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Hebrews 11:30

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By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

By faith {G4102} the walls {G5038} of Jericho {G2410} fell down {G4098}, after they were compassed {G2944} about {G1909} seven {G2033} days {G2250}.

By trusting, the walls of Yericho fell down — after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.

Commentary

Hebrews 11:30 stands as a powerful testament to the efficacy of faith, specifically highlighting the miraculous fall of the city walls of Jericho. This verse is part of the "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11, where the author recounts numerous examples of individuals and communities who demonstrated profound trust in God, often leading to supernatural outcomes.

Context

This verse directly references the historical account found in the book of Joshua, where the Israelites, led by Joshua, faced the formidable task of conquering Jericho, a heavily fortified city. Rather than employing conventional military tactics, God commanded them to march around the city once a day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day, culminating in a great shout. This seemingly illogical strategy required immense faith and obedience from the Israelites to follow God's precise instructions.

Key Themes

  • Obedience Born of Faith: The Israelites' actions were not based on military strategy but on a direct command from God. Their faith was demonstrated through their unwavering obedience to an unconventional plan, even when it appeared foolish by human standards.
  • Divine Intervention: The collapse of Jericho's walls was not due to human might or engineering, but solely to God's power. It underscores that with God, seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome. This echoes the principle that faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
  • Perseverance in Faith: The "seven days" of marching around Jericho emphasize the aspect of persistent faith. It was not a single act but a sustained demonstration of trust that ultimately led to the breakthrough.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "compassed about" accurately translates the Hebrew concept of circling or marching around. It highlights the repetitive, ritualistic action commanded by God, emphasizing the methodical nature of their obedience rather than a spontaneous act. The simplicity of the action belies the profound faith required to carry it out over seven days.

Practical Application

Hebrews 11:30 offers timeless lessons for believers today. When faced with "walls" in our lives—whether they are financial difficulties, health challenges, relational struggles, or spiritual strongholds—this verse encourages us to:

  • Trust God's Unconventional Methods: God's ways are often not our ways. Faith means trusting His instructions, even when they defy human logic or seem impractical.
  • Practice Persistent Obedience: Breakthroughs often require sustained faith and obedience, not just a one-time effort. Like the Israelites, we may need to persevere in prayer, service, or walking by faith for an extended period.
  • Rely on Divine Power: Our victories come from God's strength, not our own. This verse reminds us that no obstacle is too great for Him to overcome on our behalf when we act in faith.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 6:3 (7 votes)

    And ye shall compass the city, all [ye] men of war, [and] go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

  • Joshua 6:20 (7 votes)

    So the people shouted when [the priests] blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:4 (5 votes)

    (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

  • 2 Corinthians 10:5 (5 votes)

    Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;