Joshua 6 15

Joshua 6:15 kjv

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 nkjv

But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 niv

On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 esv

On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 nlt

On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times.

Joshua 6 verses

Joshua 6 15 Meaning

Joshua 6:15 describes the pivotal actions of the Israelites on the climactic seventh day of the Jericho campaign. After six days of silent marches, this verse details a unique intensity of obedience. They rose diligently at the very start of the day and performed the commanded ritual of circling the city seven times, a marked increase from the single daily circuits of the previous six days. This heightened activity underscores a divine imperative, culminating God's specific instructions and demonstrating Israel's precise adherence to His supernatural strategy for victory. It was the moment appointed by God for the final, decisive act of faith.

Joshua 6 15 Context

Joshua 6:15 stands as the climax of the initial phase of Israel's conquest of Canaan. Prior to this verse, the Lord had given detailed, peculiar instructions for besieging the fortified city of Jericho (Joshua 6:3-5). For six days, Israel silently marched around the city once, led by armed men, seven priests blowing trumpets before the Ark of the Covenant, followed by the rear guard. This daily ritual, seemingly ineffective from a human perspective, served as an ongoing act of obedience and a demonstration of faith in God's unconventional warfare. The historical context involves Israel transitioning from a wilderness generation to a conquering army under God's command, demonstrating His covenant faithfulness in giving them the Promised Land. This unique military strategy directly countered conventional siege tactics of the time, emphasizing God's direct intervention rather than human strength, and served as a potent polemic against the Canaanite gods believed to protect such formidable strongholds.

Joshua 6 15 Word analysis

• On the seventh day:
  • Hebrew: בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי (bay-yōm hash-šəḇî‘î).
  • Meaning: Literally, "in the day, the seventh."
  • Significance: The number 'seven' holds profound theological significance in the Bible, representing completeness, perfection, divine design, and culmination. It marks the day of rest in creation (Gen 2:2-3), cycles of time (seven-day week), and significant events. Here, it indicates the culmination of the divine strategy, the appointed time for God to act decisively. This day is unique in its intensity.
• they rose early:
  • Hebrew: וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ (way-yaš·kî·mū).
  • Meaning: They rose diligently, they woke early, acted promptly at morning twilight.
  • Significance: Conveys a sense of readiness, determination, and prompt obedience. There was no hesitation; the Israelites were committed to God's instruction without delay, even after six days of marching. This demonstrates their dedication to fulfilling God's exact command.
• at the dawn of day:
  • Hebrew: כַּעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר (ka‘-ă-lōwṯ haš-šā-ḥar).
  • Meaning: At the rising of the dawn, as the dawn was ascending.
  • Significance: Pinpoints the precise time—the very beginning of the day, a moment symbolic of new beginnings and divine initiative. This specificity highlights that God's plan unfolds according to His exact timing, not according to human convenience or daylight.
• and marched around the city:
  • Hebrew: וַיִּסֹּבּוּ אֶת־הָעִיר (way-yis·sōb·bū ’eṯ-hā-‘îr).
  • Meaning: And they encircled the city, went around the city.
  • Significance: Reiterates the primary action. This was the commanded, persistent, and outwardly illogical action that constituted their obedience. It emphasized ritualistic submission to God's method.
• in the same manner:
  • Hebrew: כַּמִּשְׁפָּט הַזֶּה (kam-miš·pāṭ haz·zeh).
  • Meaning: According to this judgment/custom/procedure, in this prescribed way.
  • Significance: Indicates that the pattern of marching established on the previous six days was maintained. The consistency was part of the divine test and strategy. There was no deviation from God's precise instruction despite the increased number of circuits.
• seven times:
  • Hebrew: שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (šeḇa‘ pə‘ā·mîm).
  • Meaning: Seven turns, seven instances.
  • Significance: This is a crucial multiplication on the seventh day. It compounds the symbolic 'seven' of the day itself, amplifying its significance to a climatic level. This intensity signaled the imminent fulfillment of God's promise.
• It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
  • Hebrew: רַק בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא סָבְבוּ אֶת־הָעִיר שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (raq bay-yōwm ha-hū sā-ḇə·ḇū ’eṯ-hā-‘îr šeḇa‘ pə‘āmîm).
  • Meaning: Only on that day did they encircle the city seven times.
  • Significance: This concluding phrase emphatically highlights the uniqueness and singularity of the seventh day's actions. It differentiates this day from the previous six, where they only circled once. The repetition and "only on that day" clause draws special attention to this climax of obedient persistence, leading directly to the miraculous collapse of Jericho’s walls.

Joshua 6 15 Bonus section

The act of circling Jericho, especially seven times on the seventh day, demonstrates God's method of operation often differs vastly from human logic or military strategy. The seemingly repetitive and mundane act built suspense and faith, reinforcing that the victory belonged entirely to the Lord. The long period of silence, broken only by the trumpets, fostered intense expectation and forced the Israelites to rely purely on God's word, rather than their own assessments. This episode teaches about the spiritual nature of warfare; not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual strongholds which are overcome by faith and obedience to divine instruction. The symbolism of 'seven' being both the day and the number of circuits suggests a double layer of divine perfection and culmination, signifying God's sovereign hand orchestrating every detail towards a triumphant end. This also served as a public demonstration for both Israel and the Canaanites of Yahweh's unparalleled power over the mightiest of human fortifications.

Joshua 6 15 Commentary

Joshua 6:15 serves as the focal point where Israel's sustained obedience, God's precise timing, and the symbolism of completion converge. This verse describes a radical escalation of activity on the unique seventh day, as commanded by the Lord. The instruction to rise "early at the dawn" underscores diligence and unwavering commitment. The emphasis on "seven times" is not merely an increased number, but a divinely ordained completion—a concentration of God's power culminating after six days of patient, silent, singular circuits. This was the moment for climactic action, the full embodiment of the "obedience of faith" that dismantled physical barriers by spiritual means. The unique aspect ("It was only on that day...") ensures the reader recognizes the distinct, preordained nature of this final sequence. It highlights that the victory was not a result of human effort or logical strategy, but a testament to Israel's unwavering adherence to God's often counter-intuitive directives, unleashing His supernatural power.