6:25a

And Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her father’s household and all who belonged to her: The clause Rahab the prostitute, with her father’s household and all who belonged to her is the object of the sentence. The Hebrew text puts this first for emphasis. Use the natural grammatical patterns of your language to give this emphasis.

And Joshua spared: The clause Joshua spared indicates that Joshua did not allow the soldiers to kill Rahab along with the other people of Jericho.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Joshua saved alive (Revised Standard Version)

The two spies brought Rahab and her family to safety outside of Jericho. However, Joshua was the person who had authority and told them to do this.

her father’s household and all who belonged to her: The phrase her father’s household and all who belonged to her refers to Rahab’s extended family. This is the same group of people referred to in 6:23.

6:25b

because she hid the men Joshua had sent to spy out Jericho: The word men refers to the two young spies.

to spy out Jericho: The phrase to spy out Jericho indicates that Joshua sent the two men to Jericho to learn about the town and the surrounding area.

6:25c

So she has lived among the Israelites: The family of Rahab and her descendants became part of the nation of Israel. There is an interpretation issue with the Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as she has lived.

(1) It refers to Rahab. For example:

she has lived in Israel to this day (English Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004), King James Version)

(2) It refers to Rahab’s descendants. For example:

her descendants have lived in Israel to this day (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This agrees with the Hebrew text and is followed by many English versions and by Bible commentaries.

to this day: The phrase to this day refers to the time that the book of Joshua was written. The descendants of Rahab were still living among the Israelites at the time the author wrote the book.

General Comment on 6:25

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the parts of this verse. The Hebrew text separates the reason clause (6:25c) from the result clause (6:25a) and these can be put together. For example:

25a But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, 25c because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—25b and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (New International Version)

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