
-
(Heb. yam), signifies (1) “the gathering together of the waters,” the ocean ( Gen. 1:10 ); (2) a river, as the Nile ( Isa. 19:5 ), the Euphrates ( Isa. 21:1 ; Jer. 51:36 ); (3) the Red Sea. Modern identification: Dead Sea.
- Zarethan Place
-
A place near Succoth, in the plain of the Jordan, “in the clay ground,” near which Hiram cast the brazen utensils for the temple ( 1 Kings 7:46 ); probably the same as Zartan. It is also called Zeredathah ( 2 Chr. 4:17 ). Modern identification: Tell es Sa’idiyeh.