Joshua 6:3
New International Version
March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.

New Living Translation
You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.

English Standard Version
You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.

Berean Standard Bible
March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.

King James Bible
And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

New King James Version
You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.

New American Standard Bible
And you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

NASB 1995
“You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

NASB 1977
“And you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

Amplified Bible
Now you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do this [once each day] for six days.

Christian Standard Bible
March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.

American Standard Version
And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

English Revised Version
And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the soldiers will march around the city once a day for six days.

Good News Translation
You and your soldiers are to march around the city once a day for six days.

International Standard Version
March around the city, all the soldiers circling the city once. Do this for six days,

Majority Standard Bible
March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.

NET Bible
Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days.

New Heart English Bible
All your men of war shall march around the city, going around the city once. You shall do this six days.

Webster's Bible Translation
And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round the city once: thus shalt thou do six days.

World English Bible
All of your men of war shall march around the city, going around the city once. You shall do this six days.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have surrounded the city—all the men of battle—going around the city once; thus you do [for] six days;

Young's Literal Translation
and ye have compassed the city -- all the men of battle -- going round the city once; thus thou dost six days;

Smith's Literal Translation
And encompass the city all ye men of war, and surround the city one time: so shalt thou do six days.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Go round about the city, all ye fighting men, once a day: so shall ye do for six days.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Have all the warriors circle the city once each day; you shall do so for six days.

New American Bible
Have all the soldiers circle the city, marching once around it. Do this for six days,

New Revised Standard Version
You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city once. Thus you shall do for six days,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall encircle the city, all the men of war, and you shall go round about the city once a day. Thus shall you do for six days.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
All the men workers of war shall surround the city and go around the city one time on day one; do so for six days
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And do thou set the men of war round about it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Walls of Jericho
2And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. 3March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.…

Cross References
Hebrews 11:30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Psalm 44:3
For it was not by their sword that they took the land; their arm did not bring them victory. It was by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them.

Judges 7:7
Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.”

2 Chronicles 20:15
And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.

1 Samuel 17:47
And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Isaiah 30:15
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”

2 Kings 6:16
“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Matthew 17:20
“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall compass the city, all you men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shall you do six days.

ye shall

Joshua 6:7,14
And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD…

Numbers 14:9
Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

1 Corinthians 1:21-25
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe…

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Armed Circle Circling City Compass Compassed Encompassing March Once Round Six War
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Armed Circle Circling City Compass Compassed Encompassing March Once Round Six War
Joshua 6
1. Jericho is shut up
2. God instructs Joshua how to beseige it
12. The city is composed
17. It is accursed
20. The walls fall down
22. Rahab is saved
26. The builder of Jericho is cursed














March around the city
The command to march around the city of Jericho is a strategic and symbolic act of faith. Jericho was a fortified city, and marching around it demonstrated Israel's obedience to God's unconventional military strategy. This act of marching can be seen as a form of spiritual warfare, emphasizing reliance on God's power rather than human strength. The march also served as a psychological tactic, instilling fear in the inhabitants of Jericho.

with all the men of war
The inclusion of all the men of war highlights the total commitment and unity required for the task. It underscores the importance of collective obedience and faith among the Israelites. The men of war were likely seasoned soldiers, yet they were called to follow a plan that defied conventional military wisdom, emphasizing trust in God's plan over human expertise.

circling the city one time
Circling the city once each day for six days was a test of patience and perseverance. This repetitive action required discipline and faith, as the Israelites had to trust in God's timing for victory. The act of circling can be seen as a form of claiming the land through faith, similar to how believers are called to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Do this for six days
The six-day period of marching is significant, as it mirrors the six days of creation, with the seventh day being a day of completion and rest. This pattern foreshadows the ultimate victory and rest that comes through faith in God's promises. The number six often represents human effort, and the completion on the seventh day signifies divine intervention and fulfillment. This period of waiting and obedience is a test of faith, similar to other biblical instances where God's people are called to wait on His timing (e.g., the Israelites wandering for 40 years, Jesus' resurrection on the third day).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the conquest of Canaan.

2. Jericho
A fortified city in Canaan, known for its strong walls. It is the first city the Israelites encounter in their conquest of the Promised Land.

3. Israelite Men of War
The soldiers of Israel who are commanded to march around Jericho. They represent the obedience and faith of the people in God's plan.

4. The Ark of the Covenant
Although not mentioned in this specific verse, it plays a crucial role in the events of Jericho, symbolizing God's presence among His people.

5. The Six-Day March
The specific command given by God to Joshua, which involves a seemingly unusual military strategy that requires faith and obedience.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Instructions
The Israelites' march around Jericho teaches us the importance of following God's commands, even when they seem unconventional or illogical.

Faith in God's Promises
The account of Jericho is a testament to the power of faith. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's promises, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill them.

God's Sovereignty in Battle
The fall of Jericho illustrates that victory comes not by human might but by God's power. This encourages believers to rely on God in their personal battles.

The Role of Patience and Perseverance
The six-day march signifies the need for patience and perseverance in God's timing, teaching us to wait on the Lord.

Community and Unity in Faith
The collective action of the Israelites highlights the strength found in community and unity when pursuing God's purposes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
March around
וְסַבֹּתֶ֣ם (wə·sab·bō·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

the city
הָעִ֗יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

with all
כֹּ֚ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the men
אַנְשֵׁ֣י (’an·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of war,
הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (ham·mil·ḥā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

circling
הַקֵּ֥יף (haq·qêp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5362: To strike, to knock together, surround, circulate

the city
הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

one
אֶחָ֑ת (’e·ḥāṯ)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

time.
פַּ֣עַם (pa·‘am)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrence

Do
תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (ṯa·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this
כֹּ֥ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

for six
שֵׁ֥שֶׁת (šê·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

days.
יָמִֽים׃ (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day


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OT History: Joshua 6:3 All your men of war shall march (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 6:2
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