Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. New Living Translation After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the LORD, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant followed behind them. English Standard Version And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. Berean Standard Bible After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Berean Literal Bible And it was, when had spoken Joshua to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven shofars of rams before the face of YHWH passed over and blew on the shofars—and the ark of the covenant of YHWH followed them. King James Bible 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. New King James Version So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. New American Standard Bible And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. NASB 1995 And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. NASB 1977 And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Legacy Standard Bible And so it happened that, when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before Yahweh passed on forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came after them. Amplified Bible And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets made of rams’ horns went on before the LORD and blew the trumpets; then the ark of the covenant of the LORD went behind them. Berean Annotated Bible After Joshua (YHWH saves) had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD {YHWH} advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Christian Standard Bible After Joshua had spoken to the troops, seven priests carrying seven ram’s horns before the LORD moved forward and blew the ram’s horns; the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. Holman Christian Standard Bible After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven trumpets before the LORD moved forward and blew the trumpets; the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. American Standard Version And it was so, that, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before Jehovah passed on, and blew the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah followed them. English Revised Version And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD passed on, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. GOD'S WORD® Translation After Joshua had given orders to the troops, the seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns ahead of the LORD marched off as they blew their horns. The ark of the LORD's promise followed them. International Standard Version And so, just as Joshua had commanded, seven of the priests went forward, carrying the seven trumpets made of rams' horns in the LORD's presence, blowing the trumpets while the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD followed them. NET Bible When Joshua gave the army its orders, the seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns before the LORD moved ahead and blew the horns as the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed behind. New Heart English Bible It was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD advanced, and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Webster's Bible Translation And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken to 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAfter Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. World English Bible It was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before Yahweh advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of Yahweh’s covenant followed them. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it comes to pass, when Joshua speaks to the people, that the seven priests carrying seven horns of the rams before YHWH have passed over and blown with the horns, and the Ark of the Covenant of YHWH is going after them; Berean Literal Bible And it was, when had spoken Joshua to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven shofars of rams before the face of YHWH passed over and blew on the shofars—and the ark of the covenant of YHWH followed them. Young's Literal Translation And it cometh to pass, when Joshua speaketh unto the people, that the seven priests bearing seven trumpets of the jubilee before Jehovah have passed over and blown with the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah is going after them; Smith's Literal Translation And it will be as Joshua said to the people, and the seven priests lifting up the seven trumpets of alarms before Jehovah, passed by and clanged upon the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went after them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when Josue had ended his words, and the seven priests blew the seven trumpets before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Catholic Public Domain Version And when Joshua had finished his words, and the seven priests sounded the seven trumpets before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, New American Bible When Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests who carried the ram’s horns before the LORD marched and blew their horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. New Revised Standard Version As Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd as Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets passed on before the ark of the LORD, blowing on the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And as Yeshua told the people, seven Priests were carrying seven horns and they were blowing reveille before the ark of LORD JEHOVAH, and they were sounding with the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH was coming after them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bearing the seven rams' horns before the LORD passed on, and blew with the horns; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Brenton Septuagint Translation Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Walls of Jericho…7And he told the people, “Advance and march around the city, with the armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD.” 8 After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark.… Cross References After Joshua had spoken to the people, Joshua 1:10-11 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: / “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’” Joshua 1:16-18 So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. / Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. / Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns Leviticus 25:9-10 Then you are to sound the horn far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement. You shall sound it throughout your land. / So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan. 1 Chronicles 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark. 2 Chronicles 5:12-13 all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. / The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud before the LORD Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed. Deuteronomy 12:7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you. Exodus 23:17 Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD. advanced and blew the horns, Numbers 10:5-7 When you sound short blasts, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out. / When you sound the short blasts a second time, the camps that lie on the south side are to set out. The blasts are to signal them to set out. / To convene the assembly, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones. Judges 7:18-22 When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’” / Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. / The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” … 2 Chronicles 13:12-14 Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.” / Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them. / When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Numbers 10:33-36 So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them. / And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp. / Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.” … Joshua 3:3-4 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. / But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.” 2 Samuel 6:2 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. Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. Treasury of Scripture And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken to 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. before the Lord Joshua 6:3,4 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days… Numbers 32:20 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, Jump to Previous Advanced Ark Bearing Blew Carrying Commanded Covenant Horns Joshua Lord's Passed Priests Rams Seven TrumpetsJump to Next Advanced Ark Bearing Blew Carrying Commanded Covenant Horns Joshua Lord's Passed Priests Rams Seven TrumpetsJoshua 6 1. Jericho is shut up2. 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 After Joshua had spoken to the people Joshua, as the leader of Israel, communicates God's instructions to the people. This highlights the importance of leadership and obedience in fulfilling God's plans. Joshua's role as a mediator between God and the Israelites is reminiscent of Moses, emphasizing continuity in leadership and divine guidance. seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the conquest of Canaan. 2. The Seven Priests These priests were chosen to carry the trumpets and play a crucial role in the battle of Jericho, symbolizing spiritual leadership and obedience to God's commands. 3. The Trumpets Specifically, ram's horns (shofar), used in religious ceremonies and battles, signifying God's presence and the call to action. 4. The Ark of the Covenant A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. 5. Jericho A fortified city in Canaan, the first major conquest for the Israelites in the Promised Land, demonstrating God's power and faithfulness. Teaching Points Obedience to God's InstructionsThe Israelites' success at Jericho was contingent upon their obedience to God's specific instructions. This teaches us the importance of following God's guidance in our lives, even when it seems unconventional. The Role of Spiritual Leadership The priests leading with the trumpets highlight the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding God's people. We are reminded to respect and support those who lead us spiritually. The Presence of God The Ark of the Covenant symbolizes God's presence. As believers, we are called to carry God's presence with us, living in a way that reflects His holiness and love. Faith in Action The Israelites' march around Jericho was an act of faith. We are encouraged to put our faith into action, trusting God to bring down the "walls" in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 6:8?2. How does Joshua 6:8 demonstrate obedience to God's specific instructions? 3. What role did the priests play in Joshua 6:8, and why is it significant? 4. How can we apply the principle of following God's commands in our lives? 5. Compare the obedience in Joshua 6:8 with other biblical examples of faithfulness. 6. What does Joshua 6:8 teach us about the importance of spiritual leadership? 7. How does Joshua 6:8 demonstrate God's power and authority over human actions? 8. What is the significance of the priests' role in Joshua 6:8? 9. How does Joshua 6:8 reflect the theme of obedience in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 6? 11. What are key events in Joshua's life? 12. What caused the collapse of Jericho's walls? 13. How does Deuteronomy 10:8's statement that Levi had no land inheritance align with inherited lands described in other biblical texts? 14. Why does the ambush strategy described in Joshua 8:2-22 differ from other accounts of Israelite conquests? What Does Joshua 6:8 Mean After Joshua had spoken to the peopleJoshua’s words were the final human instructions before God’s miraculous intervention. • His speech called the nation to active faith, mirroring Moses’ earlier charge before crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-16). • The verse underscores a pattern: God speaks, His leader relays the message, the people respond, and God acts (Deuteronomy 31:7-8; Joshua 1:10-11). • Joshua’s obedience shows the seamless link between hearing God’s Word and doing it (James 1:22). seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns The priests and their instruments highlight divine order. • “Seven” points to completeness in God’s design, as seen in the seven days of creation (Genesis 2:1-3) and the seven-lamp menorah (Exodus 25:37). • Priests, not soldiers, led the procession, reminding Israel that victory is spiritual before it is military (2 Chronicles 20:21-22). • Rams’ horns (shofars) had been used to announce God’s presence at Sinai (Exodus 19:16) and to proclaim the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:9), both moments of freedom—foreshadowing Jericho’s fall. before the LORD advanced and blew the horns The action proceeds “before the LORD,” indicating God’s immediate oversight. • Advancement shows forward-moving faith; they stepped out while the walls still stood (Hebrews 11:30). • The blowing shofars served as: – A call to attention for God’s people (Numbers 10:1-10). – A declaration of war against ungodliness (Judges 7:19-22). – A proclamation of God’s reign over the land (Psalm 47:5). • Sound preceded sight: faith’s trumpet always comes before sight’s collapse. the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them God’s throne on earth came right behind the priests, centering the procession on His presence. • The ark symbolized God dwelling “between the cherubim” (Exodus 25:22). • Whenever the ark moved, Israel moved; when it rested, they rested (Numbers 10:33-36). • Its position behind the shofar-blowing priests formed a living picture: worship leads, God reigns, and the people march in that order (Psalm 22:3). • By following, the ark ensured that the battle plan was carried out under divine authority, not human ingenuity (1 Samuel 4:3-4 shows the danger when the ark is treated otherwise). summary Joshua 6:8 captures a moment where faithful obedience meets divine strategy. Joshua speaks; priests with perfect-numbered trumpets step forward; the horns announce God’s impending victory; and the ark—God’s very presence—confirms that the conquest of Jericho belongs to the LORD. When God’s Word leads and His presence accompanies, even the mightiest walls cannot stand. Verse 8. - He that is armed, or rather disencumbered, i.e., prepared for battle (see Joshua 4:13). Similarly, in the next verse, "the armed men," i.e., the host in marching order, as we say. Kimchi and Jarchi refer this to the Reubenites and their brethren, but without sufficient authority. Keil thinks that it was impossible that the unarmed people would have gone with the procession as "the rereward" (see note on Joshua 5:13), because no command to that effect is given in ver. 3. But as he has told us in Joshua 3, 4, and as we have just seen in ver. 4. the command to Joshua is not fully given. A short abstract of it is given, and it is to be filled up in detail from the subsequent narrative.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew After Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ (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 had spoken כֶּאֱמֹ֣ר (ke·’ĕ·mōr) Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the people, הָעָם֒ (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock seven וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה (wə·šiḇ·‘āh) Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3548: Priest carrying נֹשְׂאִים֩ (nō·śə·’îm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take seven שִׁבְעָ֨ה (šiḇ·‘āh) Number - masculine singular Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number trumpets שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת (šō·wp̄·rō·wṯ) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn before לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel advanced עָבְר֕וּ (‘ā·ḇə·rū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on and blew וְתָקְע֖וּ (wə·ṯā·qə·‘ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8628: To clatter, slap, clang, to drive, to become bondsman the trumpets, בַּשּֽׁוֹפָר֑וֹת (baš·šō·w·p̄ā·rō·wṯ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn and the ark וַֽאֲרוֹן֙ (wa·’ă·rō·wn) Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark of the covenant בְּרִ֣ית (bə·rîṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 1285: A covenant of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel followed הֹלֵ֖ךְ (hō·lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk them. אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ (’a·ḥă·rê·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 310: The hind or following part Links Joshua 6:8 NIVJoshua 6:8 NLT Joshua 6:8 ESV Joshua 6:8 NASB Joshua 6:8 KJV Joshua 6:8 BibleApps.com Joshua 6:8 Biblia Paralela Joshua 6:8 Chinese Bible Joshua 6:8 French Bible Joshua 6:8 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 6:8 It was so that when Joshua had (Josh. 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