The Meaning of Joshua 2:11 Explained

Joshua 2:11

KJV: And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

YLT: And we hear, and melt doth our heart, and there hath not stood any more spirit in any man, from your presence, for Jehovah your God, He is God in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath.

Darby: We heard of it, and our heart melted, and there remained no more spirit in any man because of you; for Jehovah your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

ASV: And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Jehovah your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And as soon as we had heard  [these things], our hearts  did melt,  neither did there remain  any more courage  in any man,  because  of you: for the LORD  your God,  he [is] God  in heaven  above,  and in earth  beneath. 

What does Joshua 2:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 2:1-14 - A Heathen Woman's Act Of Faith
"To view the land" was a hazardous undertaking. The physiognomy of the Hebrews would certainly betray them, and it did. The sacred writer does not commend Rahab's mode of life nor her lies. Her morality was faulty enough, but beneath it, slowly smoldering, was a spark of pure love and faith, and this would consume the rubbish and burn clear, Hebrews 11:31.
The stalks of flax were probably laid out on the roof to dry. She believed, on the ground of the wonders wrought in Egypt, that Jehovah was the true God, and that His word was sure. Her faith proved itself in her works-in her efforts to save others, and in the confidence with which she rested behind her scarlet cord. That she was sneered at and persecuted is quite likely, but she persisted and became an ancestress of Christ, Matthew 1:5. How faith greatens the soul! James 2:25. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Joshua 2:11 mean?

and as soon as we heard [these things] and melted our hearts and neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you for Yahweh your God He [is] God in heaven above and on earth beneath
וַנִּשְׁמַע֙ וַיִּמַּ֣ס לְבָבֵ֔נוּ וְלֹא־ קָ֨מָה ע֥וֹד ר֛וּחַ בְּאִ֖ישׁ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם ה֤וּא אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־ הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּֽחַת

וַנִּשְׁמַע֙  and  as  soon  as  we  heard  [these  things] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וַיִּמַּ֣ס  and  melted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָסַס  
Sense: to dissolve, melt.
לְבָבֵ֔נוּ  our  hearts 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
וְלֹא־  and  neither 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
קָ֨מָה  did  there  remain 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
ע֥וֹד  any  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
ר֛וּחַ  courage 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
בְּאִ֖ישׁ  in  anyone 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם  because  of  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
ה֤וּא  He  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אֱלֹהִים֙  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם  in  heaven 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
מִמַּ֔עַל  above 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
וְעַל־  and  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָאָ֖רֶץ  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מִתָּֽחַת  beneath 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.