Bible Strands
James 2:25
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?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses an audience debating the relationship between belief and conduct, positioning this verse immediately after the claim that justification comes through deeds rather than faith alone.
The words — Ὁμοίως (Homoiōs) = Likewise; ἐξ (ex) = by. The text uses these terms to frame Rahab’s physical response as the mechanism of her vindication.
The thread — The narrative of Rahab’s protection appears in Joshua 2:19 and Joshua 6:22, while Hebrews 11:31 records her survival as an act of faith.
Why it lands — The text states that Rahab was justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and diverted them, requiring the reader to examine whether professed belief manifests in observable conduct.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Cross-references
- Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
- Joshua 6:22 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 her.”
- Joshua 2:19 If 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Joshua 2:1 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.
- Joshua 6:17 Now 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.
- Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
- Matthew 21:31 Which 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.
- Joshua 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.)