Joshua 2:20

Joshua 2:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.”

Context of Joshua 2:20

18unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them.

Joshua 2:20 word by word

וְאִם־תַּגִּ֖ידִי אֶת־דְּבָרֵ֣נוּ זֶ֑ה וְהָיִ֣ינוּ נְקִיִּ֔ם מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֖ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And if thou utterנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• this our businessדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• then we will be quitנָקִיnâqîy nâqîy' · innocentH5355
• of thine oathשְׁבוּעָהshebû‛âh · oathH7621
• which thou hast made us to swearשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650

Cross-references for Joshua 2:20

• Proverbs 11:13A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
• Joshua 2:17Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us

Commentaries on Joshua 2:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20If thou utter this our business - It was prudent to make her life depend on her secresy; had it been otherwise she might have been tempted to give information, not only concerning the spies, but concerning the designs of the Israelites. But her life being at stake, added to every other motive, she kept the secret for the sake of her own personal safety and that of all her relatives.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-21Verses 8-21 Rahab had heard of the miracles the Lord wrought for Israel. She believed that his promises would certainly be fulfilled, and his threatenings take effect; and that there was no way of escape but by submitting to him, and joining with his people. The conduct of Rahab proved that she had the real principle of Divine faith. Observe the promises the spies made to her. The goodness of God is often expressed by his kindness and truth, Psa 117:2; in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-24Like any good military commander, Joshua sent out spies or scouts to get information about his objective. Because Israel planned to approach Canaan from the east, they could not avoid Jericho.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2116-21. she said--rather "she had said," for what follows must have been part of the previous conversation. Get you to the mountain--A range of white limestone hills extends on the north, called Quarantania (now Jebel Karantu), rising to a height of from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred feet, and the sides of which are perforated with caves. Some one peak adjoining was familiarly known to the inhabitants as "the mountain." The prudence and propriety of…Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 2:20

• Armies
• Reconnoissance
• Treaty

In the dictionaries

• Blameless
• Cord
• Hide
• Land
• Let
• Melt
• Town
• Business
• Hospitality; Host
• Joshua, Book of

Commentaries on Joshua 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings