The Meaning of Joshua 2:12 Explained

Joshua 2:12

KJV: Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

YLT: And now, swear ye, I pray you, to me by Jehovah -- because I have done with you kindness -- that ye have done, even ye, kindness with the house of my father, and have given to me a true token,

Darby: And now, I pray you, swear to me by Jehovah, since I have dealt kindly with you, that ye will also deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a certain sign,

ASV: Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by Jehovah, since I have dealt kindly with you, that ye also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a true token;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore, I pray you, swear  unto me by the LORD,  since  I have shewed  you kindness,  that ye will also shew  kindness  unto my father's  house,  and give  me a true  token: 

What does Joshua 2:12 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 2:12 mean?

Therefore now swear I beg you to me by Yahweh since I have shown you kindness that will show also you to house of my father kindness and give me a token TRUE
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ־ נָ֥א לִי֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה כִּי־ עָשִׂ֥יתִי עִמָּכֶ֖ם חָ֑סֶד וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם גַּם־ אַתֶּ֜ם עִם־ בֵּ֤ית אָבִי֙ חֶ֔סֶד וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם לִ֖י א֥וֹת אֱמֶֽת

וְעַתָּ֗ה  Therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ־  swear 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
נָ֥א  I  beg  you 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
לִי֙  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
בַּֽיהוָ֔ה  by  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
כִּי־  since 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עָשִׂ֥יתִי  I  have  shown 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
חָ֑סֶד  kindness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם  that  will  show 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
גַּם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
בֵּ֤ית  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אָבִי֙  of  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
חֶ֔סֶד  kindness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם  and  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִ֖י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
א֥וֹת  a  token 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
אֱמֶֽת  TRUE 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.