Bible Strands
Joshua 2:17
The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Hebrew spies address Rahab in Jericho immediately following her instruction for them to hide in the hills for three days.
The words — נְקִיִּם (nekiyyim) translates as "free" or "innocent," directly modifying the phrase מִ/שְּׁבֻעָתֵ֥/ךְ (mi-shevu'atekha), "from your oath."
The thread — This exchange of oath-binding language parallels the legal framework in Numbers 30:2 regarding pledged vows and the covenant loyalty detailed in 2 Samuel 21:7.
Why it lands — The text states the men claim exemption from the oath Rahab imposed, establishing that verbal commitments require clear boundaries before survival terms are accepted.
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
King James Version
And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
Cross-references
- Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.
- 2 Samuel 21:7 Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
- 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,
- Leviticus 19:11 You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.
- 2 Samuel 21:1 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
- Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
- Joshua 2:20 And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”