Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, January 1st, 2026
Holy Name of Jesus
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Joshua 6:6

Then called Joshua son of Nun unto the priests, and said unto them, Bear ye the ark of the covenant, - and let, seven priest, bear seven rams horns, before the ark of Yahweh.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ark;   Armies;   Trumpet;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Miracles;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Stories for Children;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ark of the Covenant;   Armies of Israel, the;   Holy Land;   Miracles Wrought through Servants of God;   Sieges;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ark of the Covenant;   Miracle;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ark;   Music, Instrumental;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Joshua, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ark;   Israel;   Jericho;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Horns;   Jubilee;   Miracles;   Rams' Horns;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Jericho;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ark;   Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Journeyings of israel from egypt to canaan;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Seven;   Urim and Thummim;   War;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Conquest of Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ark of the Covenant;   Palestine (Recent Exploration, I.e. as of 1915);   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ark of the covenant;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Joshua, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

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.”
Hebrew Names Version
Yehoshua the son of Nun called the Kohanim, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven Kohanim bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
King James 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 .
Lexham English Bible
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry the trumpets of the rams' horns before the ark of Yahweh."
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 ."
New Century Version
So Joshua son of Nun called the priests together and said to them, "Carry the Ark of the Agreement. Tell seven priests to carry trumpets and march in front of it."
New English Translation
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 ."
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."
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."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then, Ioshua the sonne of Nun called the Priests & said vnto them, Take vp the Arke of the couenant, and let seuen Priests beare seuen trumpets of rams hornes before the Arke 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."
Contemporary English Version
Joshua called the priests together and said, "Take the chest and have seven priests carry trumpets and march ahead of it."
Complete Jewish Bible
Y'hoshua the son of Nun called the cohanim and told them, "Take up the ark for the covenant, and have seven cohanim carry seven shofars ahead of the ark of Adonai ."
Darby Translation
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, Carry the ark of the covenant, and seven priests shall carry seven blast-trumpets before the ark of Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Joshua son of Nun called the priests together and said to them, "Carry the Holy Box of the Lord . Tell seven priests to carry the trumpets and march in front of it."
George Lamsa Translation
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.
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."
Literal 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 Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then Iosua the sonne of Nun called ye prestes, and sayde vnto them: Beare ye the Arke of the couenaunt, and let seuen prestes take the seuen trompettes of the yeare of Iubilye before the Arke of the LORDE.
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.
Bible in Basic English
Then Joshua, the son of Nun, sent for the priests and said to them, Take up the ark of the agreement, and let seven priests take seven horns in their hands and go before the ark of the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Iosuah the sonne of Nun, called the priestes, and sayde vnto them: Take vp the arke of the couenaunt, and let seuen priestes beare seuen trumpets of rammes hornes before the arke of the Lorde.
JPS Old Testament (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.'
King James Version (1611)
And Ioshua the sonne of Nun called the Priests, and said vnto them, Take vp the Arke of the Couenant, and let seuen Priests beare seuen trumpets of rammes-hornes, before the Arke of the Lord.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Joshua the son of Naue went in to the priests, and spoke to them, saying,
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.
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 trumpets in front of the ark of the LORD."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Josue, the sone of Nun, clepide preestis, and seide to hem, Take ye the ark of boond of pees, and seuene othere preestis take seuene clariouns of iubile yeeris, and go thei bifor the arke of the Lord.
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;'
Update Bible Version
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 Yahweh.
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 the ark of Yahweh.
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 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."
New Life Bible
So Joshua the son of Nun called the religious leaders and said to them, "Take up the special box of the agreement. And let seven religious leaders carry seven rams' horns in front of the special box of the agreement."
New Revised Standard
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 ."
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.
Revised 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."
THE MESSAGE
So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and told them, "Take up the Chest of the Covenant. Seven priests are to carry seven ram's horn trumpets leading God 's Chest."
New American Standard Bible (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."

Contextual Overview

6 Then called Joshua son of Nun unto the priests, and said unto them, Bear ye the ark of the covenant, - and let, seven priest, bear seven rams horns, before the ark of Yahweh. 7 Then said he unto the people, Pass on and compass the city, - and let, the armed host, pass on before the ark of Yahweh. 8 And it was so, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that, the seven priests who were bearing the seven rams' horns before Yahweh, passed on and blew with the horns, - the ark of the covenant of Yahweh also coming after them. 9 And, the armed host, went on before the priests who blew with the horns, - and, the rear-guard, came after the ark, going on and blowing with the horns. 10 Now, unto the people, had Joshua given command, saying - Ye shall not shout nor let your voice be heard, neither shall there go out of your mouth, a word, - until the day when I say unto you Shout! then shall ye shout. 11 So he caused the ark of Yahweh to compass the city, going round once, - and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, - and the priests bare the ark of Yahweh; 13 and, the seven priests who bare the seven rams' horns before the ark of Yahweh, went on and on, and blew with the horns, - with, the armed host going on before them, and, the rear-guard, coming after the ark of Yahweh, going on and blowing with the horns. 14 So they compassed the city on the second day once, and returned into the camp, - thus, did they, six days. 15 And it came to pass, on the seventh day, that they rose early at the uprisings of the dawn, and compassed the city after this manner, seven times, - only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Take up the ark: Joshua 6:8, Joshua 6:13, Joshua 3:3, Joshua 3:6, Exodus 25:14, Deuteronomy 20:2-4, Acts 9:1

Reciprocal: Joshua 3:14 - bearing the ark Joshua 6:12 - the priests Joshua 8:33 - priests 2 Samuel 15:24 - bearing 1 Kings 8:3 - the priests took up 1 Chronicles 13:10 - he put 1 Chronicles 15:2 - None ought to 2 Chronicles 5:4 - the Levites 2 Chronicles 5:12 - an hundred

Cross-References

Genesis 6:8
But, Noah, had found favour in the eyes, of Yahweh.
Genesis 6:10
And Noah begat three sons, - Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Genesis 6:17
And, I, behold me! bringing in the flood - even waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh wherein is the spirit of life, from under the heavens, - everything that is in the earth, shall cease to breathe:
Genesis 6:18
therefore will I establish my covenant with thee, - and thou shalt enter into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons wives, with thee.
Exodus 32:14
So then Yahweh was grieved, - over the calamity - which he had spoken of inflicting on his people.
Numbers 23:19
GOD is, not a man, that he should lie, Nor a son of Adam, that he should repent, - Hath, he, said, and will not perform? Yea spoken, and will not make it stand fast?
Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh that this their heart might remain in them to revere me, and to keep all my commandments all the days, - that it might he well with them and with their sons unto times age-abiding.
Deuteronomy 32:29
If they had been wise, they would have understood this, - They would have given heed to their here-after!
Deuteronomy 32:36
For Yahweh will vindicate his people, And upon his servants, will have compassion, - When he seeth that strength is exhausted, And there is no one shut up or at large,
1 Samuel 15:11
I am grieved that I made Saul to be king, for he hath turned back from following me, and, my words, hath he not established. And it was vexing to Samuel, so that he made outcry unto Yahweh, all the night.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests,.... Not the Levites and Kohathites, whose business it was in common to bear the ark, but upon this occasion the priests; not all of them, but as many as were sufficient for the purpose:

and said unto them, take up the ark of the covenant; by putting the staves into the rings of it, and so carry it, Exodus 25:14; see Numbers 7:9;

and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord: Numbers 7:9- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The command of the Lord as to the mode in which the fall of Jericho should be brought about is given in these verses in a condensed form. Further details (see Joshua 6:8-10, Joshua 6:16-17, etc.), were, no doubt, among the commands given to Joshua by the Angel.

Joshua 6:4

Trumpets of ram’s horns - Render rather here and in Joshua 6:5-6, Joshua 6:8, etc., “trumpets of jubilee” (compareLeviticus 25:10; Leviticus 25:10 note). The instrument is more correctly rendered “cornet” (see Leviticus 25:9, note). Various attempts have been made to explain the fall of Jericho by natural causes, as, e. g., by the undermining of the walls, or by an earthquake, or by a sudden assault. But the narrative of this chapter does not afford the slightest warrant for any such explanations; indeed it is totally inconsistent with them. It must be taken as it stands; and so taken it intends, beyond all doubt, to narrate a miracle, or rather a series of miracles.

In the belief that a record is not necessarily unhistorical because it is miraculous, never perhaps was a miracle more needed than that which gave Jericho to Joshua. Its lofty walls and well-fenced gates made it simply impregnable to the Israelites - a nomad people, reared in the desert, destitute alike of the engines of war for assaulting a fortified town, and of skill and experience in the use of them if they had had them. Nothing line a direct interference of the Almighty could in a week’s time give a city like Jericho, thoroughly on its guard and prepared (compare Joshua 2:9 ff and Joshua 6:1), to besiegers situated as were Joshua and the Israelites.

The fall of Jericho cogently taught the inhabitants of Canaan that the successes of Israel were not mere human triumphs of man against man, and that the God of Israel was not as “the gods of the countries.” This lesson some of them at least learned to their salvation, e. g., Rahab and the Gibeonites. Further, ensuing close upon the miraculous passage of Jordan, it was impressed on the people, prone ever to be led by the senses, that the same God who had delivered their fathers out of Egypt and led them through the Red Sea, was with Joshua no less effectually than He had been with Moses.

And the details of the orders given by God to Joshua Joshua 6:3-5 illustrate this last point further. The trumpets employed were not the silver trumpets used for signalling the marshalling of the host and for other warlike purposes (compare Numbers 10:2), but the curved horns employed for ushering in the Jubilee and the Sabbatical Year (Septuagint, σάλπιγγες ἱεραί salpinges hierai: compare the Leviticus 23:24 note). The trumpets were borne by priests, and were seven in number; the processions round Jericho were to be made on seven days, and seven times on the seventh day, thus laying a stress on the sacred number seven, which was an emhlem more especially of the work of God. The ark of God also, the seat of His special presence, was carried round the city. All these particulars were calculated to set forth symbolically, and in a mode sure to arrest the attention of the people, the fact that their triumph was wholly due to the might of the Lord, and to that covenant which made their cause His.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile