Paragraph 3:7-8
Yahweh promised Joshua that the people will respect him. He also told Joshua what the priests should do.
3:7a
This is the beginning of a new paragraph. Make sure your translation indicates this is a new paragraph in a natural way.
Now the LORD said to Joshua: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now indicates the next event in the story.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
Then Yahweh said to Joshua,
-or-
Yahweh told Joshua,
3:7b
Today: This can also be translated as Today.
I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as exalt is more literally “make great.” Yahweh said that he will make the Israelite people honor and respect Joshua. The clause I will begin to exalt you indicates that this was the beginning of how Yahweh will make Joshua great. This will happen because Joshua will be the leader who takes them across the Jordan River.
in the sight of all Israel: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the sight of all Israel is more literally “in the eyes of all Israel.” This indicates that all the Israelites will see that Joshua is great.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
Today I will lift you up in the eyes of all the Israelites
-or-
Beginning from today, I will make all the Israel people think that you are great
-or-
What I do today will make all the people of Israel begin to honor you as a great man (Good News Translation)
3:7c
so: The Hebrew relative particle that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so indicates purpose. It can also be translated “so that.” Yahweh will make Joshua great so that the Israelites will know that Yahweh is with Joshua.
they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses: The clause I am with you indicates that Yahweh is with Joshua to guide and help him. Yahweh gave this promise to Joshua in Joshua 1:5b. You should translate this clause the same way as you did in that verse.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
so that they will know that I will be with you in the same way that I was with Moses
-or-
then they will know that I will help you as I helped Moses
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