Joshua 2:12

Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Rahab speaks to the two Israelite spies in Jericho immediately after acknowledging the LORD’s power and before they negotiate the terms of her family’s preservation.

The words — The noun חָסֶד (Cha.sed) denotes covenant loyalty, and the imperative הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ (hi.sha.ve.'u) commands a formal oath.

The thread — The demand for a sworn oath by Yahweh parallels the servant’s request in Genesis 24:3 and Genesis 24:9, while the plea for visible proof directly anticipates the scarlet cord specified in Joshua 2:18.

Why it lands — The text explicitly requires a verbal oath and a tangible token before the spies depart, establishing that covenantal promises demand both sworn commitment and physical verification.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְעַתָּ֗הve./'a.Tahand/ therefore הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ־hi.sha.ve.'u-swear נָ֥אna'pleaseלִי֙l/ito <the>/ meבַּֽיהוָ֔הba./Yah.wehby/ Yahweh כִּי־ki-for עָשִׂ֥יתִי'a.Si.tiI have done עִמָּכֶ֖ם'i.ma./Khemwith/ you חָ֑סֶדCha.sedloyalty וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨םva./'a.si.Temand/ you will do גַּם־gam-also אַתֶּ֜ם'a.Temyou עִם־'im-with בֵּ֤יתbeit[the] household of אָבִי֙'a.V/ifather/ my חֶ֔סֶדChe.sedloyalty וּנְתַתֶּ֥םu./ne.ta.Temand/ you will giveלִ֖יl/ito <the>/ meא֥וֹת'ota sign of אֱמֶֽת׃'e.Metfaithfulness

King James Version

Now 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:

Cross-references

Joshua 2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.
Genesis 24:3 and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
Genesis 24:9 So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
Exodus 12:13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Joshua 2:13 that 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.”
Joshua 9:15 And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
Joshua 9:18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.
1 Samuel 20:14 And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,
1 Samuel 24:21 So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
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.”