κατάσκοπ-ος G2685
spy, scout, secret agent
This noun designates a person who conducts reconnaissance, whether military scout or secret agent. Hebrews 11:31 refers to Rahab receiving 'the spies' in peace—the Israelite scouts sent to reconnoiter Jericho. The accusative plural indicates she welcomed multiple agents. Classical usage confirms the military context of reconnaissance personnel. All translation witnesses preserve the espionage terminology. The reference is to Joshua 2, where Rahab hid the Hebrew spies from the king's men. Her faith-motivated hospitality to enemy agents secured her salvation when Jericho fell.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Rahab's faith is demonstrated by receiving 'the spies' (Joshua's reconnaissance agents) in peace rather than betraying them to Jericho's king. The plural noun identifies them by their military function—scouts gathering intelligence before the assault. Her protection of these κατάσκοποι, enemy agents on hostile ground, manifested faith that sided with Israel's God despite her pagan context. 1×
AR["جَوَاسِيس"]·ben["গুপ্তচরদের"]·DE["Kundschafter"]·EN["spies"]·FR["Kundschafter"]·heb["מְרַגְּלִים"]·HI["गुप्तचरों"]·ID["mata-mata"]·IT["kataskopous"]·jav["telik-sandi"]·KO["정탐꾼들을"]·PT["espiões"]·RU["лазутчиков"]·ES["espías"]·SW["wapelelezi"]·TR["casusları"]·urd["جاسوسوں-کو"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατάσκοπ-ος, ὁ, one who reconnoitres, scout, spy, Refs 5th c.BC+; πεμφθεὶς Ἰλίου κ. Refs 6th c.BC+. __2 examiner, inspector, Refs 5th c.BC+. __II κατάσκοπος, ον, closely covered, Refs 2nd c.AD+