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James 2:25

in James 2

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?

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot 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?

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This verse in James 2

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles · Written before 735.

In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? Lest they excuse themselves as unable to imitate the works of so great a father Abraham, especially since no one now …

This site's exposition

was not even Rahab the prostitute

on James 2:25-26

Rahab the prostitute stands beside the patriarch Abraham, both justified by what they did. She welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route, the act Hebrews 11:31 counts as faith. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Pachomius the Great

COMMUNION 3.25 · Written before 348.

proposed

Rahab was a prostitute, but even so she was numbered among the saints.

A commentator

Severian of Gabala

CATENA · Written before 425.

proposed

Listen to the testimony of Scripture. In the midst of prostitution there was a pearl, in the mire there was burnished gold, in the mud there was a flower blooming with godliness. A godly soul was concealed in a land of impiety.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot,.... See Gill on Heb 11:31 justified by works; this woman was an instance of the grace of God in calling the chief of sinners, and was a true believer; and what she did, she did in faith, Heb 11:31 and her faith was shown by her works to be true and genuine; and it was manifest that she was a justified person.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The former instance was of one renowned for his faith all his life long, This is of one noted for sin, whose faith was meaner and of a much lower degree; so that the strongest faith will not do, nor the meanest be allowed to go without works.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

After Abraham, the father of the Jews, the apostle cites Rahab, a woman, and a sinner of the gentiles; to show, that in every nation and sex true faith produces works, and is perfected by them; that is, by the grace of God working in the believer, while he is showing his faith by his works.
3 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

But as an example of free grace justifying men through an operative, as opposed to a mere verbal faith, none could be more suitable than a saved "harlot." As Abraham was an instance of an illustrious man and the father of the Jews, so Rahab is quoted as a woman, and one of abandoned character, and a Gentile, showing that justifying faith has been manifested in those of every class.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Rahab the harlot - See the notes on Jos 2:1, etc., and Heb 11:31 (note), etc. Rahab had the approbation due to genuine faith, which she actually possessed, and gave the fullest proof that she did so by her conduct. As justification signifies, not only the pardon of sin, but receiving the Divine approbation, James seems to use the word in this latter sense. God approved of them, because of their obedience to his will; and he approves of no man who is not obedient.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works? - In the same sense in which Abraham was, as explained above - showing by her act that her faith was genuine, and that it was not a mere cold and speculative assent to the truths of religion. Her act showed that she truly believed God. If that act had not been performed, the fact would have shown that her faith was not genuine, and she could not have been justified.

The words behind it

17 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Hebrews 11:31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.14 worksJoshua 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.”11 worksJoshua 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.9 worksJoshua 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.8 worksJoshua 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.7 worksJoshua 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.7 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 1:5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,7 worksJoshua 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.6 worksMatthew 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.5 worksJoshua 6:25And Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her father’s household and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent to spy out Jericho. So she has lived among the Israelites to this day.5 worksJoshua 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.)5 worksJames 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.4 worksJames 2:22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.4 worksJoshua 2:16“Go to the hill country,” she said, “so that your pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.”3 worksSong of Solomon 1:8If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hebrews 11:31

    By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

    it leads to

    • Joshua 6:22–25

      Meanwhile, 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…

    • Matthew 1:5

      Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

    • Matthew 1:1

      This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

    • Joshua 2:1–24

      Then 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.

  • Through

    Joshua 2:15

    Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.

    it leads to

    • Acts 9:25

      One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

    • 2 Corinthians 11:33

      But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

  • Through

    Joshua 2:4

    But 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.

    it leads to

    • 2 Samuel 17:19–20

      Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

    • 2 Kings 6:19

      And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

Where this verse is studied

About James

Saint James the Younger, El Greco, 1600. Public domain.
Saint James the Younger, El Greco, 1600. Public domain.
James: the study guide →Read James 2 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pachomius the Great, COMMUNION 3.25 and Severian of Gabala, CATENA.

Read on in James 2 →