New International Version (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) New Living Translation (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) English Standard Version But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. Berean Standard Bible (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.) Berean Literal Bible (And she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the flax stalks, which she had arranged on the roof.) King James Bible But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. New King James Version (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) New American Standard Bible But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. NASB 1995 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. NASB 1977 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. Legacy Standard Bible But she had brought them up to the roof and concealed them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. Amplified Bible But [in fact] she had brought the scouts up to the roof and had hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof [to dry]. Berean Annotated Bible (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there. Christian Standard Bible But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. Holman Christian Standard Bible But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. American Standard Version But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. English Revised Version But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. GOD'S WORD® Translation (She had taken them up to the roof and covered them with the flax which she had laid up there.) International Standard Version But she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out in order on the roof. NET Bible (Now she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them in the stalks of flax she had spread out on the roof.) New Heart English Bible But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof. Webster's Bible Translation But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.) World English Bible But she had brought them up to the roof, and hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand she has caused them to go up on the roof, and hides them with the flax wood, which is arranged for her on the roof. Berean Literal Bible (And she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the flax stalks, which she had arranged on the roof.) Young's Literal Translation and she hath caused them to go up on the roof, and hideth them with the flax wood, which is arranged for her on the roof. Smith's Literal Translation And she brought them up to the roof, and she will hide them in woody flax arranged by her upon the roof. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut she made the men go up to the top of her house, and covered them with the stalks of flax, which was there. Catholic Public Domain Version But she caused the men to ascend to the roof of her house, and she covered them with the stalks of flax that were there. New American Bible Now, she had led them to the roof, and hidden them among her stalks of flax spread out there. New Revised Standard Version She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them beneath the stalks of flax which she had piled up on the roof. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And she brought them up to the roof and she hid them between stalks of flax that were laid on the roof. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had spread out upon the roof. Brenton Septuagint Translation But she had brought them up upon the house, and hid them in the flax-stalks that were spread by her on the house. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Rahab Welcomes the Spies…5At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” 6(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.) 7So the king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they had gone out, the gate was shut.… Cross References But Rahab had taken them up to the roof 2 Samuel 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. Acts 10:9-16 The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray. / He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. / He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. … and hidden them among the stalks of flax Exodus 9:31-32 (Now the flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom; / but the wheat and spelt were not destroyed, because they are late crops.) Isaiah 19:9 The workers in flax will be dismayed, and the weavers of fine linen will turn pale. Proverbs 31:13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. that she had laid out there 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? Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient. Exodus 1:17-21 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. / So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” / The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” … 1 Kings 17:19-24 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. / Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” / Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” … 2 Kings 4:33-37 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. / Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. / Elisha turned away and paced back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched himself out over the boy again, and the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. … Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, Acts 9:25 One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall. 2 Corinthians 11:33 But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp. Judges 4:17-22 Meanwhile, Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. / Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. / Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again. … 1 Samuel 19:12 So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. 2 Samuel 17:19-20 Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing. / When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. Treasury of Scripture But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof. to the roof Joshua 2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; Exodus 1:15-21 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: … Deuteronomy 22:8 When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. hid them Exodus 2:2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 2 Samuel 17:19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. 1 Kings 18:4,13 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) … Jump to Previous Arranged Caused Covering Hid Hidden Hideth House Laid Order Roof Spread Stalks Stems WoodJump to Next Arranged Caused Covering Hid Hidden Hideth House Laid Order Roof Spread Stalks Stems WoodJoshua 2 1. Rahab receives and conceals the two spies sent from Shittim8. The covenant between her and them 23. Their return and description of events (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof Houses in Jericho commonly had flat roofs, which served as work and storage areas. Rahab acted quickly to move the Israelite spies beyond the reach of the king’s messengers. 2Sa 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around… and hidden them among the stalks of flax Flax was spread out to dry before being processed into linen. The stalks provided an effective concealment, and Rahab used what was already present in her household to protect the men she believed served the true God. Exo 9:31-32 Now the flax and barley were destroyed… that she had laid out there.) Her preparations for ordinary household work became the means by which the spies escaped detection. Rahab’s decisive actions revealed her allegiance to the God of Israel despite the danger of defying Jericho’s authorities. Jas 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute… Persons / Places / Events 1. RahabA Canaanite woman living in Jericho, known for her occupation as a prostitute. She plays a crucial role in the account by hiding the Israelite spies and later becomes part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. 2. The Spies Two Israelite men sent by Joshua to scout the city of Jericho. Their mission is to gather intelligence on the city's defenses and the morale of its inhabitants. 3. The Roof In ancient Near Eastern architecture, roofs were flat and often used for various domestic activities, such as drying flax. Rahab uses this space to conceal the spies. 4. Flax A plant cultivated for its fibers, which were used to make linen. The stalks of flax were laid out on the roof to dry, providing a perfect hiding place for the spies. 5. Jericho A fortified city in Canaan, significant for its strategic location and formidable walls. It is the first city the Israelites encounter in their conquest of the Promised Land. Teaching Points Faith in ActionRahab's decision to hide the spies was a demonstration of her faith in the God of Israel. True faith often requires taking risks and making difficult choices that align with God's purposes. God's Sovereignty and Grace Rahab's inclusion in the lineage of Christ shows that God's grace extends beyond cultural and moral boundaries. He can use anyone, regardless of their past, for His divine purposes. Courage and Obedience Rahab's actions required courage and a willingness to defy her own people. Believers are called to obey God even when it is countercultural or risky. The Role of Women in God's Plan Rahab's account highlights the significant role women can play in God's redemptive history. Her faith and actions were pivotal in the success of the Israelite mission. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 2:6?2. How does Rahab's action in Joshua 2:6 demonstrate faith in God's plan? 3. What can we learn from Rahab's courage in protecting the spies? 4. How does Joshua 2:6 connect to Hebrews 11:31 about faith and works? 5. In what ways can we show similar bravery in our daily Christian walk? 6. How does Rahab's story encourage us to trust God's protection and guidance? 7. How does Joshua 2:6 demonstrate God's use of unexpected people in His plans? 8. What does Rahab's action in Joshua 2:6 reveal about faith and courage? 9. How does the historical context of Joshua 2:6 support its authenticity? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 2? (6) The stalks of flax.--It is remarked that flax and barley are both early crops (Exodus 9:31), and that the first month (see Joshua 4:19) was the time of barley harvest. (Comp. 2Samuel 21:9.)Verse 6. - But she had brought them up. Literally, and she caused them to ascend; but our version has very properly (see ver. 4) given the preterite the pluperfect sense here. "Two strangers, Israelites, spies, have a safe harbour provided them, even amongst their enemies, against the proclamation of a king." "Where cannot the God of heaven either find or raise up friends to His own causes and servants?" (Bp. Hall.) To the roof of the house. The flat roofs of Oriental, and even of Greek and Italian houses, are used for all kinds of purposes, especially for drying corn and other things for domestic use (see 1 Samuel 9:25, 26; 2 Samuel 11:2; 2 Samuel 16:22; 2 Kings 23:12. Also Acts 10:9, where the roof is used as a place of retirement and repose). Stalks of flax. Literally, flax of the tree. The word translated flax either of the raw material or of the linen made from it. Here it must mean flax as it came cut from the field; that is, as our version translates it, the stalks of flax (λινοκαλάμη, LXX.), which grows in Egypt to a height of three feet, and may be presumed to have attained a height not much less at Jericho. The word עָרַד which signifies to lay in a row, and is used of the wood on the altar in Genesis 22:9, and of the shew bread in Leviticus 24:6, confirms this view. It is obvious that this would have formed a most sufficient hiding place for the fugitives. "Either faith or friendship are not tried but in extremities. To show countenance to the messengers of God while the publique face of the State smiles upon them, is but a courtesie of course; but to hide our own lives in theirs when they are persecuted is an act which looks for a reward" (Bp. Hall). Joshua 2:6 captures a moment where ordinary diligence meets extraordinary faith. Rahab’s rooftop, her swift concealment, the humble flax, and her earlier preparation all converge to protect the spies and advance God’s plan for Israel’s conquest. The verse teaches that God honors courageous faith, uses commonplace resources, and weaves prior preparations into His unfolding purposes. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew (But [Rahab]וְהִ֖יא (wə·hî) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are had taken them up הֶעֱלָ֣תַם (he·‘ĕ·lā·ṯam) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively to the roof הַגָּ֑גָה (hag·gā·ḡāh) Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 1406: A roof, the top of an altar and hidden them וַֽתִּטְמְנֵם֙ (wat·tiṭ·mə·nêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 2934: To hide, conceal among the stalks הָעֵ֔ץ (hā·‘êṣ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood of flax בְּפִשְׁתֵּ֣י (bə·p̄iš·tê) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 6593: Flax, linen that she had laid out הָעֲרֻכ֥וֹת (hā·‘ă·ru·ḵō·wṯ) Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order [there].) הַגָּֽג׃ (hag·gāḡ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1406: A roof, the top of an altar Additonal Resources Joshua 2:6 Blue Letter BibleJoshua 2:6 Bible Gateway Joshua 2:6 Bible.com Joshua 2:6 NIV |
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