Joshua 6:17

Good News Translation

The city and everything in it must be totally destroyed as an offering to the Lord . Only the prostitute Rahab and her household will be spared, because she hid our spies.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers we sent.

Hebrew Names Version
The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to the LORD: only Rachav the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

King James Version
And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord : only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Lexham English Bible
The city and all that is in it will be devoted to Yahweh; only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

English Standard Version
And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

New Century Version
The city and everything in it are to be destroyed as an offering to the Lord . Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone in her house should remain alive. They must not be killed, because Rahab hid the two spies we sent out.

New English Translation
The city and all that is in it must be set apart for the Lord , except for Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house, because she hid the spies we sent.

Amplified Bible
"The city and everything that is in it shall be under the ban [that is, designated to be destroyed as a form of tribute] to the LORD; only Rahab the prostitute and all [the people] who are with her in her house shall [be allowed to] live, because she hid and protected the messengers (scouts) whom we sent.

New American Standard Bible
"But the city shall be designated for destruction, it and everything that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the citie shalbe an execrable thing, both it, and all that are therein, vnto the Lorde: onely Rahab the harlot shall liue, shee, and all that are with her in the house: for shee hid the messengers that we sent.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the city shall be devoted to destruction, it and all that is in it belongs to Yahweh; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Contemporary English Version
But you must destroy it and everything in it, to show that it now belongs to the Lord . The woman Rahab helped the spies we sent, so protect her and the others who are inside her house. But kill everyone else in the town.

Complete Jewish Bible
But the city and everything in it is to be set aside for Adonai and therefore to be destroyed completely; only Rachav the prostitute is to be spared, she and everyone with her in her house, because she hid the messengers we sent.

Darby Translation
And the city shall be accursed, it and all that is in it, to Jehovah; only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Easy-to-Read Version
The city and everything is to be destroyed as an offering to the Lord . Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone in her house will be left alive. These people must not be killed because she helped the two spies.

George Lamsa Translation
And this city and all that is therein, is to be devoted to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot you shall spare, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the spies that we sent.

Literal Translation
And the city shall be devoted to Jehovah, it and all that are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Howbeit this cite, & all that is therin, shalbe damned vnto the LORDE: onely the harlot Rahab shal lyue, & all that are with her in ye house, for she hyd the messaungers, whom we sent forth.

American Standard Version
And the city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Jehovah: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Bible in Basic English
And the town will be put to the curse, and everything in it will be given to the Lord: only Rahab, the loose woman, and all who are in the house with her, will be kept safe, because she kept secret the men we sent.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the citie shalbe accursed and al that are therin, vnto the Lorde: onlye Rahab the harlot shal liue, and all that are with her in the house, because she hyd the messengers that we sent.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

King James Version (1611)
And the citie shalbe accursed, euen it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: onely Rahab the harlot shal liue, she, and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the city shall be devoted, it and all things that are in it, to the Lord of Hosts: only do ye save Raab the harlot, and all things in her house.

English Revised Version
And the city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Berean Standard Bible
Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and this citee be cursid, ethir distried, and alle thingis that ben therynne be halewid to the Lord. Raab the hoor aloone lyue, with alle men that ben with hir in the hows; for sche hidde the messangeris whiche we senten.

Young's Literal Translation
and the city hath been devoted, it and all that [is] in it, to Jehovah; only Rahab the harlot doth live, she and all who [are] with her in the house, for she hid the messengers whom we sent;

Update Bible Version
And the city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Yahweh: only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the city shall be accursed, [even] it, and all that [are] in it, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that [are] with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

World English Bible
The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Yahweh: only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

New King James Version
Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

New Living Translation
Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord . Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.

New Life Bible
The city and all that is in it must be destroyed because everything in it belongs to the Lord. Only Rahab, the woman who sells the use of her body, and all who are with her in the house will live, because she hid the men we sent.

New Revised Standard
The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it shall be, that, as for the city, devoted, shall it be and all that is therein unto Yahweh, - nevertheless, Rahab the harlot, shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And let this city be an anathema, and all things that are in it, to the Lord. Let only Rahab, the harlot, live, with all that are with her in the house: for she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Revised Standard Version
And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ The city and everything in it must be totally destroyed as an offering to the Lord . Only the prostitute Rahab and her household will be spared, because she hid our spies. ¹⁸ But you are not to take anything that is to be destroyed; if you do, you will bring trouble and destruction on the Israelite camp. ¹⁹ Everything made of silver, gold, bronze, or iron is set apart for the Lord . It is to be put in the Lord 's treasury." ²⁰ So the priests blew the trumpets. As soon as the people heard it, they gave a loud shout, and the walls collapsed. Then all the army went straight up the hill into the city and captured it. ²¹ With their swords they killed everyone in the city, men and women, young and old. They also killed the cattle, sheep, and donkeys. ²² Joshua then told the two men who had served as spies, "Go into the prostitute's house, and bring her and her family out, as you promised her." ²³ So they went and brought Rahab out, along with her father and mother, her brothers, and the rest of her family. They took them all, family and slaves, to safety near the Israelite camp. ²⁴ Then they set fire to the city and burned it to the ground, along with everything in it, except the things made of gold, silver, bronze, and iron, which they took and put in the Lord 's treasury. ²⁵ But Joshua spared the lives of the prostitute Rahab and all her relatives, because she had hidden the two spies that he had sent to Jericho. (Her descendants have lived in Israel to this day.) ²⁶ At this time Joshua issued a solemn warning: "Anyone who tries to rebuild the city of Jericho will be under the Lord 's curse. Whoever lays the foundation will lose his oldest son; Whoever builds the gates will lose his youngest."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

accursed: or, devoted, Joshua 7:1, Leviticus 27:28, Leviticus 27:29, Numbers 21:2, Numbers 21:3, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ezra 10:8, *marg. Isaiah 34:6, Jeremiah 46:10, Ezekiel 39:17, Micah 4:13, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 3:10, Galatians 3:12

only Rahab: Joshua 2:1

because: Joshua 6:22, Joshua 6:23, Joshua 2:4-6, Joshua 2:22, Genesis 12:3, 1 Samuel 15:6, Matthew 10:41, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 25:40, Hebrews 6:10, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25

Reciprocal: Leviticus 27:21 - devoted Deuteronomy 7:2 - utterly Deuteronomy 7:26 - shalt Deuteronomy 13:15 - destroying it utterly Deuteronomy 20:16 - General Joshua 2:14 - when the Lord Joshua 7:11 - the accursed Joshua 10:40 - as the Lord 1 Samuel 14:24 - Cursed 1 Samuel 15:3 - utterly destroy 1 Samuel 22:19 - men 2 Kings 2:19 - the water Ezekiel 9:6 - old Romans 9:3 - were

Cross-References

Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live.

Genesis 6:3
Then the Lord said, "I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years."

Genesis 6:4
In those days, and even later, there were giants on the earth who were descendants of human women and the heavenly beings. They were the great heroes and famous men of long ago.

Genesis 6:7
that he said, "I will wipe out these people I have created, and also the animals and the birds, because I am sorry that I made any of them."

Genesis 6:12
God looked at the world and saw that it was evil, for the people were all living evil lives.

Genesis 6:13
God said to Noah, "I have decided to put an end to all people. I will destroy them completely, because the world is full of their violent deeds.

Genesis 6:14
Build a boat for yourself out of good timber; make rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out.

Genesis 6:21
Take along all kinds of food for you and for them."

Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything that God commanded.

Genesis 7:15
A male and a female of each kind of living being went into the boat with Noah,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the city shall be accursed,.... Or, be a "cherem", devoted to the Lord, as it follows:

[even] it and all that [are] therein, to the Lord; the city and the inhabitants of it should be devoted to destruction, and the riches and spoil of it dedicated to sacred uses, and not become the property of the Israelites; for as this was the first city in the had of Canaan that was conquered, it was fit the firstfruits of the conquest should be the Lord's, as an acknowledgment of his gift of the land unto them, and that the conquest of it was owing to him; though it might be some mortification to the Israelites, and a trial of their faith and obedience, that the first and so fine a city should not become their habitation, but be utterly destroyed, and not to be built more; and all the riches of it either consumed, or converted to other uses, and not their own. This Joshua thought fit to declare to the Israelites, before the taking of the city, that they might know what they had to do. The Jewish doctors generally suppose that Joshua ordered this of himself, of his own accord and will; but Kimchi is of opinion that the Lord gave him this order, which is most probable, yea, certain from Joshua 7:11;

only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that [are] with her in the house; she and her father's family, as she requested, and the spies promised; here the Targum calls her, as elsewhere, Rahab the innkeeper or victualler; and so in Joshua 6:22;

because she hid the messengers that we sent; and so preserved them from being taken by the messengers of the king of Jericho, who were sent in pursuit of them. These though sent only by Joshua, without the knowledge of the people, yet it being on their account, and their good, and by him as their head and governor, is ascribed to them also. This fact of Rahab's is observed by him as a reason for sparing her, and those that were with her, when all the rest would be put to the sword; and is mentioned as an instance of her faith, and of the evidence of it, Hebrews 11:31.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Accursed - Better as in margin, (“devoted” (Leviticus 27:28 note). In other cases the inhabitants only of the towns were slain; their cattle and property became the booty of the victors. But Jericho, as the first Canaanite city that was captured, was devoted by Israel as first-fruits to God, as a token that Israel received all the land from Him. Every living thing was put to death (Rahab and her household excepted) as a sacrifice to God, and the indestructible goods were Joshua 6:19 brought into the treasury of the sanctuary.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 6:17. The city shall be accursed — That is, it shall be devoted to destruction; ye shall take no spoils, and put all that resist to the sword. Though this may be the meaning of the word חרם cherem in some places, Leviticus 27:29, yet here it seems to imply the total destruction of all the inhabitants, see Joshua 6:21; but it is likely that peace was offered to this city, and that the extermination of the inhabitants was in consequence of the rejection of this offer.