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?
Parallel translations
- WEB 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?
- KJV Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
- 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 the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
- Josh 6:22–25Meanwhile, Joshua told the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the house of the prostitute and bring out the woman and all who are with her, just as you promised her.”
- Josh 2:19–21If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads.
- Josh 2:4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
- Josh 2:15Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.
- Josh 6:17Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.
- Josh 2:1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
- Matt 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
- Matt 1:5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
- Jas 2:18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
- Josh 2:6(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)
- Jas 2:22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
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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.
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Original language
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