Joshua 6 · Verse 15

Joshua 6:15

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
Joshua 6:15, King James Version

Joshua 6:15 in other translations

BSBThen on the seventh day, they got up at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. That was the only day they circled the city seven times.
WEBOn the seventh day, they rose early at the dawning of the day, and marched around the city in the same way seven times. On this day only they marched around the city seven times.
ASVAnd it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, on the seventh day, that they rise early, at the ascending of the dawn, and compass the city, according to this manner, seven times; (only, on that day they have compassed the city seven times);
DARBYAnd it was so that on the seventh day they rose early, about the morning-dawn, and went round the city after the same manner seven times; only on that day they went round the city seven times.
BBEThen on the seventh day they got up early, at the dawn of the day, and went round the town in the same way, but that day they went round it seven times.
WebsterAnd it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

What does Joshua 6:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city ... seven times--on account of the seven circuits they had to make that day. It is evident, however, that the militia only of the Israelites had been called to the march--for it is inconceivable that two millions of people could have gone so frequently round the city in a day.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 The seventh day - they rose early - Because on this day they had to encompass the city seven times; a proof that the city could not have been very extensive, else this going round it seven times, and having time sufficient left to sack and destroy it, would have been impossible. It is evident that in the course of these seven days there must have been a Sabbath, and that on this Sabbath the host must have encompassed the city as on the other days: the Jews themselves allow this, and Rab. De Kimchi says "He who had ordained the observance of the Sabbath commanded it to be broken for the destruction of Jericho." But it does not appear that there could be any breach in the Sabbath by the people simply going round the city, the ark in company, and the priests sounding the sacred trumpets. This was a mere religious procession, performed at the command of God, in which no servile work was done. Therefore Marcion's objection, that the God of the Hebrews showed a changeableness of disposition in commanding the Sabbath to be kept sacred at one time, and then to be broken at another, is without foundation; for I must contend that no breach took place on this occasion, unless it could be made to appear that the day on which Jericho was taken was the Sabbath which is very unlikely, and which none can prove. But if even this were to be conceded, it is a sufficient answer to all such cavils, that the God who commanded the Sabbath to be set apart for rest and religious purposes, has always authority to suspend for a season the operation of merely ceremonial laws, or to abrogate them entirely, when the purpose of their institution is fulfilled. The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 6:6-16

Wherever the ark went, the people attended it. God's ministers, by the trumpet of the everlasting gospel, which proclaims liberty and victory, must encourage the followers of Christ in their spiritual warfare. As promised deliverances must be expected in God's way, so they must be expected in his time. At last the people were to shout: they did so, and the walls fell. This was a shout of faith; they believed the…

Read the full comment on Joshua 6:6-16 →

Joshua 6:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֣י\׀vay.Hiand it wasH1961
בַּיּ֣וֹםbai.Yomon the dayH3117
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'I<the> seventhH7637
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֙מוּ֙vai.yash.Ki.muand they rose earlyH7925
כַּעֲל֣וֹתka.'a.Lotwhen came upH5927
הַשַּׁ֔חַרha.Sha.charthe dawnH7837
וַיָּסֹ֧בּוּvai.ya.So.buand they went aroundH5437
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הָעִ֛ירha.'Irthe cityH5892
כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥טka.mish.Pataccording to the customH4941
הַזֶּ֖הha.Zeh<the> thisH2088
שֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'sevenH7651
פְּעָמִ֑יםpe.'a.MimtimesH6471
רַ֚קrakonlyH7535
בַּיּ֣וֹםbai.Yomon the dayH3117
הַה֔וּאha.Hu'<the> thatH1931
סָבְב֥וּsa.ve.Vuthey went roundH5437
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הָעִ֖ירha.'Irthe cityH5892
שֶׁ֥בַעShe.va'sevenH7651
פְּעָמִֽים\׃pe.'a.MimtimesH6471

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Joshua 6:15

  • Psalms 119:147

    I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

  • 2 Peter 1:19

    We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

  • Matthew 28:1

    In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
about the dawning.
Ps 119:147; Mt 28:1; 2Pe 1:19
only on that day.
4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Joshua 6:14

    And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

  • Joshua 6:15

    And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

  • Joshua 6:16

    And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

Read all of Joshua 6

Joshua 6:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y al séptimo día levantáronse cuando subía el alba, y dieron vuelta á la ciudad de la misma manera siete veces: solamente este día dieron vuelta alrededor de ella siete veces.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le septième jour, ils se levèrent de bonne heure, au lever de l’aurore, et firent le tour de la ville, de la même manière, sept fois; seulement, ce jour-là, ils firent le tour de la ville sept fois.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah am siebten Tage, da machten sie sich früh auf, beim Aufgang der Morgenröte, und umzogen die Stadt nach dieser Weise siebenmal; nur an selbigem Tage umzogen sie die Stadt siebenmal.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dies autem septimo, diluculo consurgentes, circuierunt urbem, sicut dispositum erat, septies.