Joshua 2:9

and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Rahab addresses the two Israelite spies from her rooftop immediately before they lie down for the night. She speaks to acknowledge their authority and to secure her family's safety.

The words — יָדַ֕עְתִּי (ya.Da'.ti) denotes the verb "I know," while נָתַ֧ן (na.Tan) means "he has given," both anchoring her declaration in divine action.

The thread — This motif of divinely sent dread appears in Exodus 23:27, Deuteronomy 2:25, and Genesis 35:5, where God's terror precedes His people's movement.

Why it lands — The text records Rahab's recognition of Yahweh's territorial grant before she draws any theological conclusions. A reader must first acknowledge the plain claim of divine transfer before applying it to any subsequent argument or action.

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

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va./To.merand/ she said אֶל־'el-to הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔יםha./'a.na.Shimthe/ men יָדַ֕עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI know כִּֽי־ki-that נָתַ֧ןna.Tanhe has given יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahwehלָכֶ֖םla./Khemto <the>/ youאֶת־'et-<obj.>הָאָ֑רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land וְכִֽי־ve./khi-and/ that נָפְלָ֤הna.fe.Lahit has fallen אֵֽימַתְכֶם֙'ei.mat./Khemdread/ your עָלֵ֔ינוּ'a.Lei./nuon/ us וְכִ֥יve./Khiand/ that נָמֹ֛גוּna.Mo.guthey have melted away כָּל־kol-all יֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants of הָאָ֖רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃mi./pe.nei./Khem<from>/ because of/ you

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Exodus 23:27 I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
Deuteronomy 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.”
Genesis 35:5 As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.
Exodus 15:15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,
Joshua 2:11 When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
Job 19:25 But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.
Psalms 112:10 The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.
Psalms 115:16 The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.
Jeremiah 27:5 By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please.