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Joshua 2:19

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And it shall be, [that] whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood [shall be] upon his head, and we [will be] guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood [shall be] on our head, if [any] hand be upon him.

And it shall be, that whosoever {H834} shall go out {H3318} of the doors {H1817} of thy house {H1004} into the street {H2351}, his blood {H1818} shall be upon his head {H7218}, and we will be guiltless {H5355}: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house {H1004}, his blood {H1818} shall be on our head {H7218}, if any hand {H3027} be upon him.

If anyone goes out the doors of your house into the street, he will be responsible for his own blood, and we will be guiltless. But everyone who stays with you in the house - we will be responsible for his blood if anyone lays a hand on him.

If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads.

And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

Commentary

Context of Joshua 2:19

This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Rahab and the Israelite spies sent by Joshua to reconnoiter Jericho. After Rahab, a harlot of Jericho, hides the spies from the city's king, she makes a desperate plea for her own and her family's safety when the Israelites inevitably invade. In response, the spies establish a solemn covenant with her, the terms of which are laid out in this verse. It specifies the conditions for the protection of Rahab's household: they must remain within her house during the impending attack. This agreement underscores the spies' commitment to honor their promise and Rahab's act of faith.

For more on Rahab's initial actions and her plea, refer to Joshua 2:1 and Joshua 2:12-13.

Key Themes in Joshua 2:19

  • Conditional Protection and Salvation: The verse clearly defines the terms of safety for Rahab's family. Protection is guaranteed only for those who remain within the designated sanctuary of her house. This highlights a principle of divine protection often tied to obedience to specific instructions, much like the salvation found by remaining within Noah's ark during the flood.
  • Blood Guilt and Responsibility: The phrase "his blood [shall be] upon his head" is an idiom signifying that if someone leaves the house and is harmed, their death is their own responsibility, absolving the spies (and Israel) of guilt. Conversely, "his blood [shall be] on our head" means the Israelites would be held accountable if anyone inside the house were harmed, emphasizing the gravity of their oath and their commitment to protect.
  • The Power of Covenant: This verse is a testament to the binding nature of the covenant made between the spies and Rahab. It demonstrates the seriousness with which promises were taken, particularly those involving life and death. Rahab's faith, declared in Joshua 2:11, is met with a concrete, actionable promise of deliverance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew idiom "his blood [shall be] upon his head" (דָּמֹו בְרֹאשׁוֹ, damo b'rosho) is frequently used in the Old Testament to indicate that a person is solely responsible for their fate or punishment, typically death. It absolves others from culpability. When the responsibility is taken by another party ("blood on our head"), it signifies a solemn vow to protect, implying that failure to do so would result in the oath-takers bearing the guilt for the lost life.

Practical Application

Joshua 2:19 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • The Importance of God's Boundaries: Just as Rahab's family found physical safety within the confines of her house, believers find spiritual security and protection by remaining within the boundaries God sets. This can refer to His commands, His covenant, or the "secret place of the most High" where divine protection is found.
  • Faith and Obedience Intertwined: Rahab's story illustrates that genuine faith often leads to specific acts of obedience. Her family's deliverance was contingent not just on her faith in the God of Israel, but also on their adherence to the spies' instructions. Our spiritual walk similarly requires both trust in God's promises and obedience to His word.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Word: This account demonstrates God's faithfulness through His people. The spies, representing Israel, honored their word to Rahab, reflecting God's own unwavering commitment to His covenants, even with those outside the covenant community who turn to Him.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 27:31 (5 votes)

    Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

  • Acts 18:6 (3 votes)

    And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook [his] raiment, and said unto them, Your blood [be] upon your own heads; I [am] clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

  • Ezekiel 33:4 (3 votes)

    Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

  • Ezekiel 33:5 (3 votes)

    He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

  • Exodus 12:13 (3 votes)

    And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.

  • 1 Kings 2:36 (3 votes)

    And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

  • 1 Kings 2:42 (3 votes)

    And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word [that] I have heard [is] good.