Joshua 2:21
New International Version
“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

New Living Translation
“I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.

English Standard Version
And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Berean Standard Bible
“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Berean Literal Bible
And she said, “According to your⁺ words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed, and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

King James Bible
And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

New King James Version
Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

New American Standard Bible
She then said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

NASB 1995
She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

NASB 1977
And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Legacy Standard Bible
And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they went; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Amplified Bible
She said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then Rahab sent them off, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Berean Annotated Bible
“Let it be as you⁺ say, she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Christian Standard Bible
“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

American Standard Version
And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

Contemporary English Version
"I'll do exactly what you said," Rahab promised. Then she sent them on their way and tied the red rope to the window.

English Revised Version
And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I agree," she said. So she let them go and tied the red cord in the window.

Good News Translation
She agreed and sent them away. When they had gone, she tied the red cord to the window.

International Standard Version
"Since you put it that way," she replied, "I agree." After she sent them on their way and they had left, she tied the red cord in the window.

NET Bible
She said, "I agree to these conditions." She sent them on their way and then tied the red rope in the window.

New Heart English Bible
She said, "According to your words, so be it." She sent them away, and they departed. She tied the scarlet line in the window.

Webster's Bible Translation
And she said, According to your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

World English Bible
She said, “Let it be as you have said.” She sent them away, and they departed. Then she tied the scarlet line in the window.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And she says, “According to your words, so it [is]”; and she sends them away, and they go; and she binds the scarlet line to the window.

Berean Literal Bible
And she said, “According to your⁺ words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed, and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Young's Literal Translation
And she saith, 'According unto your words, so it is;' and she sendeth them away, and they go; and she bindeth the scarlet line to the window.

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will say, According to your words so be it. And she will send them away and they will go: and she will bind the scarlet cord in the window.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And she answered: As you have spoken, so be it done. And sending them on their way, she hung the scarlet cord in the window.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And she responded, “Just as you have spoken, so let it be done.” And sending them to travel on, she hung the scarlet cord at the window.

New American Bible
“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and sent them away. When they were gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

New Revised Standard Version
She said, “According to your words, so be it.” She sent them away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And she said, According to your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed; and she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she said to them: “According to your statement, thus it shall be.” And she sent them and they went and she tied a cord of scarlet in the window”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And she said: 'According unto your words, so be it.' And she sent them away, and they departed; and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she said to them, Let it be according to your word; and she sent them out, and they departed.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Promise to Rahab
20And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22So the spies went out into the hill country and stayed there three days, until their pursuers had returned without finding them, having searched all along the road.…

Cross References
Let it be as you say, she replied,

Luke 1:38
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Matthew 15:28
“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

1 Samuel 3:18
So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
and she sent them away.

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?

1 Samuel 19:17
And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!” Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’”
And when they had gone,

1 Samuel 20:42
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

Matthew 2:14
So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,

Acts 12:17
Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.
she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Joshua 6:22-23
Meanwhile, Joshua told the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the house of the prostitute and bring out the woman and all who are with her, just as you promised her.” / So the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel.

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

Exodus 12:22-23
Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. / 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.
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.

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

Leviticus 14:4-7
the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. / Then the priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh water in a clay pot. / And he is to take the live bird together with the cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water. …

1 Kings 17:10-15
So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” / And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.” / But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” …

Acts 16:31
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”


Treasury of Scripture

And she said, According to your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

And she bound

Joshua 2:18
Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

John 2:5
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

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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












“Let it be as you say,” she replied,

Rahab accepted the spies’ terms and placed her household’s future in the hands of Israel’s God. Her decision marked a clear break with Jericho and a public alignment with the people the Lord had sent against the city.

Luk 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.…
Mat 15:28 “O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great!”…
1Sa 3:18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide…

and she sent them away.

Having hidden and protected them, she released them to return to Joshua with their report.

Jas 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute…
1Sa 19:17 And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this?…

And when they had gone,

Rahab acted without delay, knowing that the coming attack on Jericho was certain.

1Sa 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace.…
Mat 2:14 So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night,…
Act 12:17 Peter motioned with his hand for silence…

she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

The cord identified her house for preservation when Israel entered the city. It stood as the visible sign of the agreement and of Rahab’s confidence that the Lord would deliver her and her family.

Jos 6:22-23 Meanwhile, Joshua told the two men who had spied out the…
Heb 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed…
Exo 12:22-23 Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Rahab
A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, known for her faith and actions in hiding the Israelite spies. Her account is a powerful example of faith and redemption.

2. Israelite Spies
Two men sent by Joshua to scout the land of Jericho. They play a crucial role in the account by forming an alliance with Rahab.

3. Jericho
A fortified city in Canaan, significant as the first city conquered by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership.

4. Scarlet Cord
A symbol of Rahab's agreement with the spies and her faith. It represents her household's salvation during the conquest of Jericho.

5. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites, succeeding Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
Faith in Action
Rahab's account teaches us that true faith is demonstrated through actions. Her willingness to risk her life for the spies shows a deep trust in God.

Redemption and Grace
Rahab's inclusion in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) illustrates God's grace and the possibility of redemption for all, regardless of past sins.

Symbolism of the Scarlet Cord
The scarlet cord serves as a powerful symbol of salvation and protection, reminding us of the importance of visible signs of our faith.

Courage and Risk
Rahab's courage in the face of danger challenges us to take bold steps in our faith journey, trusting in God's protection and promises.

God's Sovereignty
The account of Rahab underscores God's sovereignty in using unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His purposes.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 2:21?

2. How does Rahab's faith in Joshua 2:21 inspire our trust in God's promises?

3. What role does obedience play in Rahab's actions in Joshua 2:21?

4. How can we apply Rahab's example of faith and action in our lives?

5. How does Joshua 2:21 connect to Hebrews 11:31 about faith and works?

6. What can we learn from Rahab's commitment to God's people in Joshua 2:21?

7. How does Joshua 2:21 demonstrate the importance of faith and obedience in God's plan?

8. What role does Rahab's agreement play in the broader narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan?

9. How does the scarlet cord in Joshua 2:21 symbolize salvation and protection?

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


Verse 21. - And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. - Not necessarily at once, but when the time for the precaution arrived.

Joshua 2:21 captures a living portrait of saving faith: Rahab hears, agrees, speaks, acts, waits, and displays the sign of redemption. Her simple steps—consent, confession, obedience, patient trust, and visible allegiance—invite us to the same wholehearted response to God’s sure Word, confident that the scarlet thread of Christ’s blood secures all who shelter under it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Let it
ה֔וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

be as you say,”
כְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֣ם (kə·ḏiḇ·rê·ḵem)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

she replied,
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

and sent them away.
וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵ֖ם (wat·tə·šal·lə·ḥêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

And when they had gone,
וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ (way·yê·lê·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

she tied
וַתִּקְשֹׁ֛ר (wat·tiq·šōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7194: To tie, gird, confine, compact, in love, league

the scarlet
הַשָּׁנִ֖י (haš·šā·nî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8144: Crimson, the insect, its color, stuff dyed with it

cord
תִּקְוַ֥ת (tiq·waṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8615: A cord, expectancy

in the window.
בַּחַלּֽוֹן׃ (ba·ḥal·lō·wn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 2474: A window


Additonal Resources
Joshua 2:21 Blue Letter Bible
Joshua 2:21 Bible Gateway
Joshua 2:21 Bible.com

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Joshua 2:21 Study Bible
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Joshua 2:21 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 2:21 She said According to your words so (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 2:20
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