Joshua 6:6
New International Version
So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”

New Living Translation
So Joshua called together the priests and said, “Take up the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram’s horn.”

English Standard Version
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”

King James Bible
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

New King James Version
Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”

New American Standard Bible
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”

NASB 1995
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”

NASB 1977
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Carry the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of Yahweh.”

Amplified Bible
So Joshua the son of Nun called for the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets made of rams’ horns ahead of the ark of the LORD.”

Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven ram’s horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven trumpets in front of the ark of the LORD.”

American Standard Version
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
Joshua called the priests together and said, "Take the chest and tell seven priests to carry trumpets and march ahead of it."

English Revised Version
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joshua, son of Nun, summoned the priests. He said to them, "Pick up the ark of the promise, and have seven priests carry seven rams' horns ahead of the LORD's ark."

Good News Translation
Joshua called the priests and told them, "Take the Covenant Box, and seven of you go in front of it, carrying trumpets."

International Standard Version
So Nun's son Joshua called for the priests. "Pick up the Ark of the Covenant," he told them, "and have seven priests carry seven trumpets made from rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD."

Majority Standard Bible
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”

NET Bible
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them, "Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD."

New Heart English Bible
Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

World English Bible
Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before Yahweh’s ark.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joshua son of Nun calls to the priests and says to them, “Carry the Ark of the Covenant, and seven priests carry seven horns of the rams before the Ark of YHWH”;

Young's Literal Translation
And Joshua son of Nun calleth unto the priests, and saith unto them, 'Bear ye the ark of the covenant, and seven priests do bear seven trumpets of the jubilee before the ark of Jehovah;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua son of Nun will call to the priests and say to them, Lift up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests shall lift up seven trumpets of signals before the ark of Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Josue the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them: Take the ark of the covenant: and let seven other priests take the seven trumpets of the jubilee, and march before the ark of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Joshua, the son of Nun, called the priests, and he said to them, “Take the ark of the covenant, and let seven other priests take the seven trumpets of the jubilee, and advance before the ark of the Lord.”

New American Bible
Summoning the priests, Joshua, son of Nun, said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant with seven of the priests carrying ram’s horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”

New Revised Standard Version
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets and blow them before the ark of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yeshua, son of Nun, called the Priests and said to them: “Take up the ark of the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH and seven Priests shall take seven horns and they shall blow reveille before the ark of LORD JEHOVAH”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them: 'Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua the son of Naue went in to the priests, and spoke to them, saying, And let seven priests having seven sacred trumpets proceed thus before the Lord, and let them sound loudly; and let the ark of the covenant of the Lord follow.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Walls of Jericho
5And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapse and all your people will charge straight into the city.” 6So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.” 7And he told the people, “Advance and march around the city, with the armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD.”…

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

Exodus 25:10-22
And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. / Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. / Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. ...

1 Samuel 4:3-4
When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.” / So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

2 Samuel 6:2-3
And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. / They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart,

1 Chronicles 15:11-15
David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. / And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. / It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.” ...

Numbers 10:8
The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. This shall be a permanent statute for you and the generations to come.

Numbers 31:6
And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

1 Kings 8:1-6
At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David. / And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim. / When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, ...

2 Chronicles 5:2-5
At that time Solomon assembled in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David. / So all the men of Israel came together to the king at the feast in the seventh month. / When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, ...

1 Samuel 6:1-2
When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months, / the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”

2 Samuel 6:13-15
When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. / And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, / while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

1 Chronicles 13:7-8
So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart. / David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

1 Chronicles 16:4-6
David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. / Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals / and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

2 Chronicles 29:25-28
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets. / The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. / And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. ...

Psalm 132:8
Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

Take up the ark.

Joshua 6:8,13
And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them…

Joshua 3:3,6
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it…

Exodus 25:14
And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.

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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














summoned the priests
The act of summoning the priests highlights the central role of religious leaders in the Israelite community. Priests were intermediaries between God and the people, responsible for maintaining the spiritual integrity of the nation. In the context of the conquest of Jericho, their involvement signifies that this military campaign is not merely a physical battle but a spiritual undertaking ordained by God. The Hebrew root for "priest" is "kohen," which denotes someone who serves in a sacred capacity, reinforcing the idea that the battle is a divine mission.

and said to them
This phrase indicates direct communication and leadership. Joshua, as a leader, is not acting on his own accord but is conveying instructions that align with God's commands. The act of speaking to the priests demonstrates the importance of clear communication and obedience to divine instructions in achieving God's purposes. It reflects a hierarchical structure where God communicates His will through appointed leaders, ensuring that His plans are executed faithfully.

Take up the ark of the covenant
The "ark of the covenant" is a central symbol of God's presence among His people. It contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna, representing God's covenant, authority, and provision. The Hebrew word for "ark" is "aron," meaning a chest or box, but its significance is far greater as it embodies the divine presence. By instructing the priests to take up the ark, Joshua is emphasizing that the forthcoming battle is under God's guidance and authority. The ark's presence assures the Israelites of God's faithfulness and power.

and have seven priests carry seven trumpets
The number "seven" in the Bible often symbolizes completeness or perfection, derived from the Hebrew word "sheva." The use of seven priests and seven trumpets indicates a divinely ordained plan, complete and perfect in its execution. Trumpets, or "shofar" in Hebrew, were used in various religious and military contexts, often to signal God's intervention or to call the people to action. The specific instruction to carry trumpets suggests that the battle of Jericho is not just a physical conquest but a spiritual event, heralded by the sound of God's instruments.

of rams’ horns
Rams' horns, or "shofarot," were traditionally used in Israelite culture for religious ceremonies and as signals in battle. The choice of rams' horns, as opposed to other instruments, is significant because they are associated with the proclamation of God's presence and power. The shofar is a call to worship, repentance, and action, reminding the Israelites of God's sovereignty and their dependence on Him for victory. The use of rams' horns in this context underscores the spiritual nature of the battle and the need for the Israelites to trust in God's deliverance.

in front of the ark of the LORD
This phrase positions the priests and the trumpets in a place of prominence, leading the procession with the ark. The "ark of the LORD" signifies God's leadership and presence at the forefront of the battle. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. By placing the ark at the center of the procession, the Israelites are reminded that their success depends on God's presence and power. This arrangement serves as a visual and spiritual reminder that the battle belongs to the Lord, and victory is assured through His guidance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Joshua
יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

son
בִּן־ (bin-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Nun
נוּן֙ (nūn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5126: Nun -- father of Joshua

summoned
וַיִּקְרָ֞א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

the priests
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

and said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Take up
שְׂא֖וּ (śə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the ark
אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the covenant
הַבְּרִ֑ית (hab·bə·rîṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

and have seven
וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה (wə·šiḇ·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

priests
כֹֽהֲנִ֗ים (ḵō·hă·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

carry
יִשְׂאוּ֙ (yiś·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

seven
שִׁבְעָ֤ה (šiḇ·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

trumpets
שֽׁוֹפְרוֹת֙ (šō·wp̄·rō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn

in front
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the ark
אֲר֥וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the LORD.”
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: Joshua 6:6 Joshua the son of Nun called (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 6:5
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