Joshua 2:9
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים
H376
הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
3 of 20
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יָדַ֕עְתִּי
I know
H3045
יָדַ֕עְתִּי
I know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
4 of 20
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָתַ֧ן
hath given
H5414
נָתַ֧ן
hath given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
6 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יְהוָ֛ה
that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְכִֽי
H3588
וְכִֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָפְלָ֤ה
is fallen
H5307
נָפְלָ֤ה
is fallen
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
12 of 20
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
אֵֽימַתְכֶם֙
and that your terror
H367
אֵֽימַתְכֶם֙
and that your terror
Strong's:
H367
Word #:
13 of 20
fright; concrete, an idol (as a bugbear)
עָלֵ֔ינוּ
H5921
עָלֵ֔ינוּ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְכִ֥י
H3588
וְכִ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
15 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָמֹ֛גוּ
faint
H4127
נָמֹ֛גוּ
faint
Strong's:
H4127
Word #:
16 of 20
to melt, i.e., literally (to soften, flow down, disappear), or figuratively (to fear, faint)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
upon us and that all the inhabitants
H3427
יֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
upon us and that all the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
18 of 20
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
Cross References
Exodus 23:27I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.Deuteronomy 2:25This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.Psalms 115:16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.Psalms 112:10The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.Job 19:25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:Jeremiah 27:5I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:Genesis 35:5And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.Joshua 2:11And 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.
Historical Context
Rahab spoke circa 1406 BC as Israel camped at Shittim before crossing Jordan. Jericho, a fortified Canaanite city, had heard reports of Israel's Red Sea crossing (40 years prior) and recent Amorite victories. Canaanite religion involved temple prostitution, making Rahab's profession culturally accepted but morally abhorrent to Yahweh's holiness standards.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Rahab's faith—confessing truth and acting on it despite personal risk—challenge superficial Christian profession today?
- What does God's inclusion of a Canaanite prostitute in Messiah's lineage (Matthew 1:5) reveal about grace and the gospel?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I know that the LORD hath given you the land—Rahab's confession is remarkable: a Canaanite prostitute declares theological certainty about Yahweh's sovereign purpose. The verb yada (יָדַע, 'to know') indicates not mere opinion but settled conviction. Her faith grasped what Israel often forgot: God's promises are irrevocable (Numbers 23:19).
Your terror is fallen upon us (אֵימַתְכֶם, eymat'khem)—This 'dread' or 'terror' fulfills Exodus 15:16 and Deuteronomy 2:25, where God promised to place His fear upon Canaan's inhabitants. Rahab's testimony proves that Jericho's resistance was not ignorance but rebellion against known truth. She becomes a model of saving faith (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25), proving that grace reaches even Canaanite harlots who trust God's word.