Joshua 6:2 Meaning: Already Given, The Certainty of God's Promise
Yahweh said to Joshua, “Behold, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty men of valor.
And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
And Jehovah said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.
And Jehovah saith unto Joshua, `See, I have given into thy hand Jericho and its king--mighty ones of valour,
And Jehovah said to Joshua, See, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, [and] the valiant men.
Meaning in one sentence
In Joshua 6:2, God tells Joshua He has already given Jericho into his hand before the battle. Why the past tense? Discover the meaning of divine certainty.
Context
Joshua has just met the commander of the Lord’s army near Jericho and has taken off his sandals on holy ground. Now that same divine presence speaks. The conversation carries straight from chapter 5 into chapter 6, even though a chapter break interrupts it. Jericho sits tightly shut, no one goes in or out. The city looks invincible. But God doesn’t start with strategy. He starts with a declaration. Before a single trumpet sounds or a shout is made, He tells Joshua that the city is already given into his hand. This is not a pep talk. It is a promise spoken in the certainty of the One who holds the outcome.
Key Words
The verse opens with the word see (Hebrew re’eh). It is more than a call to look; it is an invitation to perceive what God sees. Joshua is told to fix his attention on the promise, not the walls.
The heart of the verse is the verb I have given (Hebrew natati). This is a perfect tense, a completed action. In Hebrew, the perfect can describe a future event that is so certain it is spoken of as already done. God is not guessing or hoping. He is stating what is true from His perspective. The victory is as good as accomplished because He has decreed it.
The phrase mighty men of valor (Hebrew gibborei hechayil) refers to the city’s seasoned warriors. Gill notes that even these strong men are nothing compared to the mighty God of Israel. Including them in the promise makes the point: nothing in Jericho, no gate, no army, no king, can stand against what God has declared.
How Christians Read This Verse
Matthew Henry saw this as a contest between God and Jericho, where God’s word determines the outcome before any action begins. Keil and Delitzsch stressed that the chapter break is artificial; the promise flows directly from the appearance of the commander of the Lord’s army. Adam Clarke pointed to the Targum, which describes Jericho’s gates as iron and its bars as brass, emphasizing the impossible odds that God’s promise overcomes. Across these readings, Christians agree that God’s past tense declaration is a statement of sovereign certainty, not a chronological report.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that this verse means victory will happen automatically, with no effort from Israel. In fact, the past tense is a promise of certainty, not a dismissal of human participation. God says I have given, but the very next verses command marching, trumpet blasts, and a shout. The promise does not replace obedience, it makes obedience possible.
Living This Out
You might have a Jericho this week, something that feels sealed shut, whether a strained relationship, a financial dead end, or a fear you cannot name. God’s words to Joshua are for you too. Before you see any movement, He says I have given. You are invited to hear that promise and then take the next step of obedience, however odd it seems. March around your wall today, not because the wall will fall by your strength, but because the One who gave the promise is already there.
Main takeaway: God speaks of His promises in the certainty of the future because He is the one who secures the victory.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Joshua, “I have already given you the city.” Joshua hadn’t even fought yet! God wanted him to know the battle was already won. When you are scared, remember God sees the end before you do.
For ages 9, 12
When God made this promise to Joshua, Jericho was still locked up tight. But God spoke as if the victory had already happened. That’s because when God promises something, it is as good as done. You can trust God’s promises even when you can’t see how they will work out. Your job is to obey what He tells you next.
Questions People Ask
Why does God speak in the past tense about Jericho before the battle?
In Hebrew, the perfect tense ('I have given') is often used for events that are so certain they are considered already accomplished. God is not lying or confused; He is declaring His sovereign will. The victory is guaranteed because He has decreed it, even though Joshua must still obey the instructions that follow.
Who are the 'mighty men of valor' in Joshua 6:2?
These are the elite warriors of Jericho, experienced and fierce soldiers. By including them in the promise, God shows that nothing in Jericho, not even its strongest defenders, can stop what He has determined. The term emphasizes the impossible odds that God overcomes.
Does this verse mean we don't need to do anything when we trust God's promises?
No. God's past tense declaration is a promise of certainty, not a call to passivity. Immediately after this verse, God gives Joshua specific commands: march around the city for six days, then seven times on the seventh day. Faith in the promise leads to obedience, not inactivity.
How does this verse connect to Joshua's earlier encounter with the commander of the Lord's army?
The conversation in Joshua 5:13-15 flows directly into this verse. The same divine figure who told Joshua to take off his sandals now gives the promise about Jericho. Many commentators note that chapter 6 should not be read separately from chapter 5; the promise is the continuation of that holy encounter.
What does the word 'see' mean at the beginning of the verse?
The Hebrew word re'eh means more than just physical sight. It calls Joshua to pay attention, to perceive, and to regard the promise as real. God is inviting Joshua to see the situation from His perspective, not through the walls of Jericho, but through the certainty of His word.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study