Joshua 2:13
New International Version
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 save us from death.”

New Living Translation
when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

English Standard Version
that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

Berean Literal Bible
and spare my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that is unto them, and deliver our lives from death.”

King James Bible
And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

New King James Version
and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

New American Standard Bible
and spare my father and my mother, and my brothers and my sisters, and all who belong to them, and save our lives from death.”

NASB 1995
and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

NASB 1977
and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

Legacy Standard Bible
and preserve my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters alive, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

Amplified Bible
and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, along with everyone who belongs to them, and let us all live.”

Berean Annotated Bible
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.

Christian Standard Bible
that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”

American Standard Version
and that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.

Contemporary English Version
that you won't let your people kill my father and mother and my brothers and sisters and their families.

English Revised Version
and that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
that you'll protect my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and their households, and that you'll save us from death."

Good News Translation
Promise me that you will save my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families! Don't let us be killed!"

International Standard Version
Spare my father, my mother, and my brothers and sisters, along with everyone who belongs with them so we won't be killed."

NET Bible
that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue us from death."

New Heart English Bible
and that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death."

Webster's Bible Translation
And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
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.”

World English Bible
and that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and have kept alive my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and have delivered our souls from death.”

Berean Literal Bible
and spare my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that is unto them, and deliver our lives from death.”

Young's Literal Translation
and have kept alive my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and have delivered our souls from death.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And preserve alive my father and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all which is to them, and take away our souls from death.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That you will save my father and mother, my brethren end sisters, and all things that are theirs, and deliver our souls from death.

Catholic Public Domain Version
that you will save my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all that is theirs, and that you may rescue our souls from death.”

New American Bible
that you will allow my father and mother, brothers and sisters, and my whole family to live, and that you will deliver us from death.”

New Revised Standard Version
that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all that belongs to us, and deliver our lives from death.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Save me and my father and my mother and my brother and my sister and all that is ours, and save our lives from death!"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and save alive the house of my father, my mother, and my brethren, and all my house, and all that they have, and ye shall rescue my soul from death.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Promise to Rahab
12Now 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 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.”…

Cross References
that you will spare the lives of my father and mother,

Genesis 19:15-17
At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” / But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them. / As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

Exodus 12:13-14
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. / And this day will be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, as a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Ezekiel 9:4-6
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.” / And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! / Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
my brothers and sisters,

Genesis 45:5-8
And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. / For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. …

Genesis 50:20-21
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. / Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 43:8-9
And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children. / I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.
and all who belong to them,

Acts 16:31-34
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” / Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. / At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. …

Exodus 12:3-4
Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household. / If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly.

Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
and that you will deliver us from death.”

Psalm 68:20
Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.

Psalm 116:8
For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
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 12:23
When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

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


Treasury of Scripture

And that you will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

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Alive Belong Death Deliver Delivered Kept Live Mother Safe Save Sisters Souls Spare
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Alive Belong Death Deliver Delivered Kept Live Mother Safe Save Sisters Souls Spare
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












that you will spare the lives of my father and mother,

Rahab sought protection for her closest family members as Jericho faced certain judgment. Her concern shows both the danger facing the city and her confidence that Israel’s God could preserve those who trusted in His mercy.

Gen 19:15-17 At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying,…
Exo 12:13-14 The blood on the houses where you are staying…
Ezk 9:4-6 “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD,…

my brothers and sisters,

She extended her appeal beyond her parents to include her siblings, reflecting the close obligations of an ancient household.

Gen 45:5-8 And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves…
Gen 50:20-21 As for you, what you intended against me for evil,…
Gen 43:8-9 And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me,…

and all who belong to them,

Rahab desired safety for the entire family circle, including dependents gathered under their care.

Act 16:31-34 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus”…
Exo 12:3-4 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day…
Gen 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will…

and that you will deliver us from death.”

Her request rested on the promise of the spies and on her decision to identify herself with the God of Israel rather than with doomed Jericho.

Psa 68:20 Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer…
Psa 116:8 For You have delivered my soul from death,…
Hos 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol;…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Rahab
A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, known for her faith and courage. She is a central figure in this chapter, demonstrating her belief in the God of Israel by hiding the spies and negotiating for her family's safety.

2. The Spies
Two Israelite men sent by Joshua to scout the land of Jericho. They are the recipients of Rahab's plea for mercy and are instrumental in the eventual conquest of Jericho.

3. Jericho
A fortified city in Canaan, significant as the first city conquered by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership. It represents the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land to Israel.

4. Rahab's Family
Rahab's plea includes her immediate family and all who belong to them, highlighting the communal nature of salvation and protection in biblical accounts.

5. The Covenant of Protection
The agreement between Rahab and the spies, which is based on mutual trust and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.
Teaching Points
Faith in Action
Rahab's account teaches us that genuine faith is demonstrated through courageous actions. Her willingness to risk her life for the spies shows her trust in God's power and promises.

God's Inclusive Grace
Rahab, a non-Israelite and a woman of questionable reputation, is included in God's plan of salvation. This illustrates that God's grace extends beyond cultural and social boundaries.

The Importance of Family
Rahab's concern for her family's safety highlights the biblical value placed on family and community. It encourages believers to intercede for their loved ones.

Covenant and Commitment
The agreement between Rahab and the spies underscores the importance of keeping one's word and the power of covenants in the biblical account.

Deliverance from Death
Rahab's plea for deliverance is a foreshadowing of the ultimate deliverance from sin and death through Jesus Christ, encouraging believers to seek salvation through Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 2:13?

2. How does Rahab's plea for her family's safety demonstrate faith in God?

3. What can we learn from Rahab's actions about protecting our families today?

4. How does Joshua 2:13 connect with Hebrews 11:31 about Rahab's faith?

5. In what ways can we show loyalty to God's people like Rahab did?

6. How does Rahab's story encourage us to trust God's protection in difficult times?

7. How does Joshua 2:13 demonstrate God's mercy towards non-Israelites?

8. What does Rahab's plea in Joshua 2:13 reveal about her faith?

9. How does Joshua 2:13 challenge the concept of divine justice?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 2?


(13) Save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters.--Whatever Rahab may have been herself, her acknowledgment of all her family is observable. She was in no way separated or degraded from their society. When we remember what Moses describes the Canaanites to have been (in certain passages of the Pentateuch, as Leviticus 18:24-28; Leviticus 20:22-23) and compare this chapter, we may reasonably conclude Rahab to have been morally not inferior to her countrymen as they were then, but rather their superior. We are reminded that the "publicans and harlots "were not the worst members of the "evil and adulterous generation" to whom the Word of God came. They believed John the Baptist, and were among the most constant hearers of the true Joshua (Matthew 21:32; Luke 15:1).

Rahab’s request in Joshua 2:13 layers one concentric circle upon another—life spared, parents, siblings, extended family, and finally rescue from death itself. Her faith-filled plea shows that God’s mercy can reach anyone who seeks refuge under His promise, and it foreshadows the comprehensive salvation offered in Christ to all who trust Him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
that you will spare the lives
וְהַחֲיִתֶ֞ם (wə·ha·ḥă·yi·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

of my father
אָבִ֣י (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

mother,
אִמִּ֗י (’im·mî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

my brothers
אַחַי֙ (’a·ḥay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

sisters,
אַחְיוֹתַ֔י (’aḥ·yō·w·ṯay)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who belong to them,
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

and that you will deliver
וְהִצַּלְתֶּ֥ם (wə·hiṣ·ṣal·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

us
נַפְשֹׁתֵ֖ינוּ (nap̄·šō·ṯê·nū)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

from death.”
מִמָּֽוֶת׃ (mim·mā·weṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin


Additonal Resources
Joshua 2:13 Blue Letter Bible
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OT History: Joshua 2:13 And that you will save alive my (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 2:12
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