Joshua 6 23

Joshua 6:23 kjv

And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:23 nkjv

And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:23 niv

So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:23 esv

So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:23 nlt

The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6 verses

Joshua 6 23 Meaning

Joshua 6:23 describes the fulfillment of the oath made by the Israelite spies to Rahab. After Jericho's walls fell, the specific young men who had spied out the land entered the destroyed city, rescued Rahab and her entire household—her father, mother, brothers, and all her relatives—and brought them to a place of safety outside the camp of Israel, thereby separating them from the general destruction of Jericho and setting them apart before their full integration into the Israelite community. This verse underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant, His mercy extended to those who believe, and the importance of human integrity in keeping promises made in His name.

Joshua 6 23 Context

Joshua chapter 6 narrates the miraculous fall of Jericho, the first major stronghold encountered by Israel in the Promised Land. The city was a formidable obstacle, representing Canaanite strength and idolatry, and was devoted to complete destruction (herem) by divine command as an act of judgment and sanctification. Prior to this, in chapter 2, Joshua sent two spies to Jericho who, against all odds, were harbored by Rahab. She expressed faith in the God of Israel, recognizing His power over all nations, and made a covenant with the spies for her family's safety, tying a scarlet cord to her window as a sign. Joshua 6:23 marks the precise fulfillment of that specific covenant made by the spies. Amidst total destruction, this verse highlights the singular act of redemption for Rahab's household, contrasting divine mercy with divine judgment. Historically, this event signifies the initial stage of Israel's conquest of Canaan under God's explicit guidance and demonstrates the integrity of their military actions in adherence to divinely given commands, including those concerning mercy and exception.

Joshua 6 23 Word analysis

• And the young men (הַנְּעָרִים - han-nə‘ārîm): This refers specifically to the two Israelite spies mentioned in Josh 2:1. The Hebrew term denotes youth, vigor, and preparedness for specific tasks, here indicating those chosen by Joshua for a dangerous mission. Their presence ensures the continuity of the covenant and trust.
• the spies (הַמְרַגְּלִים - ham-raglîm): This reiterates their specific role and direct connection to Rahab and the sworn oath. It emphasizes that those who made the promise were the ones who kept it, demonstrating the integrity of Israel's representatives and by extension, God's faithfulness.
• went in (וַיָּבֹאוּ - way-yāḇō’ū): Implies entering a dangerous, demolished, and potentially unstable environment after the city's collapse. It suggests determination and courage to fulfill their oath even after the primary military objective was achieved.
• and brought out (וַיֹּצִאוּ - way-yōṣi’ū): A strong verb indicating active deliverance and rescue. This was not a passive observation but an intentional act of salvation, demonstrating the effective nature of God's mercy through His instruments.
• Rahab (רָחָב - rāḥāḇ): The central figure. Her inclusion in this list of the saved is highly significant, transitioning her from a marginalized Gentile "harlot" (Josh 2:1) to a recipient of divine mercy and later, an ancestress of the Messiah (Matt 1:5), emphasizing God's inclusive plan.
• and her father and her mother and her brothers: Specifies the core family members for whom Rahab primarily interceded and demonstrates the immediate scope of the salvation. It underlines the concept of "household" salvation, where one's faith can bring protection to their close relatives.
• and all who belonged to her: Expands the scope of the covenant protection beyond the immediate family unit to include dependants or others living within her specific household at the time of the covenant, ensuring comprehensive deliverance for her residence.
• and they brought out all her relatives (כָל־מִשְׁפְּחֹתֶיהָ - kāl-mišpəḥōṯeyhā): This phrase broadens the scope even further to include the wider extended family, highlighting the generous and thorough nature of God's salvation. It implies a corporate blessing upon all those connected to Rahab's act of faith. This could indicate entire clans or kin living in proximity or dependance.
• and set them outside the camp of Israel: This detail is significant. It implies a period of separation or distinction before full assimilation. They were safe but not yet fully integrated into the Israelite community, perhaps for purposes of ritual purification (as they were Gentiles from a defiled land), social distinction, or theological demonstration of their 'foreign' status while under God's protection. It signals a process of inclusion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the young men, the spies, went in and brought out...": This phrase connects the specific individuals entrusted with the promise (the spies) with the specific act of fulfilling it. It underscores personal integrity and God's sovereign hand in appointing instruments of His will.
• "...Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and all who belonged to her, and they brought out all her relatives...": This repeated emphasis on "all" and the detailed listing of family members stresses the comprehensive and corporate nature of the salvation extended to Rahab's household. Her individual faith had communal repercussions for blessing and preservation.
• "...and set them outside the camp of Israel.": This specific placement outside the main camp signifies a transitional state. While rescued and safe from destruction, they were distinct from the holy community of Israel. It suggests a time for ritual cleansing or social separation, preparing them for eventual full incorporation, which indeed happened as evidenced by Rahab's lineage in Christ.

Joshua 6 23 Bonus section

The thoroughness with which Rahab's entire extended family was rescued suggests the comprehensive nature of divine preservation once faith is exercised. It implies a concept of "corporate solidarity" where a singular act of faith by an individual can benefit their entire familial unit within a divine covenant. The phrase "set them outside the camp" can be seen not merely as quarantine but as a preparatory act of consecration, indicating that those entering God's covenant people must undergo a form of spiritual separation from their past world to integrate into a holy community. Rahab's future integration and inclusion in the Messiah's lineage (Matt 1:5) later prove this transitional status was part of God's grand design for welcoming outsiders, establishing a biblical precedent for Gentile inclusion centuries before its full revelation in the New Covenant.

Joshua 6 23 Commentary

Joshua 6:23 serves as a profound testimony to the steadfastness of God's covenant and His boundless mercy. It powerfully demonstrates that while God brings judgment upon the rebellious, His grace is readily available to those, even from condemned peoples, who turn to Him in faith. Rahab's deliverance and that of her household underscore several key truths: the integrity of God's word, expressed through the unwavering commitment of the spies to their oath; the far-reaching impact of an individual's faith, extending salvation to an entire household; and God's universal plan of salvation that includes Gentiles, even those with a morally questionable past. The act of bringing them "outside the camp" highlights both their immediate safety and their temporary distinction from the Israelite community, preparing them for future assimilation, reflecting a process of sanctification and adoption into the people of God. It shows that obedience to God's specific commands—both to destroy and to spare—is crucial in fulfilling His greater redemptive purposes.

• Example: Just as Rahab's entire family was spared due to her faith, a believing individual's decision to follow Christ can open the door for spiritual blessings and salvation for their household.
• Example: This act illustrates how divine promises are not empty words; they are carried out by faithful agents of God's will.