Rahab and the Spies
Joshua 2
Joshua sends two men to spy out Jericho, and they lodge in the house of Rahab, who hides them from the king's messengers and confesses that the Lord has given Israel the land. She asks the spies to spare her family when the city falls, and they agree, instructing her to bind a scarlet cord in her window as a sign before she lets them down and they return safely to Joshua.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW Joshua, son of Naue, had sent from Sattin two young men to spy, saying, Go up, and take a view of the land, and particularly of Jericho. And the two young men, having set out, entered Jericho, and went to the house of a harlot, whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.
BrentonAnd Joshua the son of Naue sent out of Sattin two young men to spy the land, saying, Go up and view the land and Jericho: and the two young men went and entered into Jericho; and they entered into the house of a harlot, whose name was Raab, and lodged there.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἰησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυῆ ἐκ Σαττὶν δύο νεανίσκους κατασκοπεῦσαι, λέγων, ἀνάβητε καὶ ἴδετε τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν Ἱεριχώ· καὶ πορευθέντες οἱ δύο νεανίσκοι εἰσήλθοσαν εἰς Ἱεριχώ· καὶ εἰσήλθοσαν εἰς οἰκίαν γυναικὸς πόρνης, ᾗ ὄνομα Ῥαάβ· Καὶ κατέλυσαν ἐκεῖ.
KJVAnd Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
JPSAnd Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two spies secretly, saying: ‘Go view the land, and Jericho.’ And they went, and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lay there.
2
ThomsonAnd news being carried to the king of Jericho, saying, Some men of the children of Israel are come here to spy the land,
BrentonAnd it was reported to the king of Jericho, saying, Men of the sons of Israel have come in hither to spy the land.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπηγγέλη τῷ βασιλεῖ Ἱεριχὼ, λέγοντες, εἰσπεπόρευνται ὧδε ἄνδρες τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ κατασκοπεῦσαι τὴν γῆν.
KJVAnd it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
JPSAnd it was told the king of Jericho, saying: ‘Behold, there came men in hither to-night of the children of Israel to search out the land.’
3
Thomsonthe king of Jericho sent a message to Rahab, saying, Bring out the men, who came to thy house tonight; for they are come to spy the land.
BrentonAnd the king of Jericho sent and spoke to Raab, saying, Bring out the men that entered into thine house this night; for they are come to spy out the land.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἱεριχὼ, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ῥαὰβ, λέγων, ἐξάγαγε τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς εἰσπεπορευμένους εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν σου τὴν νύκτα, κατασκοπεῦσαι γὰρ τὴν γῆν ἥκασι.
KJVAnd the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
JPSAnd the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying: ‘Bring forth the men that are come to thee, that are entered into thy house; for they are come to search out all the land.’
4
ThomsonNow the woman had taken the two men, and hid them: so she spoke to the messengers, saying, The men came to me;
BrentonAnd the woman took the two men and hid them; and she spoke to the messengers, saying, The men came in to me,
GreekΚαὶ λαβοῦσα ἡ γυνὴ τοὺς δύο ἄνδρας, ἔκρυψεν αὐτούς· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, λέγουσα, εἰσεληλύθασι πρὸς μὲ οἱ ἄνδρες,
KJVAnd the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
JPSAnd the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said: ‘Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were;
5
Thomsonbut at dark, when the gate was shutting, the men went out, and I do not know where they are gone. Pursue them, perhaps you may overtake them.
Brentonbut when the gate was shut in the evening, the men went out; I know not whither they are gone: follow after them, if ye may overtake them.
Greekὡς δὲ ἡ πύλη ἐκλείετο ἐν τῷ σκότει, καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες ἐξῆλθον· οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι ποῦ πεπόρευνται· καταδιώξατε ὀπίσω αὐτῶν, εἰ καταλήψεσθε αὐτούς.
KJVAnd it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
JPSand it came to pass about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; whither the men went I know not; pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.’
6
ThomsonNow she had taken them up to the top of the house, and concealed them under flax, which was piled up for her on the top of the house. And the men pursued them by the way to the Jordan, to the fords, and the gate was shut.
BrentonBut she had brought them up upon the house, and hid them in the flax-stalks that were spread by her on the house.
GreekΑὕτη δὲ ἀνεβίβασεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ δῶμα, καὶ ἔκρυψεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ λινοκαλάμῃ τῇ ἐστοιβασμένῃ αὐτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος.
KJVBut she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
JPSBut she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had spread out upon the roof.
7
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the men followed after them in the way to Jordan to the fords; and the gate was shut.
GreekΚαὶ οἱ ἄνδρες κατεδίωξαν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ὁδὸν τὴν ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ἐπὶ τὰς διαβάσεις, καὶ ἡ πύλη ἐκλείσθη.
KJVAnd the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
JPSAnd the men pursued after them the way to the Jordan unto the fords; and as soon as they that pursued after them were gone out, the gate was shut.
8
Thomsonbefore they had gone to sleep,
BrentonAnd it came to pass when the men who pursued after them were gone forth, and before the spies had lain down to sleep, that she came up to them on the top of the house;
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξήλθοσαν οἱ διώκοντες ὀπίσω αὐτῶν, καὶ αὐτοὶ δὲ πρὶν ἢ κοιμηθῆναι αὐτοὺς, αὕτη δὲ ἀνέβη πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ δῶμα,
KJVAnd before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
JPSAnd before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
9
Thomsonand said to them, I know that the Lord hath given you this land; for the dread of you is fallen upon us:
Brentonand she said to them, I know that the Lord has given you the land; for the fear of you has fallen upon us.
Greekκαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἐπίσταμαι ὅτι ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν Κύριος τὴν γῆν· ἐπιπέπτωκε γὰρ ὁ φόβος ὑμῶν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς.
KJVAnd she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
JPSand she said unto the men: ‘I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
10
Thomsonfor we have heard that the Lord God dried up the Red Sea on your account, when you came out of Egypt, and all that he hath done to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the borders of the Jordan, to Seon and Og, whom you have utterly destroyed:
BrentonFor we have heard that the Lord God dried up the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of the land of Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond Jordan, to Seon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
GreekἈκηκόαμεν γὰρ ὅτι κατεξήρανε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, ὅτε ἐξεπορεύεσθε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγυπτου, καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησε τοῖς δυσὶ βασιλεῦσι τῶν Ἀμοῤῥαίων, οἳ ἦσαν πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, τῷ Σηὼν καὶ Ὢγ, οὓς ἐξωλοθρεύσατε αὐτούς.
KJVFor we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
JPSFor we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, unto Sihon and to Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11
Thomsonand, upon hearing these things, we became fainthearted, and there was no spirit in any of us because of you. Since, then, the Lord your God is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath,
BrentonAnd when we heard it we were amazed in our heart, and there was no longer any spirit in any of us because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above, and on the earth beneath.
GreekΚαὶ ἀκούσαντες ἡμεῖς ἐξέστημεν τῇ καρδίᾳ ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστη ἔτι πνεῦμα ἐν οὐδενὶ ἡμῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν· ὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν, Θεὸς ἐν οὐρανῷ ἄνω καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς κάτω.
KJVAnd as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
JPSAnd as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.
12
Thomsonswear now to me by the Lord your God, because I shew mercy to you, that you will shew mercy to my father’s house;
BrentonAnd now swear to me by the Lord God; since I deal mercifully with you, so do ye also deal mercifully with the house of my father:
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ὀμόσατέ μοι Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν, ὅτι ποιῶ ὑμῖν ἔλεος, καὶ ποιήσατε Καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔλεος ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός μου,
KJVNow therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
JPSNow therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that ye also will deal kindly with my father’s house—and give me a true token—
13
Thomsonand that you will save alive my father’s household, my mother, and my brothers, and all my family, and all that belong to them, and that you will deliver my soul from death.
Brentonand save alive the house of my father, my mother, and my brethren, and all my house, and all that they have, and ye shall rescue my soul from death.
Greekκαὶ ζωγρήσατε τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς μου, τὴν μητέρα μου, καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, καὶ πάντα τὸν οἶκόν μου, καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐξελεῖσθε τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ θανάτου.
KJVAnd that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
JPSand save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.’
14
ThomsonAnd the men said to her, Our life for yours even to death. Then she said to them: When the Lord delivereth up to you this city, you will deal mercifully and truly with me.
BrentonAnd the men said to her, Our life for yours even to death: and she said, When the Lord shall have delivered the city to you, ye shall deal mercifully and truly with me.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν αὐτῇ οἱ ἄνδρες, ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ἀνθʼ ὑμῶν εἰς θάνατον· καὶ αὐτὴ εἶπεν, ὡς ἂν παραδῷ Κύριος ὑμῖν τὴν πόλιν, ποιήσετε εἰς ἐμὲ ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθειαν.
KJVAnd the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
JPSAnd the men said unto her: ‘Our life for yours, if ye tell not this our business; and it shall be, when the LORD giveth us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.’
15
ThomsonSo she lowered them down through a window.
BrentonAnd she let them down by the window;
GreekΚαὶ κατεχάλασεν αὐτοὺς διὰ τῆς θυρίδος,
KJVThen she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
JPSThen she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was upon the side of the wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
16
ThomsonNow she said to them, Flee to the mountains, lest the pursuers meet you, and hide yourself there three days, until they who are in pursuit of you have returned, and afterwards you may go your way.
Brentonand she said to them, Depart into the hill-country, lest the pursuers meet you, and ye shall be hidden there three days until your pursuers return from after you, and afterwards ye shall depart on your way.
Greekκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν ἀπέλθετε, μὴ συναντήσωσιν ὑμῖν οἱ καταδιώκοντες, καὶ κρυβήσεσθε ἐκεῖ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἕως ἂν ἀποστρέψωσιν οἱ καταδιώκοντες ὀπίσω ὑμῶν, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπελεύσεσθε εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν ὑμῶν.
KJVAnd she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
JPSAnd she said unto them: ‘Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers light upon you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned; and afterward may ye go your way.’
17
ThomsonAnd the men said to her, We are sincere in the oath which we have sworn to thee.
BrentonAnd the men said to her, We are clear of this thy oath.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτὴν οἱ ἄνδρες, ἀθῶοι ἐσμὲν τῷ ὅρκῳ σου τούτῳ.
KJVAnd the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
JPSAnd the men said unto her: ‘We will be guiltless of this thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
18
ThomsonBehold when we enter any part of the city, thou shalt put up this signal—Thou shalt tie this scarlet rope to the window, through which thou shalt have let us down; and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brothers, and all thy father’s household, home to thy house.
BrentonBehold, we shall enter into a part of the city, and thou shalt set a sign; thou shalt bind this scarlet cord in the window, by which thou hast let us down, and thou shalt bring in to thyself, into thy house, thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all the family of thy father.
GreekἸδοὺ ἡμεῖς εἰσπορευόμεθα εἰς μέρος τῆς πόλεως, καὶ θήσεις τὸ σημεῖον, τὸ σπαρτίον τὸ κόκκινον τοῦτο ἐκδήσεις εἰς τὴν θυρίδα διʼ ἧς κατεβίβασας ἡμᾶς διʼ αὐτῆς· τὸν δὲ πατέρα σου, καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου, καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου, καὶ πάντα τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός σου συνάξεις πρὸς σεαυτὴν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν σου.
KJVBehold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.
JPSBehold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by; and thou shalt gather unto thee into the house thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household.
19
ThomsonAnd it shall be that whoever goeth out of the door of thy house, into the street, shall incur the guilt of his own death, and we shall be clear of blame in regard to this oath which we have sworn to thee. But for all who are with thee in the house we will be answerable.
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass that whosoever shall go outside the door of thy house, his guilt shall be upon him, and we shall be quit of this thine oath; and we will be responsible for all that shall be found with thee in thy house.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται πᾶς ὃς ἂν ἐξέλθῃ τὴν θύραν τῆς οἰκίας σου ἔξω, ἔνοχος ἑαυτῷ ἔσται, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀθῶοι τῷ ὅρκῳ σου τούτῳ· καὶ ὅσοι ἐὰν γένωνται μετὰ σοῦ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ σου, ἡμεῖς ἔνοχοι ἐσόμεθα.
KJV—
JPS—
20
ThomsonBut if any one injure us, or if thou disclose these our terms, we shall be clear of this oath to thee.
BrentonBut if any one should injure us, or betray these our matters, we shall be quit of this thine oath.
GreekἘὰν δέ τις ἡμᾶς ἀδικήσῃ ἢ καὶ ἀποκαλύψῃ τοὺς λόγους ἡμῶν τούτους, ἐσόμεθα ἀθῶοι τῷ ὅρκῳ σου τούτῳ.
KJVAnd if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
JPSBut if thou utter this our business, then we will be guiltless of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.’
21
ThomsonAnd she said to them, Let it be as you say.
BrentonAnd she said to them, Let it be according to your word; and she sent them out, and they departed.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα ὑμῶν ἔστω· καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν.
KJVAnd she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
JPSAnd she said: ‘According unto your words, so be it.’ And she sent them away, and they departed; and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
22
ThomsonSo she dismissed them, and they went away, and came to the hilly country, and stayed there three days. And the pursuers examined all the roads, but did not find them.
BrentonAnd they came to the hill-country, and remained there three days; and the pursuers searched all the roads, and found them not.
GreekΚαὶ ἤλθοσαν εἰς τὴν ὀρεινήν, καὶ κατέμειναν ἐκεῖ τρεῖς ἡμέρας· καὶ ἐξεζήτησαν οἱ καταδιώκοντες πάσας τὰς ὁδοὺς, καὶ οὐχ εὕροσαν.
KJVAnd they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
JPSAnd they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned; and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
23
ThomsonThen the two young men turned, and came down from the mountain, and crossed over to Joshua, son of Naue, and told him all that had happened to them.
BrentonAnd the two young men returned, and came down out of the mountain; and they went over to Joshua the son of Naue, and told him all things that had happened to them.
GreekΚαὶ ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ δύο νεανίσκοι, καὶ κατέβησαν ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους· καὶ διέβησαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν υἱὸν Ναυὴ, καὶ διηγήσαντο αὐτῷ πάντα τὰ συμβεβηκότα αὐτοῖς.
KJVSo the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
JPSThen the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them.
24
ThomsonAnd they said to him, Because the Lord hath delivered up all that land into our hands, therefore all the inhabitants of the land are in the utmost consternation because of us.
BrentonAnd they said to Joshua, The Lord has delivered all the land into our power, and all the inhabitants of that land tremble because of us.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν, ὅτι παραδέδωκε Κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐν χειρὶ ἡμῶν, καὶ κατέπτηχε πᾶς ὁ κατοικῶν τὴν γῆν ἐκείνην ἀφʼ ἡμῶν.
KJVAnd they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
JPSAnd they said unto Joshua: ‘Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land do melt away before us.’