The Meaning of Joshua 2:3 Explained

Joshua 2:3

KJV: And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

YLT: And the king of Jericho sendeth unto Rahab, saying, 'Bring out the men who are coming in unto thee, who have come into thy house, for to search the whole of the land they have come in.

Darby: And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that have come to thee, who have come into thy house: for they have come to search out all the land.

ASV: And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, that are entered into thy house; for they are come to search out all the land.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the king  of Jericho  sent  unto Rahab,  saying,  Bring forth  the men  that are come  to thee, which are entered  into thine house:  for they be come  to search out  all the country. 

What does Joshua 2:3 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 2:3 mean?

So sent the king of Jericho to Rahab saying bring out the men who have come to you who have entered your house for to search out - all the country they have come
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְרִיח֔וֹ אֶל־ רָחָ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר ה֠וֹצִיאִי הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים הַבָּאִ֤ים אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֣אוּ לְבֵיתֵ֔ךְ כִּ֛י לַחְפֹּ֥ר אֶת־ כָּל־ הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּֽאוּ

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙  So  sent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יְרִיח֔וֹ  of  Jericho 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.
רָחָ֖ב  Rahab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחָב  
Sense: a harlot of Jericho who aided the spies to escape; saved from the destruction of Jericho; married Salmon, an ancestor of David and of Christ; commended for her faith in the book of James.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ה֠וֹצִיאִי  bring  out 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים  the  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הַבָּאִ֤ים  who  have  come 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בָּ֣אוּ  have  entered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לְבֵיתֵ֔ךְ  your  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
לַחְפֹּ֥ר  to  search  out 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָפַר  
Sense: to dig, search for.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָ֖רֶץ  the  country 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
בָּֽאוּ  they  have  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.