Hebrews 11 31

Hebrews 11:31 kjv

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Hebrews 11:31 nkjv

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Hebrews 11:31 niv

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Hebrews 11:31 esv

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 11:31 nlt

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 31 Meaning

Hebrews 11:31 highlights Rahab, a Canaanite harlot from Jericho, as an exemplary figure of faith. Her faith was not a passive belief but an active trust in the God of Israel, which was demonstrated by her decision to protect the Israelite spies. As a result of this genuine faith, she and her household were spared from the destruction that befell her city and its inhabitants who chose unbelief and disobedience towards God's declared judgment. The verse succinctly shows that faith transcends social status or past life and is a pathway to deliverance from divine judgment.

Hebrews 11 31 Context

Hebrews chapter 11, often called the "Hall of Faith" or "Faith's Roll Call," is an extended discourse illustrating faith through the lives of numerous Old Testament figures. The chapter opens with a definition of faith (v. 1-3) and then presents a chronological and thematic list of individuals—from Abel, Enoch, and Noah, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The writer transitions to Moses and the exodus generation, leading to Rahab.

This verse positions Rahab, a Gentile woman, and notably a "harlot," among these revered patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel. Her inclusion emphasizes the universal nature of faith—that it is accessible to anyone, regardless of their background or previous life, who truly trusts in God. It specifically contrasts her salvation with the destruction of her compatriots, highlighting the direct consequence of unbelief ("them that believed not"). The historical context is the time immediately before the fall of Jericho, when Israel, under Joshua, was about to begin the conquest of Canaan as divinely commanded. The city of Jericho was destined for complete destruction due to its deep-seated idolatry and sin. Rahab's act of faith provided a clear counter-narrative to the prevailing wickedness of her culture.

Hebrews 11 31 Word analysis

• By faith (Greek: Pistei, πιστει): This is an instrumental dative, indicating faith as the means or instrument through which Rahab was saved. It aligns with the pervasive theme of Hebrews 11, which repeatedly states "by faith" (e.g., v. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8). Her actions were not random or merely opportunistic but flowed from a settled conviction and trust in the God of Israel.
• the harlot (Greek: Pornē, πόρνη): The term refers to a prostitute. This detail is significant as it underscores God's grace and impartiality. Rahab was not a virtuous, upstanding member of society by conventional standards, nor was she part of the chosen nation. Her inclusion in this chapter of heroes emphasizes that God's salvation is open to all who believe, regardless of their social standing, nationality, or past sins (cf. Matt 21:31).
• Rahab (Greek: Rhaab, Ῥαάβ): A specific historical person. Her inclusion here signifies that her story, recorded in Jos 2 and 6, is not merely historical narrative but a theological example of true faith. She also appears in Jesus' lineage (Matt 1:5).
• perished not (Greek: ou synapōleto, οὐ συναπώλετο): This is a negative combined with the aorist middle passive indicative of synapollymi, meaning "to perish with, to destroy together with." The direct translation "did not perish with" emphasizes her separation from the doom of her city and people. It speaks of physical preservation from destruction, serving as an earthly picture of spiritual salvation and judgment (Jn 3:16).
• with them that believed not (Greek: tois apeithēsasin, τοῖς ἀπειθήσασιν): This phrase uses the dative plural of the aorist active participle of apeitheō, meaning "to be disobedient, unbelieving." While often translated "believed not," the primary sense of apeitheō in this context, especially concerning divine commands, carries a strong nuance of disobedience stemming from unbelief. Their failure to believe God's warnings about Israel's conquest led to their active disobedience by resisting His appointed people, ultimately sealing their destruction.
• when she had received (Greek: dexamenē, δεξαμένη): This is an aorist middle participle, pointing to a definite past action. It indicates a deliberate, single act of welcoming and sheltering the spies. This action was the outward evidence of her inward faith. Her faith was not passive but active and consequential.
• the spies (Greek: tous kataskopous, τοὺς κατασκόπους): Refers to the two Israelite agents sent by Joshua (Jos 2:1). Rahab recognized their divine mission, discerning that their presence was a sign of God's hand, despite her people's resistance.
• with peace (Greek: met’ eirēnēs, μετ᾿ εἰρήνης): Literally "with peace." This indicates a welcoming, non-hostile, and safe reception. It contrasts sharply with the fearful and hostile posture of the other Jericho inhabitants. It implies that she acted benevolently and in a way that ensured the safety and well-being of the spies.

Word-groups Analysis:

• "By faith...perished not...with them that believed not": This core comparison establishes a stark dichotomy between those saved and those lost. Faith, manifested as obedience and trust, leads to deliverance, while unbelief (or disbelief), manifesting as disobedience and resistance, leads to destruction. This mirrors the broader theological tension of the letter and the Bible between faith and apostasy (Heb 3:12-19).
• "the harlot Rahab...when she had received the spies with peace": This connects the identity of Rahab with the specific action that proved her faith. It demonstrates that faith is always proven by deeds (Jas 2:25). Her actions of hiding and protecting the spies, though betraying her city from a human perspective, were righteous from God's perspective, as she aligned herself with His will.

Hebrews 11 31 Bonus section

• Rahab's act of harboring the spies can be seen as an act of divine treason, where loyalty to God supersedes loyalty to her earthly nation when they stand in opposition. She implicitly understood that Israel's God was the true God and chose His side over that of her doomed city.
• Her story directly confronts common Jewish polemics of the time regarding Gentile inclusion and the expectation that only "morally upright" people could be instruments of God. Rahab's presence in the lineage of Christ (Matt 1:5) further shatters such preconceptions.
• The nature of the judgment upon Jericho was a herem or "holy war" of utter destruction (Deut 20:16-18) against peoples whose wickedness had reached its full measure (Gen 15:16). Rahab's salvation illustrates that even within severe judgments, God always provides a way for those who respond in faith.

Hebrews 11 31 Commentary

Hebrews 11:31 brilliantly showcases God's expansive grace and the practical nature of genuine faith. Rahab, despite her past life as a "harlot" and her status as a Gentile living in a condemned city, found salvation through faith in the God of Israel. Her faith was not merely intellectual assent but was concretely demonstrated through her actions—receiving the Israelite spies "with peace" and protecting them at great personal risk. This act proved her belief in the power and truth of Israel's God, contrasting sharply with the "disobedient" inhabitants of Jericho who perished due to their unbelief.

Rahab's story stands as a powerful testament that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35). Neither gender, race, nor social stigma can prevent one from entering into a covenant relationship with Him if approached through sincere faith. Her deliverance underscores a profound theological truth: physical salvation in this context is a shadow of eternal salvation available through faith in Christ. She stepped out of her doomed identity and into God's covenant family, even becoming an ancestor of Jesus (Matt 1:5). This verse emphasizes that true faith always leads to action and produces visible evidence, thereby justifying the believer (Jas 2:25). It is a faith that sees beyond immediate circumstances and aligns with God's ultimate purposes.