In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
Parallel translations
- KJV Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
- BSB In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?
- NKJV Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
- NASB In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
- NLT Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Rahab the prostitute was likewise justified by works when she sheltered the spies and sent them away safely. Her risky obedience proved her genuine faith.
Overview
James offers a second, contrasting example: Rahab, a Gentile and former prostitute, whose faith was shown real by her courageous protection of Israel's spies (Joshua 2). Pairing the patriarch Abraham with an outsider like Rahab underscores that living faith expresses itself in action across all kinds of people. Her story is celebrated elsewhere as faith in action (Hebrews 11:31).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Heb 11:31By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
- Josh 6:22–25Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman and all that she has out from there, as you swore to her.”
- Josh 2:19–21It shall be that whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his head, and we will be guiltless. Whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is on him.
- Josh 2:4The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from.
- Josh 2:15Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wall.
- Josh 6:17The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is in it, to Yahweh. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
- Josh 2:1Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, including Jericho.” They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there.
- Matt 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.
- Matt 1:5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
- Jas 2:18Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
- Josh 2:6But she had brought them up to the roof, and hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.
- Jas 2:22You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
How James 2:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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