Joshua 6 10

Joshua 6:10 kjv

And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

Joshua 6:10 nkjv

Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout."

Joshua 6:10 niv

But Joshua had commanded the army, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!"

Joshua 6:10 esv

But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."

Joshua 6:10 nlt

"Do not shout; do not even talk," Joshua commanded. "Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!"

Joshua 6 verses

Joshua 6 10 Meaning

Joshua 6:10 presents a strict divine command through Joshua, forbidding the Israelites from making any sound or speaking a single word during their silent procession around Jericho. This absolute silence was to be maintained for six days, with a clear instruction that only upon a specific command from Joshua on the seventh day were they to unleash a unified, triumphant shout. This injunction tested their obedience, focused their attention on God's unconventional strategy, and highlighted the importance of God's precise timing for the display of His power.

Joshua 6 10 Context

Joshua chapter 6 details God's extraordinary and unconventional strategy for the conquest of Jericho, the first major city in Canaan that Israel encountered after crossing the Jordan River. Immediately preceding verse 10, God has already given Joshua the precise, intricate instructions for marching around the city: once a day for six days with the Ark of the Covenant, priests, and armed men, and then seven times on the seventh day. Joshua 6:10 is Joshua's direct communication of these divine marching orders to the people, specifically emphasizing the strict requirement for silence. This command sets the tone for the entire operation, turning a conventional military siege into a profoundly religious and symbolic act of trust and obedience to God's unique warfare strategy. Historically, ANE (Ancient Near Eastern) siege warfare often involved shouts of intimidation and battle cries to demoralize the enemy. God's command for Israel to remain completely silent during the march stood as a direct counter-tactic, effectively dismissing conventional human military wisdom and placing total reliance on divine intervention. This unique strategy also served as a powerful polemic against any belief in human might, military superiority, or superstitious reliance on noise or chants for victory, directing all focus and glory to God alone.

Joshua 6 10 Word analysis

• And Joshua commanded:
  • וַיְצַו (vay'tzav): From the root צָוָה (tzavah), meaning "to command, order, give charge." This verb indicates a strong, authoritative directive, reflecting Joshua's role as God's chosen leader and mediator of divine instructions. It's not a suggestion but an imperative that demands complete compliance.
  • Significance: Establishes Joshua's divine authority to issue such an unconventional and demanding order. The people were to obey him as they had Moses (Josh 1:17).
• the people, saying,
  • הָעָם לֵאמֹר (ha'am le'mor): "The people" indicates the command was addressed to the entire assembly of Israel, demanding unified obedience from everyone present, not just the military contingent. "Saying" introduces the direct quotation of the command.
  • Significance: Highlights the communal nature of the command and the required collective obedience.
• 'You shall not shout
  • לֹא תָרִיעוּ (lo tari'u): "Not" (lo) is a strong negative prohibition. Tari'u comes from the root רוּעַ (rua), meaning "to shout, raise a war-cry, make a joyful noise, alarm, burst out into sound." In contexts of warfare, it refers to the battle-cry or the trumpet's alarm signal.
  • Significance: This specifically forbids the conventional military war-cry, removing human intimidation or power from the equation. It foreshadows the later commanded shout, turning the initially forbidden into the eventual divinely appointed act.
• or make any noise with your voice,
  • וְלֹא תַשְׁמִיעוּ אֶת קוֹלְכֶם (v'lo tashmi'u et kolkhem): "Nor" (v'lo). Tashmi'u (from root שָׁמַע, shama) means "to cause to hear," or "to make a sound." "Your voice" (kolkhem).
  • Significance: This broadens the prohibition beyond just a "shout." It encompasses any vocal sound, preventing general talking, murmuring, gossiping, or expression of fear or doubt. It emphasizes complete and disciplined silence.
• nor shall any word proceed from your mouth,
  • וְלֹא יֵצֵא מִפִּיכֶם דָּבָר (v'lo yetzei mipikhem davar): "Nor shall any word (davar, meaning "word," "thing," "matter") proceed (yetzei, from יָצָא, yatza, "to go out") from your mouth."
  • Significance: This is the most stringent part of the command, demanding absolute cessation of all verbal communication. It prevented strategizing, complaining, questioning the unusual orders, or premature celebration. It forced absolute focus and dependence on God. This silence served as a profound test of faith and submission, a discipline that instilled humility and reverence for God's unique methodology.
• until the day I say to you, "Shout!"
  • עַד יוֹם אָמְרִי אֲלֵיכֶם הָרִיעוּ (ad yom amri aleikhem hari'u): "Until the day I say to you, 'Shout!'" (Hari'u is the imperative form of rua, "to shout").
  • Significance: Establishes a precise divine timing and sequence. Obedience is not only to the command of silence but also to the exact timing of its termination and reversal. It prepares the people for the ultimate, climactic act of unified faith-filled sound.
• Then you shall shout."
  • וַהֲרֵעוֹתֶם (vahari'otem): "Then you shall shout," a definitive future command.
  • Significance: The same root verb, rua, which was strictly forbidden, becomes the commanded act. This emphasizes the divine power embedded in the command. The sound forbidden now becomes the sound unleashed by God's decree, transforming into a roar of triumph.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall any word proceed from your mouth": This triple negative intensifies the command for absolute and pervasive silence. It builds from a specific type of sound (shouting) to general noise, and finally to any verbal communication whatsoever. This strict restraint fostered internal discipline and prevented distraction or dissension, creating an environment of singular focus on the divine action.
• "until the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout": This provides the condition and timing for the command's reversal. The suspense of the waiting period culminates in a sudden, decisive action. It highlights divine control over time and event, transforming human will into an instrument of God's power when aligned with His specific instructions.

Joshua 6 10 Bonus section

The commanded silence and the ultimate shout also had a psychological impact on the inhabitants of Jericho. The silent, persistent procession for days would have created an unnerving suspense, perhaps more unsettling than an immediate attack. The absence of traditional battle cries and the unique ritualistic aspect (Ark, trumpets) would have baffled them, intensifying their dread of an unknown divine force working for Israel. When the walls finally fell at the united shout, it was an undeniable demonstration of supernatural power rather than conventional warfare, bringing terror and proving God's active presence to both the Israelites and their enemies. This event serves as a foundational account demonstrating that spiritual warfare often requires unconventional, divinely instructed methods and absolute faith in the God who fights on behalf of His obedient people.

Joshua 6 10 Commentary

Joshua 6:10 encapsulates a profound lesson in radical obedience, spiritual discipline, and divine timing. God's command for absolute silence during the daily encirclement of Jericho was antithetical to conventional siege tactics, serving to underscore that this was no ordinary battle fought by human strength or ingenuity. The rigorous discipline of silence for an entire week prevented premature boasting, fearful murmuring, or strategic second-guessing among the Israelites. It forced them into a position of complete dependence, cultivating quiet trust in God's unconventional plan. This period of stillness before the Lord allowed for their hearts to align with His will, fostering collective humility and anticipating His miraculous intervention. The climax, a unified shout given precisely when commanded, became not a human battle cry but a crescendo of obedient faith that heralded God's powerful action. The very act of obedience, both in silence and in the final shout, became the vehicle through which God worked, making His power manifest and establishing His sovereignty.Example: Modern believers can find application by learning to be silent before God, waiting for His direction instead of rushing ahead with human plans. It's about discerning His "shout" – His specific instruction – and acting in faith when He provides it, rather than constantly voicing our anxieties or desires.