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People of the Bible
Who Was Rahab?
In short
Rahab was a woman of Jericho who hid Israel's two spies and confessed faith in their God when her whole city stood against them.
Spared when Jericho fell, Rahab became part of the family line of King David, and of Jesus Himself. Her story is a striking picture of God's grace reaching anyone who turns to Him.
“And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
Joshua 2:11 · King James Version (public domain)
Rahab at a glance
| Name | Rahab |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Joshua |
| Key passage on this page | Joshua 2:11 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. These passages are linked to this one most often by readers.
- Deuteronomy 4:39
- Joshua 5:1
- Joshua 7:5
- Isaiah 13:7
- Daniel 6:25-27
- Jeremiah 16:19-21
- Zechariah 8:20-23
- Daniel 4:34-35
- Psalms 102:15
- Psalms 83:18
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Rahab in the Bible?
Rahab appears in Joshua. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Joshua 2:11?
Readers most often set it next to Deuteronomy 4:39, Joshua 5:1, Joshua 7:5, Isaiah 13:7.
Why does Rahab matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Rahab is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Father, you are already present in Rahab, before any of us arrive. We bring you Rahab, Joshua. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read the key passage, Joshua 2:11, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Rahab's story says about God, not only about Rahab.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Rahab
You can read the story of Rahab in Joshua on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
