Joshua 6:16 - At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for Yahweh has given you the city!

Generated Verse: Joshua 6:16

What does "Joshua 6:16" mean?


Joshua 6:16 describes the culmination of the Israelite siege of Jericho. Let's break down what the verse means:

"At the seventh time...": This refers to the seventh and final day of a ritual where the Israelite army marched around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times.

"...when the priests blew the trumpets...": Trumpets, specifically shofars (ram's horns), were blown by the priests as part of the ritual. This was a signal, a call to attention, and a representation of God's presence.

"Joshua said to the people, 'Shout, for Yahweh has given you the city!'": This is the pivotal moment. After days of silent marching, Joshua commands the people to shout. The shout wasn't just a battle cry, but an act of faith and obedience. Joshua declares that Yahweh (the name of God in Hebrew) has already given them the city. This is a crucial point: the shout wasn't to make God give them the city, but to acknowledge that God's victory was assured and imminent.

In essence, the verse signifies:

Divine Authority: The victory over Jericho was not due to the Israelites' military prowess, but to God's power and promise. Joshua, as God's chosen leader, declared this divine decree.

Obedience and Faith: The Israelites' disciplined marching and silent obedience for six days, followed by the culminating shout on the seventh day, demonstrated their faith in God's plan and their willingness to follow His instructions, no matter how unconventional they seemed.

Miraculous Victory: The verse sets the stage for the miraculous collapse of Jericho's walls, demonstrating God's intervention and power over seemingly insurmountable obstacles. (Joshua 6:20 goes on to describe the walls falling after the shout.)

Claiming victory in advance. The shout wasn't a request; it was a declaration of ownership.

The verse encapsulates the core themes of the Book of Joshua: faith in God's promises, obedience to His commands, and His faithfulness in fulfilling His word to the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land.