Joshua 6:17 (GNV)

Passage

And the citie shalbe an execrable thing, both it, and all that are therein, vnto the Lord: onely Rahab the harlot shall liue, shee, and all that are with her in the house: for shee hid the messengers that we sent.

Nearby Context

Joshua 6:15 And when the seuenth day came, they rose early, euen with the dawning of the day, and compassed the citie after ye same maner seuen times: only that day they compassed the citie seuen times.

Joshua 6:16 And when the Priests had blowen ye trumpets the seuenth time, Ioshua said vnto ye people, Shoute: for the Lord hath giuen you the citie.

Joshua 6:17 And the citie shalbe an execrable thing, both it, and all that are therein, vnto the Lord: onely Rahab the harlot shall liue, shee, and all that are with her in the house: for shee hid the messengers that we sent.

Joshua 6:18 Notwithstanding, be ye ware of the execrable thing, lest ye make your selues execrable, and in taking of the execrable thing, make also the hoste of Israel execrable, and trouble it.

Joshua 6:19 But all siluer, and gold, and vessels of brasse, and yron shalbe consecrate vnto the Lord, and shall come into the Lordes treasury.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "citie", "shalbe", "execrable", "both", "therein", "vnto", "lord", and "onely". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "citie" and "shalbe", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "And when the Priests had blowen ye..." into verse 18's "Notwithstanding be ye ware of the execrable...", so "citie" and "shalbe" 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 "citie" and "shalbe" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.