By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It wasn't just the falling walls that mattered, but the persistent, seemingly absurd obedience for seven whole days. This highlights that faith often calls us to keep doing what God says, even when it feels ridiculous and brings no immediate results.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a long list in Hebrews 11 showcasing Old Testament figures and events that exemplify faith. It immediately follows the mention of the Passover and the Red Sea crossing, highlighting how God’s people, through trusting Him, overcame seemingly impossible obstacles and secured deliverance. The text emphasizes that the fall of Jericho was not due to military might but to the persistent, obedient faith of Israel, as demonstrated by their week-long procession around the city, culminating in its miraculous collapse.
The walls of Jericho didn't just tumble; they fell after a very specific, and perhaps bizarre, set of instructions. What does this tell us about faith?
The story of Jericho in Hebrews 11 isn't just about a miraculous collapse. It highlights how faith often expresses itself through obedient action, even when those actions seem strange or insignificant.
The Strange Command
God instructed the Israelites to march around Jericho once a day for six days, with the priests blowing trumpets. On the seventh day, they were to circle the city seven times, and then all shout. This wasn't a military strategy; it was a test of obedience.
Persistence in Action
Ellicott points out that it was Israel's persistence in obedience, for seven days, even amidst potential ridicule, that was key. Faith isn't a one-time declaration; it's often a daily commitment to follow God's word, no matter how unusual the path.
God Works Through Obedience
While the power was God's, the means were His commands. The walls didn't fall because of the marching or shouting itself, but because God ordained those actions as the channel through which His power would flow. Our obedience, however small or peculiar, can be the very thing God uses to bring about His purposes.
Ask a follow-up
Imagine the scene: shouting and blowing horns against massive stone walls. How could such actions possibly lead to their destruction?
The fall of Jericho powerfully illustrates that faith's effectiveness doesn't depend on the natural strength or logic of the means employed. It relies entirely on God's power.
Unlikely Instruments
As Barnes notes, there was 'no natural tendency' in marching or blowing horns to demolish walls. These actions were wholly inadequate on their own. This disconnect between the means and the result is precisely what showcases the power of God working through faith.
Divine Power Unleashed
When we step out in faith, trusting God's promises and commands, we engage His power. The walls of Jericho serve as a dramatic reminder that God can use the weakest actions, when motivated by faith, to achieve the impossible. It’s not about the strength of the trumpet, but the faithfulness of the one who blows it in obedience to God.
A Parallel for the Soul
Calvin suggests we can apply this to our spiritual lives: just as faith brought down Jericho's walls, it's faith that demolishes the 'strongholds of hell' and frees us from the tyranny of sin. The power isn't ours; it's God's, accessed through faith.
The fall of Jericho wasn't just a military victory; it was a pivotal moment demonstrating that God's power, not human might or strategy, secured the Promised Land for His people. The prolonged, unusual method of the siege highlighted that obedience to God's specific commands, even when they seem illogical, is key to experiencing His miraculous intervention.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites Enter Promised Land
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. This marked the beginning of their conquest of the land promised to their ancestors.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jericho
Following God's instructions, the Israelites marched around Jericho for seven days. On the seventh day, after marching around it seven times and sounding trumpets, the walls dramatically collapsed, allowing Israel to conquer the city.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Ai and Covenant Renewal
Following Jericho's fall, the Israelites suffered a defeat at Ai due to sin within the camp. After dealing with the sin, they re-conquered Ai and renewed their covenant with God at Mount Ebal.
c. 1406-1399 BC
Further Conquests in Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites continued their military campaigns, defeating various Canaanite kingdoms and gradually taking control of significant portions of the land.
This is the original account of the Israelites' faith leading to the fall of Jericho, detailing the specific instructions God gave them and their obedience.
Hebrews 11:31This verse immediately follows, highlighting Rahab's faith, which was also crucial in the Jericho event and demonstrates that faith isn't limited to prominent leaders.
James 2:25This passage also specifically mentions Rahab's faith and actions at Jericho, further emphasizing how faith is demonstrated through deeds and its connection to salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25This passage speaks to God's wisdom in using seemingly foolish or weak means (like blowing trumpets and shouting) to accomplish His purposes, paralleling the strategy at Jericho which baffled human logic.
vincentHebrews 11:30: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
Compassed about (κυκλωθέντα)Comp. Luke 21:20; John 10:24. oP.
wesleyHebrews 11:30: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
11:30 By the faith of Joshua.
It wasn't just the falling walls that mattered, but the persistent, seemingly absurd obedience for seven whole days. This highlights that faith often calls us to keep doing what God says, even when it feels ridiculous and brings no immediate results.
This passage is part of a long list in Hebrews 11 showcasing Old Testament figures and events that exemplify faith. It immediately follows the mention of the Passover and the Red Sea crossing, highlighting how God’s people, through trusting Him, overcame seemingly impossible obstacles and secured deliverance. The text emphasizes that the fall of Jericho was not due to military might but to the persistent, obedient faith of Israel, as demonstrated by their week-long procession around the city, culminating in its miraculous collapse.
This passage is part of a long list in Hebrews 11 showcasing Old Testament figures and events that exemplify faith. It immediately follows the mention of the Passover and the Red Sea crossing, highlighting how God’s people, through trusting Him, overcame seemingly impossible obstacles and secured deliverance. The text emphasizes that the fall of Jericho was not due to military might but to the persistent, obedient faith of Israel, as demonstrated by their week-long procession around the city, culminating in its miraculous collapse.
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days." — It wasn't just the falling walls that mattered, but the persistent, seemingly absurd obedience for seven whole days. This highlights that faith often calls us to keep doing what God says, even when i…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026