Joshua 6:4

Have 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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Joshua, giving the Israelite commanders the exact ritual procedure for the siege of Jericho. This instruction immediately follows the command to march around the city once daily for six days.

The words — The phrase שׁוֹפְרוֹת הַיּוֹבְלִים (shofrot hay-yovelim) literally means "rams' horns" or "trumpets." The text explicitly states that seven priests will carry these seven instruments directly before the ark.

The thread — The numerical sequence of seven priests and seven horns parallels the seven angels pouring out seven bowls of judgment in Revelation 16:1. The same structural emphasis on seven appears in the six-day marching pattern and the seventh-day circuit detailed in the surrounding verses.

Why it lands — The verse requires strict adherence to a non-military ritual sequence before any physical action occurs. It demands that the reader follow the prescribed order without altering the number of priests, horns, or circuits.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְשִׁבְעָ֣הve./shiv.'Ahand/ seven כֹהֲנִ֡יםkho.ha.Nimpriests יִשְׂאוּ֩yis.'Uthey will carry שִׁבְעָ֨הshiv.'Ahseven שׁוֹפְר֤וֹתshof.Rot<the> trumpets of הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙hai./yov.Lim<the>/ rams' horns לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before הָאָר֔וֹןha./'a.Ronthe/ ark וּבַיּוֹם֙u./vai./yOmand/ on the/ day הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יha./she.vi.'I<the>/ seventh תָּסֹ֥בּוּta.So.buyou will go round אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָעִ֖ירha./'Irthe/ city שֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'seven פְּעָמִ֑יםpe.'a.Mimtimes וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםve./ha./Ko.ha.Nimand/ the/ priests יִתְקְע֖וּyit.ke.'Uthey will give a blast בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃ba./sho.fa.Roton the/ trumpets

King James Version

And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 20:17 You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”
Revelation 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.”
Judges 7:15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”
1 Kings 18:43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.
Leviticus 14:16 dip his right forefinger into the oil in his left palm, and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD.
Leviticus 25:8 And you shall count off seven Sabbaths of years—seven times seven years—so that the seven Sabbaths of years amount to forty-nine years.
Numbers 23:1 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
2 Kings 5:10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”
2 Chronicles 20:21 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”