Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
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?
- 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 the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
- Josh 6:22–25But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
- Josh 2:19–21And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
- Josh 2:4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
- Josh 2:15Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
- Josh 6:17And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
- Josh 2:1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
- Matt 21:31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
- Matt 1:5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
- Jas 2:18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
- Josh 2:6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
- Jas 2:22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.