Joshua 2:4
New International Version
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

New Living Translation
Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from.

English Standard Version
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

Berean Standard Bible
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

King James Bible
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

New King James Version
Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

New American Standard Bible
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

NASB 1995
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

NASB 1977
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

Amplified Bible
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; so she said, “Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

Christian Standard Bible
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from.

American Standard Version
And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were:

English Revised Version
And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yea, the men came unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the woman had already taken the two men inside and hidden them. So she said, "Yes, the men did come here. But I didn't know where they had come from.

International Standard Version
Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, "The men really did come to me, but I didn't know from where they came.

Majority Standard Bible
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, ?Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

NET Bible
But the woman hid the two men and replied, "Yes, these men were clients of mine, but I didn't know where they came from.

New Heart English Bible
The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men to me, but I knew not whence they were:

World English Bible
The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the woman takes the two men, and hides them, and says thus: “The men came to me, and I have not known where they [are] from;

Young's Literal Translation
And the woman taketh the two men, and hideth them, and saith thus: 'The men came in unto me, and I have not known whence they are;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the woman will take the two men and hide them, and will say thus, Two men came to me, and I knew not from whence they were.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the woman taking the men, hid them, and said: I confess they came to me, but I knew not whence they were:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the woman, taking the men, hid them. And she said: “I admit that they came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

New American Bible
The woman had taken the two men and hidden them, so she said, “True, the men you speak of came to me, but I did not know where they came from.

New Revised Standard Version
But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said, Truly the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the woman brought both men and she hid them and she said: “Truly, men came to me and I did not know from where they are.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said: 'Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the woman took the two men and hid them; and she spoke to the messengers, saying, The men came in to me,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rahab Welcomes the Spies
3So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 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!”…

Cross References
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 1:19-20
The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” / So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.

1 Samuel 19:11-17
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. / Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. ...

1 Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

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.

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 11:32-33
In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. / But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Judges 4:17-21
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. ...

Genesis 26:7
But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”

Genesis 20:2
Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

Genesis 12:13
Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

1 Samuel 21:2
“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.

1 Samuel 27:10-12
who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.” / David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory. / So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men to me, but I knew not from where they were:

Exodus 1:19
And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

2 Samuel 16:18,19
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide…

2 Samuel 17:19,20
And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known…

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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














But the woman
The woman referred to here is Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute living in Jericho. Her inclusion in the biblical narrative is significant, as it highlights God's grace and the theme of redemption. Despite her background, Rahab plays a crucial role in the Israelite conquest of Jericho. Her actions demonstrate that God can use anyone, regardless of their past, to fulfill His purposes.

had taken the two men
The two men are Israelite spies sent by Joshua to scout the land, especially Jericho. This mission was crucial for the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The act of Rahab taking them in signifies her willingness to align herself with the God of Israel, even at great personal risk. It underscores the theme of faith and courage in the face of danger.

and hidden them
Rahab's decision to hide the spies is an act of defiance against her own people and a demonstration of her faith in the God of Israel. The Hebrew root for "hidden" (טָמַן, tamán) implies a deliberate and careful action. This act of protection is pivotal, as it ensures the safety of the spies and the success of their mission. It also foreshadows the protection and salvation Rahab herself will receive.

So she said
Rahab's words are a strategic and courageous response to the king's men. Her speech reflects wisdom and quick thinking, qualities that are often highlighted in biblical narratives as gifts from God. Her ability to speak convincingly and protect the spies is a testament to her resourcefulness and faith.

'Yes, the men came to me
Rahab acknowledges the presence of the spies, which is a partial truth. This admission is part of her strategy to mislead the king's men without outright denying the spies' presence. Her words reflect a tension between truth and deception, raising questions about the morality of her actions. From a conservative Christian perspective, her actions are often seen as justified by her faith and the greater good she serves.

but I did not know where they had come from
This statement is a calculated lie, intended to protect the spies. In the context of ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality was a sacred duty, and Rahab's actions can be seen as an extension of this cultural norm. Her deception is often viewed through the lens of her faith and the ultimate outcome of her actions, which contribute to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. This phrase highlights the complexity of moral decisions and the sovereignty of God in using imperfect people to achieve His divine purposes.

Verse 4. - And the woman took the two men. The majority of commentators are of opinion that here, as in ver. 1, we must render by the pluperfect. For, as Calvin remarks, Rahab would hardly have dared to lie so coolly had she not previously taken precautions to conceal her guests. And therefore she must have told a twofold falsehood. She must have discovered, or been made acquainted with, their errand, and therefore have "known whence they were," in addition to her assertion that she did not know where they were now. And hid them. The original is remarkable and very vivid. And hid him, i.e., each one in a separate place. No doubt the detail comes from an eyewitness, so that if the Book of Joshua he not a contemporary work, the writer must have had access to some contemporary document.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the woman
הָֽאִשָּׁ֛ה (hā·’iš·šāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

had taken
וַתִּקַּ֧ח (wat·tiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

the two
שְׁנֵ֥י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

and hidden them.
וַֽתִּצְפְּנ֑וֹ (wat·tiṣ·pə·nōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6845: To hide, to hoard, reserve, to deny, to protect, to lurk

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

“Yes,
כֵּ֗ן (kên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

the men
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

did come
בָּ֤אוּ (bā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to me,
אֵלַי֙ (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

but I did not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
יָדַ֖עְתִּי (yā·ḏa‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

where
מֵאַ֥יִן (mê·’a·yin)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 370: Whence?

they had come from.
הֵֽמָּה׃ (hêm·māh)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They


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OT History: Joshua 2:4 The woman took the two men (Josh. Jos)
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