Amplified Bible
James 2:25
25In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the [Hebrew] spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away [to escape] by a different route?
James 2:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
- New International Version (NIV)In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
- English Standard Version (ESV)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?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
Context of James 2:25
23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God. 24You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith]. In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the [Hebrew] spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away [to escape] by a different route? 26For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.
Read all of James 2James 2:25 word by word
Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη ὑποδεξαμένη τοὺς ἀγγέλους καὶ ἑτέρᾳ ὁδῷ ἐκβαλοῦσα;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·δέde · thenG1161
- Likewiseὁμοίωςhomoiōs · similarlyG3668
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- wasδικαιόωdikaioō · to justifyG1344
- notοὐou · noG3756
- RahabῬαάβRhaab · RahabG4460
- the harlotὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the harlotπόρνηpornē · prostituteG4204
- byἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- worksἔργονergon · workG2041
- when she had receivedὑποδέχομαιhupodechomai · to receiveG5264
- the messengersἄγγελοςaggelos · angel: messengerG32
- had sentἐκβάλλωekballō · to expelG1544
- anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
- wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
Cross-references for James 2:25
- Joshua 2:1Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as scouts secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho [the walled city].” So they went and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and lodged there.
- Matthew 1:5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
- Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of the father?” The chief priests and elders replied, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
- James 2:18But someone may say, “You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].”
- Joshua 2:19But if anyone goes out the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head [that is, his own responsibility], and we shall be blameless and free [from our oath]; however, if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.
- Joshua 6:17The city and everything that is in it shall be under the ban [that is, designated to be destroyed as a form of tribute] to the Lord; only Rahab the prostitute and all [the people] who are with her in her house shall [be allowed to] live, because she hid and protected the messengers (scouts) whom we sent.
- Hebrews 11:31By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies [sent by the sons of Israel] in peace.
Commentaries on James 2:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Rahab the harlot - See the notes on Joshua 2:1, etc., and Hebrews 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25Likewise 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. God saw her faith as it was; he…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-26Verses 14-26 Those are wrong who put a mere notional belief of the gospel for the whole of evangelical religion, as many now do. No doubt, true faith alone, whereby men have part in Christ's righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls; but it produces holy fruits, and is shown to be real by its effect on their works; while mere assent to any form of doctrine, or mere historical belief of any facts, wholly differs from this saving faith. A bare…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25James uses Rahab the prostitute (see Joshua 2:1) as an example that good deeds must accompany true faith. She declared her belief that the Lord God of Israel was the only God (Joshua 2:9–11). Her actions completed her faith. This happened when she hosted and helped the Israelite spies escape (Joshua 2:1–6; 6:25; Hebrews 11:31).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. It is clear from the nature of Rahab's act, that it is not quoted to prove justification by works as such. She believed assuredly what her other countrymen disbelieved, and this in the face of every improbability that an unwarlike few would conquer well-armed numbers. In this belief she hid the spies at the risk of her life. Hence He 11:31 names this as an example of faith, rather than of obedience. "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them…Read the comment
Topics related to James 2:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on James 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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