Joshua 2:14
New International Version
“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.”

New Living Translation
“We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the LORD gives us the land.”

English Standard Version
And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

New American Standard Bible
So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

NASB 1995
So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

NASB 1977
So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it will be when Yahweh gives us the land that we will show lovingkindness and truth to you.”

Amplified Bible
So the men said to her, “Our lives for yours if you do not tell [anyone about] this business of ours; then when the LORD gives us the land we will show you kindness and faithfulness [and keep our agreement with you].”

Christian Standard Bible
The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the LORD gives us the land.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the LORD gives us the land.”

American Standard Version
And the men said unto her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business; and it shall be, when Jehovah giveth us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Contemporary English Version
"Rahab," the spies answered, "if you keep quiet about what we're doing, we promise to be kind to you when the LORD gives us this land. We pray that the LORD will kill us if we don't keep our promise!"

English Revised Version
And the men said unto her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business; and it shall be, when the LORD giveth us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The men promised her, "We pledge our lives for your lives. If you don't tell anyone what we're doing here, we'll treat you kindly and honestly when the LORD gives us this land."

Good News Translation
The men said to her, "May God take our lives if we don't do as we say! If you do not tell anyone what we have been doing, we promise you that when the LORD gives us this land, we will treat you well."

International Standard Version
So the men told her, "Our life for yours—even to death—if you don't betray this mission of ours. Then when the LORD gives us this land, we'll treat you graciously and faithfully."

Majority Standard Bible
“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”

NET Bible
The men said to her, "If you die, may we die too! If you do not report what we've been up to, then, when the LORD hands the land over to us, we will show unswerving allegiance to you."

New Heart English Bible
The men said to her, "Our life for yours, even to death, if you do not talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when the LORD gives us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you."

Webster's Bible Translation
And 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.

World English Bible
The men said to her, “Our life for yours, if you don’t talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the men say to her, “Our soul to die for yours; if you do not declare this—our matter, then it has been, in YHWH’s giving this land to us, that we have done kindness and truth with you.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the men say to her, 'Our soul for yours -- to die; if ye declare not this our matter, then it hath been, in Jehovah's giving to us this land, that we have done with thee kindness and truth.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the men will say to her, Our soul instead of yours to die if ye shall not announce this our word. And it being in Jehovah's giving to us the land, and we did with thee mercy and truth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They answered her: Be our lives for you unto death, only if thou betray us not. And when the Lord shall have delivered us the land, we will shew thee mercy and truth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They responded to her: “May our lives be yours unto death, if only you do not betray us. And when the Lord will have delivered the land to us, we will act toward you with mercy and truth.”

New American Bible
“We pledge our lives for yours,” they answered her. “If you do not betray our mission, we will be faithful in showing kindness to you when the LORD gives us the land.”

New Revised Standard Version
The men said to her, “Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the LORD gives us the land.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the men said to her, We will give our lives to death instead of you, if you will not disclose this affair. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us this land, then we will deal kindly and truly with you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the men said to her: “We give our lives for you unto death, unless you show this matter, and whenever LORD JEHOVAH gives us this land, we will demonstrate with you kindness and truth!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Promise to Rahab
13that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will deliver us from death.” 14“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.” 15Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.…

Cross References
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

James 2:25
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

Exodus 23:31-33
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you. / You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. / They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Deuteronomy 7:2
and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.

1 Samuel 30:15
“Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked. And the man replied, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will lead you to them.”

1 Kings 20:31-34
Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.” / So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’” And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” / Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” “Go and get him!” said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot. ...

Matthew 1:5
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

Romans 11:29
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Genesis 24:49
Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”

Judges 1:24-25
and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly.” / So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family.

2 Kings 6:22-23
“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.” / So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

1 Corinthians 7:25
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

2 Corinthians 1:17-20
When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”? / But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” / For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if you utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.

for your's [heb] instead of you to die

1 Kings 20:39
And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

when the Lord

Joshua 6:17,25
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…

Genesis 24:49
And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

Numbers 10:29-32
And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel…

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Joshua 2
1. Rahab receives and conceals the two spies sent from Shittim
8. The covenant between her and them
23. Their return and description of events














Our lives for your lives!
This phrase is a solemn vow made by the spies to Rahab, indicating a covenant of protection. The Hebrew word for "lives" is "nephesh," which can mean life, soul, or person. This reflects the seriousness of the promise, as they are pledging their very beings in exchange for Rahab's assistance. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such oaths were binding and sacred, often invoking divine witness. This highlights the gravity and sincerity of the spies' commitment.

If you do not report our mission
The condition set by the spies underscores the importance of secrecy in their reconnaissance mission. The Hebrew root for "report" is "nagad," which means to declare or make known. This reflects the high stakes of their mission; any breach of confidentiality could jeopardize the entire Israelite campaign. Historically, espionage was a critical component of ancient warfare, and the success of Israel's conquest of Canaan depended on such covert operations.

we will treat you kindly and faithfully
The promise of kindness and faithfulness is rooted in the Hebrew words "chesed" and "emeth." "Chesed" is often translated as loving-kindness or steadfast love, reflecting a covenantal loyalty that goes beyond mere obligation. "Emeth" means truth or faithfulness, indicating reliability and trustworthiness. This assurance from the spies is not just a promise of safety but a pledge of enduring benevolence, reflecting God's own covenantal faithfulness to His people.

when the LORD gives us the land
This phrase reflects the spies' confidence in God's promise to Israel. The use of "when" rather than "if" indicates their faith in the certainty of God's deliverance. The Hebrew word for "gives" is "nathan," which implies a divine bestowal or grant. This underscores the belief that the land of Canaan is a gift from God to the Israelites, fulfilling the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The acknowledgment of the LORD as the giver of the land highlights the theological foundation of Israel's claim to Canaan, rooted in divine promise rather than human conquest.

Verse 14. - Our life for yours. Literally, our souls (נֶפֶשׁ, answering to the Greek ψυχή - the principle of life in men and animals) in the place of you to die; i.e., may we die if you are not preserved safe and sound. A similar expression is used by Ignatius, ad Ephesians 1, ad Polyc. 2, 6, etc. If ye utter not, i.e., Rahab and her kindred (Rosenmuller). Many MSS., however, read "if thou utterest not."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Our lives
נַפְשֵׁ֤נוּ (nap̄·šê·nū)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

for your
תַחְתֵּיכֶם֙ (ṯaḥ·tê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

lives!”
לָמ֔וּת (lā·mūṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

the men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

agreed.
וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“If
אִ֚ם (’im)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

report
תַגִּ֔ידוּ (ṯag·gî·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

our mission,
דְּבָרֵ֖נוּ (də·ḇā·rê·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

we will show
וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ (wə·‘ā·śî·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

you
עִמָּ֖ךְ (‘im·māḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

kindness
חֶ֥סֶד (ḥe·seḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

and faithfulness
וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ (we·’ĕ·meṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

when the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

gives
בְּתֵת־ (bə·ṯêṯ-)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

us
לָ֙נוּ֙ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

the land.”
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT History: Joshua 2:14 The men said to her Our life (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 2:13
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