Joshua 6 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Joshua 6
Faith before the walls: trusting the God revealed in Christ
Apostolic reception: Hebrews 11:30–31 remembers Jericho’s fall and Rahab’s preservation through faith. Christ-centered reception does not erase the narrative’s explicit destruction.
6:1–7 | The command concerning Jericho
Verse MT 6:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:1
Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:1
Jericho was shut up and fortified; no one went out of it or entered it.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek stresses fortification; Hebrew explicitly gives the sons of Israel as the reason for closure.
Verse MT 6:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:2
YHWH said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, its king and its mighty warriors.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:2
The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I am handing Jericho and its king within it, mighty in strength, into your power.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both promise the city and its fighting strength; Greek retains an awkward plural expression after the king, reflected without adding new persons.
Verse MT 6:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:3
All you men of war shall march around the city, circling it once. Do this for six days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:3
Station the fighting men all around it,
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek’s short command lacks the six-day marching schedule at this point. The six days appear later in Greek verse 14.
Verse MT 6:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:4
Seven priests shall carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets before the ark. On the seventh day you shall circle the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No corresponding verse in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: The detailed sevenfold instruction is absent here in Greek. Related instructions and actions occur in Greek verses 8 and 15–16.
Verse MT 6:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:5
When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout a great shout. The city wall shall fall beneath itself, and the people shall go up, each straight ahead.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:5
and when you sound the trumpet, let all the people cry out together. As they cry out, the city’s walls will fall of themselves, and all the people shall rush into the city, each straight ahead.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both describe trumpet, shout, collapse, and entry. Greek says the walls fall “of themselves”; this does not deny the divine promise framing the event.
Verse MT 6:6 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:6
Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said, “Lift up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets before the ark of YHWH.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:6
Joshua son of Nun went in to the priests
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek’s narrative continues into verse 7 and lacks the Hebrew command here about the ark and seven horns.
Verse MT 6:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:7
He said to the people, “Pass on and circle the city, and let the armed force pass before the ark of YHWH.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:7
and said to them, “Instruct the people to go around and encircle the city. Let the fighting men pass armed before the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly makes the priests convey the instruction; Hebrew addresses the people. The Hebrew read tradition supplies the singular speaker in this verse.
6:8–14 | The procession for six days
Verse MT 6:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:8
As Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven ram’s-horn trumpets passed before YHWH and blew the trumpets; the ark of the covenant of YHWH followed them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:8
Let seven priests holding seven sacred trumpets likewise pass before the Lord and sound them vigorously, and let the ark of the covenant of the Lord follow.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew narrates performance; Greek continues the command. Greek “sacred trumpets” differs from the Hebrew horn description.
Verse MT 6:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:9
The armed force went before the priests blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark, while the trumpets sounded continually.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:9
Let the fighting men pass in front, and let the priests forming the rear guard go behind the ark of the covenant of the Lord, marching and blowing trumpets.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly identifies the rear guard as priests and keeps the command form.
Verse MT 6:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:10
Joshua commanded the people, “Do not shout, do not let your voice be heard, and let no word leave your mouth until the day I tell you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:10
Joshua commanded the people, “Do not cry out, and let no one hear your voice until the day he himself gives the order to cry out. Then you shall cry out.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek shifts into third-person reference within the command and lacks the separate prohibition on a word leaving the mouth.
Verse MT 6:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:11
He had the ark of YHWH circle the city once. They returned to the camp and spent the night there.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:11
After the ark of the covenant of God had gone around the city, it went straight back to the camp and rested there.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek grammatically makes the ark the subject of return and rest; Hebrew uses the people’s plural return and specifies one circuit.
Verse MT 6:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:12
Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests lifted up the ark of YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:12
On the second day Joshua rose in the morning, and the priests lifted up the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly identifies the second day here.
Verse MT 6:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:13
The seven priests carrying the seven ram’s-horn trumpets before the ark of YHWH went on, continually blowing the trumpets. The armed force went before them, and the rear guard followed the ark of YHWH, while the trumpets sounded continually.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:13
The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went before the Lord. Afterward the fighting men and the rest of the crowd proceeded behind the ark of the covenant of the Lord. The priests sounded the trumpets, and all the rest of the crowd encircled the city close by
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The described marching order differs: Hebrew puts the armed force ahead of the priests; Greek places the fighting men and remaining crowd behind the ark in this sentence.
Verse MT 6:14 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:14
On the second day they circled the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:14
and returned to the camp. This was done for six days.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek completes the crowd’s action from verse 13 and omits the explicit one circuit; the second-day marker stands in Greek verse 12.
6:15–21 | The seventh circuit, the shout, and the fall
Verse MT 6:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:15
On the seventh day they rose at dawn and circled the city seven times in the same manner. Only on that day did they circle it seven times.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:15
On the seventh day they rose at dawn and went around the city six times.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Read with verse 16: Greek narrates six circuits before the seventh; Hebrew summarizes seven here. This is not a contradiction in the day’s total.
Rabbinic: Rashi identifies this seventh day with the Sabbath [R6, 6:15]. That received chronology is distinguished from what the verse explicitly says.
Verse MT 6:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:16
At the seventh time the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for YHWH has given you the city!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:16
On the seventh circuit the priests sounded the trumpets, and Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Cry out, for the Lord has handed the city over to you!
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The decisive seventh circuit and command correspond.
Verse MT 6:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:17
The city and everything in it shall be under the ban to YHWH. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers we sent.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:17
The city and everything in it shall be under the ban to the Lord Sabaoth. But preserve Rahab the prostitute and everything in her house.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds Sabaoth but omits the reason for Rahab’s preservation here; that reason appears in both texts at verse 25.
Verse MT 6:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:18
But keep yourselves from what is under the ban, lest you bring yourselves under the ban by taking from it and make Israel’s camp subject to the ban and bring trouble upon it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:18
But guard yourselves carefully from what is under the ban, lest you covet it and take some of it, making the camp of the sons of Israel subject to the ban and destroying us.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek expressly introduces coveting and says “destroying us”; Hebrew speaks of troubling the camp. The difficult Hebrew warning is rendered in context.
Verse MT 6:19 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:19
All silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, are holy to YHWH; they shall enter YHWH’s treasury.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:19
All silver, gold, bronze, and iron shall be holy to the Lord and shall be brought into the Lord’s treasury.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The reserved metals and their destination correspond.
Verse MT 6:20 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:20
The people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When the people heard the trumpet’s sound, they shouted a great shout, and the wall fell beneath itself. The people went up into the city, each straight ahead, and captured it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:20
The priests sounded the trumpets. When the people heard their sound, all the people together raised a great, mighty shout. The whole wall fell all around, and all the people went up into the city.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek has a shorter sequence and lacks the final explicit capture statement; both narrate the collapse and entry.
Verse MT 6:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:21
They devoted everything in the city to destruction by the edge of the sword: man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep, and donkey.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:21
Joshua put the city and everything in it under the ban by the edge of the sword: man and woman, young and old, calf and beast of burden.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek names Joshua as agent and has a shorter animal list. The lethal force of the ban remains explicit in both translations.
Rahab preserved: the mercy of Christ reaches the nations
Patristic reception: Cyril includes Joshua’s rescue of believing Rahab in his comparison with Christ’s welcome of sinners [CYR, §11].
6:22–27 | Rescue, the city’s destruction, and the rebuilding oath
Verse MT 6:22 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:22
Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:22
Joshua said to the two young men who had spied, “Enter the woman’s house and bring her out from there, with everything that belongs to her.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the reminder of the oath here; both command her rescue.
Verse MT 6:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:23
The young men who had spied went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out all her relatives and placed them outside Israel’s camp.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:23
The two young men who had spied out the city entered the woman’s house and brought out Rahab the prostitute, her father, her mother, her brothers, everything belonging to her, and all her kin. They placed her outside Israel’s camp.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew says “placed them”; Greek says “placed her,” although both have already brought out her family.
Verse MT 6:24 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:24
They burned the city and everything in it. Only the silver, gold, and articles of bronze and iron were placed in the treasury of YHWH’s house.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:24
The city was burned with everything in it, except that the silver, gold, bronze, and iron were given to be brought into the Lord’s treasury.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Destruction and the reservation of metals correspond; Greek does not include “house” in the treasury designation.
Verse MT 6:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:25
Joshua kept alive Rahab the prostitute, her father’s household, and all who belonged to her. She has lived in Israel’s midst to this day, because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:25
Joshua kept alive Rahab the prostitute and her entire paternal household. She has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the spies Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Her preservation, continuing place in Israel, and the reason for it correspond.
Saints: Hebrews 11:31 recalls Rahab’s faith and James 2:25 her reception of the messengers. Cyril compares her rescue with Christ’s welcome of sinners [CYR, §11].
Verse MT 6:26 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:26
At that time Joshua pronounced an oath: “Cursed before YHWH is the man who rises and rebuilds this city, Jericho! At the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:26
On that day Joshua pronounced an oath before the Lord: “Cursed is the man who rebuilds that city! At the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates.” Ozan of Bethel did so: at the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest surviving son he set up its gates.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek includes an additional fulfillment account naming Ozan and Abiram. Do not replace Ozan with the different name in 1 Kings 16:34 or insert that account into Hebrew Joshua.
Verse MT 6:27 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 6:27
YHWH was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 6:27
The Lord was with Joshua, and his name was known throughout the land.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The account ends with divine presence and widespread renown in both texts.