Joshua 6:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The whole city is devoted to the Lord for destruction, but Rahab and all in her house are spared because she sheltered the spies.
What Does Joshua 6:17 Mean?
As the climax nears, Joshua declares the city "accursed" -- set apart wholly to the Lord, given over to destruction rather than taken as ordinary plunder. Jericho's judgment is complete, yet one exception shines out: Rahab and everyone in her house will live, because she hid the spies Israel had sent.
Even in a scene of judgment, mercy is named. Rahab, an outsider who once knew nothing of Israel's God, is spared because she acted in faith to shelter His people. Her rescue shows that no one is beyond the reach of grace who turns toward the Lord. The same story holds both solemn judgment and surprising mercy, and the mercy reaches a woman the world had written off. Throughout Scripture, faith like Rahab's draws even the unlikeliest into the people of God.
Joshua 6:17 in the Original Language
cherem (חֵרֶם), 'accursed' -- something devoted entirely to God, set apart and beyond ordinary use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 6:17
What does Joshua 6:17 mean?
The whole city is devoted to the Lord for destruction, but Rahab and all in her house are spared because she sheltered the spies.