Joshua 6:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God commands Israel's soldiers to march once around Jericho each day for six days.
What Does Joshua 6:3 Mean?
Now come the instructions, and they are unlike any battle plan. No siege engines, no scaling ladders, no assault. The men of war are simply to walk -- one quiet circuit around the city, repeated each day for six days. The army becomes a procession.
The strangeness is the point. A military mind would call this useless; faith calls it obedience. God often asks His people to do what makes sense only in light of His promise rather than in light of their own calculation. The daily march trains Israel to wait on the Lord's timing and to trust that the decisive moment belongs to Him. Six days of seeming futility prepare the way for the seventh, when God Himself will act.
Joshua 6:3 in the Original Language
sabab (סָבַב), 'compass' -- to go around or encircle, the marching action repeated all week.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 6:3
What does Joshua 6:3 mean?
God commands Israel's soldiers to march once around Jericho each day for six days.