Aurel Gheorghe Supporter

The story of Rahab can be puzzling to some and her induction into the faith hall of fame (Heb 11) might surprise.

The Bible text does not say that Rahab was actively engaged in prostitution at the time she is mentioned (Joshua 2). Bible commentators believe that the prostitution reference was related to Rahab’s past and not necessarily to her occupation. At the time of Rahab’s interaction with the spies, it appears that she was running an ancient form of Airbnb in addition to some textile manufacturing business. (Joshua 2:6). 

In Luke 7:36-48 we read how Jesus allowed a certain sinner to anoint His feet with a costly ointment. It appears that this woman, just like Rahab, also had a reputation, but that did not stop Jesus from interacting with her. We all have a past, a reputation, we all did things that we are not proud of, but in Jesus, we can find forgiveness of sins and acceptance. 

We shouldn't be sidetracked by what Rahab’s reputation was and rather focus on James’ point: “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works…. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (James 2:22-25). 

In Matthew 1:3-6 Rahab is mentioned again, this time part of Jesus’ lineage as she went on to marry Salmon and give birth to Boaz. 

I believe that Rahab's story is included in the Bible as an indication that Jesus is not ashamed to have a woman with a questionable past in His earthly ancestry, and neither should we. 

Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 makes it quite clear that the unrepented sinner will not inherit the kingdom of God, and that all of us are (regardless of our past) justified and sanctified in Jesus Christ (1 Cor 6:11).

July 08 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Yes, Rahab was a harlot, but (as James is pointing out), although she was justified by her faith and not her works (as is the case even with Christians (Ephesians 2:8-9)), she gave witness to that faith through her actions by sheltering the Israelite spies.

Similarly, Christians, despite their own sinfulness, are to give witness to their saving faith by their actions. (As James also pointed out in James 2:10, the person who commits one sin is as guilty, and as in need of salvation, as the one who violates all of God's commandments.)

July 05 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

Why should anyone single Rahab out and question her depiction as a righteous person? She was a prostitute; a sinner. What was every other person who were labeled "righteous" in Hebrews 11? 

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Abel is the first name on the Hebrews 11 list; he's also one of the "All." We don't know much about him; his sins aren't a part of the biblical record; they don't have to be... they are as certain as Moses' sin of murder (Exodus 2); David's too! (2 Sam 11:15)

Does anyone believe that Noah only got drunk that one time that's mentioned in Genesis 9? I don't. I believe he was a man who often drank too much. And besides that, one lie makes one a liar, the same as one drunk episode means a person might be, "given to much drink." (1 Timothy 3:8). What was Timothy supposed to do, find out how often a potential deacon had too much wine to drink? One lie in a court testimony will get the whole testimony tossed out. Can a deacon get drunk and maintain his position, even if it only happens once? 

Why single Rahab out? Was Abraham's righteousness called into question when he imbued his housekeeper instead of waiting for his wife to get pregnant? And what about Jacob? He bamboozled his own brother! Was that a righteous act? He cheated his uncle Laban out of his livestock herd. The guy was a major player of confidence games! Jacob was a righteous man according to God's economy. 

The person who is on my list of all-time worst human beings is Lot. This man not only got drunk and impregnated one of his daughters, but did it a second time with the other one. Peter calls him, "righteous Lot" (2 Peter 2:7). Lot might not be the lowest to ever live, but he's definitely on my list. What he did was despicable! (I ain't no better than Lot! I have my own closet full of bones!)

Clearly, there's another measuring rod for righteousness being used in the Scriptures; one that I'm not qualified to apply to anything or anyone. Still, if I was going to ask for an explanation of how a person in Scripture can be described as righteous, Lot would be running neck and neck with David, for me! David did what we call in this day and age, in many instances, 'Sexual Assault.' (Could Bathsheeba have told the men whom David sent to fetch her, "tell the king to get lost"?) We'll never know. What David did was wrong on every level! But... He was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).

CLEARLY, we should let the Lord teach us the meaning of "Righteousness." If I had a vote for who can be called righteous, I'd leave some top contenders off the list! If I was gonna check I D cards for the list, I wouldn't start with Rahab. She ain't killed nobody! She only stuck her neck out to save herself and her family from an invading army. She took a mighty big chance when she hid those spies and then lied about it. She sounds like a brave woman to me...

If I was going to ask this question, it would be about Lot! (I wouldn't ask it because I understand that my thoughts are not God's thoughts, neither are my ways His ways) Isaiah 55.

July 15 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

How could a prostitute be considered righteous -James 2:25 ESV?

"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?"

James referred to Rahab as a positive example of faith in action. She had heard about Jehovah and recognised that he was supporting the Israelites. 

Josh. 2:9-11ESV: "She said unto the men, 'I know that Jehovah hath given you the land, and that the fear of you is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how Jehovah dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, unto Sihon and to Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Jehovah your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.'"

She showed her faith by her actions​—she protected two Israelite spies when their lives were in danger. As a result, this imperfect, non-Israelite woman was declared righteous, just as Abraham had been. The example she set emphasises the importance of having faith backed up by works.

Conclusion:

A prostitute could be considered righteous in James 2:25, not because of her profession but because of her faith expressed through her actions. That's the key distinction James is making.

James uses Rahab as an example to show that genuine faith produces deeds. Her righteousness is grounded in what she did in response to God.

Rahab's profession is mentioned deliberately. It highlights that:

Her past did not disqualify her from responding to God.

God's grace reaches people in morally compromised situations.

Righteousness in Scripture is not about having a spotless history but about turning toward God in trust.

Why Rahab's actions were considered righteous:

Rahab did three things that Scripture treats as evidence of faith:

She believed Israel's God was the true God (Joshua 2:9–11).

She acted on that belief by protecting the Israelite spies.

She aligned herself with God's people at great personal risk.

Her deeds flowed from her faith. That's exactly James's argument: faith without works is dead, and Rahab's faith was alive.

Rahab shows that:

Righteousness is about direction, not perfection.

God looks at the heart, turning toward Him, not the past left behind.

Rahab later becomes part of Israel, marries into the community, and even appears in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

God uses unlikely people to make a point.

James intentionally pairs Abraham (the patriarch) with Rahab (a Gentile prostitute) to show that faith is accessible to all.

So how could a prostitute be considered righteous?

Because in the biblical worldview, righteousness is not earned by moral status—it is received by faith and demonstrated through obedience. 

Rahab's actions revealed a heart that trusted God, and Scripture honours that trust.

Rahab is one of those figures whose interpretation becomes a kind of mirror: 

Jewish, Christian, and later theological traditions all see something slightly different in her. Yet, they agree on one thing—her story is meant to shock you into rethinking what righteousness actually is.

James is not saying Rahab earned righteousness. He is saying:
Her faith was proven genuine by her actions.

The Scripture keeps calling her "Rahab the prostitute" even after her conversion—not to shame her, but to emphasise:

Righteousness is not about having a clean past, but that God delights in overturning human expectations.

1 day ago • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report