The Meaning of Joshua 6:4 Explained

Joshua 6:4

KJV: And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

YLT: and seven priests do bear seven trumpets of the jubilee before the ark, and on the seventh day ye compass the city seven times, and the priests blow with the trumpets,

Darby: And seven priests shall carry before the ark seven blast-trumpets; and on the seventh day ye shall go round the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

ASV: And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And seven  priests  shall bear  before  the ark  seven  trumpets  of rams' horns:  and the seventh  day  ye shall compass  the city  seven  times,  and the priests  shall blow  with the trumpets. 

What does Joshua 6:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 6:1-11 - The Commander And His Plan Of Campaign
When the heart is perfect with God we may count on His presence and help. It is to the separated and obedient servant that the vision of Christ, as Ally and Captain, is given. Here were three hosts marshaled by Jericho-of the Canaanites, of Israel, and of the heavenly armies, waiting to war against the evil spirits which ruled the darkness of the land, Ephesians 6:12.
The answer to Joshua's question depended on whether Israel was prepared to accept God's plan of campaign, which was very humbling to the flesh. "The Lord is with us, if we are with Him," Joshua 7:11-12; 2 Chronicles 15:2. As Jericho was the key to Canaan, and its fall was to be the earnest of complete victory, the program was carefully planned to give God His rightful position. From first to last its capture was the result of the interposition of Him who dwelled in the bush. Therefore, the Ark was borne around the city, as the symbol of His presence, Numbers 10:35. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 6

1  Jericho is shut up
2  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

What do the individual words in Joshua 6:4 mean?

And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark but the day seventh you shall march around - the city seven times and the priests shall blow the trumpets
וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה כֹהֲנִ֡ים יִשְׂאוּ֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י תָּסֹ֥בּוּ אֶת־ הָעִ֖יר שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת

וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה  And  seven 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
כֹהֲנִ֡ים  priests 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
יִשְׂאוּ֩  shall  bear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
שִׁבְעָ֨ה  seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת  trumpets 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֹׁופָר  
Sense: horn, ram’s horn.
הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙  of  rams'  horns 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄובֵל  
Sense: ram, ram’s horn, trumpet, cornet.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הָאָר֔וֹן  the  ark 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
וּבַיּוֹם֙  but  the  day 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י  seventh 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal masculine singular
Root: שְׁבִיעִי  
Sense: seventh.
תָּסֹ֥בּוּ  you  shall  march  around 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעִ֖יר  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
שֶׁ֣בַע  seven 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
פְּעָמִ֑ים  times 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: פַּעַם  
Sense: stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence.
וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים  and  the  priests 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
יִתְקְע֖וּ  shall  blow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: תֹּוקְעִים 
Sense: to blow, clap, strike, sound, thrust, give a blow, blast.
בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת  the  trumpets 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֹׁופָר  
Sense: horn, ram’s horn.