Joshua 6:25 (ASV)

Passage

But Rahab the harlot, and her father`s household, and all that she had, did Joshua save alive; and she dwelt in the midst of Israel unto this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Nearby Context

Joshua 6:23 And the young men the spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; all her kindred also they brought out; and they set them without the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein; only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of Jehovah.

Joshua 6:25 But Rahab the harlot, and her father`s household, and all that she had, did Joshua save alive; and she dwelt in the midst of Israel unto this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Joshua 6:26 And Joshua charged them with an oath at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before Jehovah, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: with the loss of his first-born shall he lay the foundation thereof, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

Joshua 6:27 So Jehovah was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "rahab", "harlot", "father", "household", "joshua", "save", "alive", and "dwelt". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "rahab" and "harlot", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 24's "And they burnt the city with fire..." into verse 26's "And Joshua charged them with an oath...", so "rahab" and "harlot" belong inside that flow. In Joshua context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "rahab" and "harlot" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.