Hebrews 11:31

Hebrews 11:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
• New International Version (NIV)By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
• English Standard Version (ESV)By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
• New King James Version (NKJV)By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Context of Hebrews 11:31

29Because of their faith, Israel's people walked across the Red Sea. They walked through there as if they were walking on dry land. But when the soldiers from Egypt tried to cross the same place, they drowned. 30Because of their faith, Israel's people marched round Jericho city for seven days. Then the city's walls fell down. Rahab, who had been a prostitute in Jericho, also trusted God. She helped the men from Israel who had come to that city earlier. They wanted to discover how to attack the city. Rahab was kind to them. As a result of her faith, she did not die with all the other people in Jericho who did not obey God. 32I could say even more about other people who trusted God. But there is not enough time to talk about all of them. I could tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and all the prophets. 33As a result of their faith, they did great things. Some of them won wars against other countries. Others ruled in a way that is right and fair. They received the good things that God had promised. Some of them caused lions to shut their mouths.

Hebrews 11:31 word by word

Πίστει Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐ συναπώλετο τοῖς ἀπειθήσασιν δεξαμένη τοὺς κατασκόπους μετ᾽ εἰρήνης.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• By faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• the harlotὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the harlotπόρνηpornē · prostituteG4204
• RahabῬαάβRhaab · RahabG4460
• perishedσυναπόλλυμιsunapollumi · to die/destroy withG4881
• notοὐou · noG3756
• them that believed notἀπειθέωapeitheō · to disobeyG544
• when she had receivedδέχομαιdechomai · to receiveG1209
• the spiesκατάσκοποςkataskopos · spyG2685
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• peaceεἰρήνηeirēnē · peaceG1515

Cross-references for Hebrews 11:31

• Joshua 2:1Then Joshua sent two men to go out from Shittim. He sent them in secret to see what the land was like. He told them, ‘Go! Look at all the land. Look very carefully at Jericho city.’ When they came to Jericho city, they arrived at the house of a prostitute. Her name was Rahab. They stayed there.
• Joshua 6:22Joshua said to the two men that Rahab had hidden, ‘Go into her house. Bring her out, with all her family who are there with her. That is what you promised to do for her.’
• Matthew 1:1This is a list of the ancestors of Jesus Christ. Jesus was from the family of King David. David was from the family of Abraham.
• James 2:25It was the same with Rahab, long ago. She was a prostitute. She helped some of God's people who came to her house. She kept them safe from their enemies and she sent them away again by a different road. Because she did those good things, God accepted her as right with himself.
• Hebrews 3:18God promised to punish them, because they refused to obey him. He said, ‘They will never arrive in my special place of rest.’
• 1 Peter 2:8The Bible also says this: ‘This stone will cause people to fall to the ground. It is a rock that will make them fall down.’ They fall down like that because they refuse to obey God's message. God already decided that this would happen to them.
• 1 Peter 3:20Those were the spirits of people who had refused to obey God long ago. At that time God waited patiently for them to turn to him while Noah was building a large ship. But only a few people agreed to go into that ship. God saved only eight people when the ship sailed on the deep water.
• Joshua 1:1The Lord's servant, Moses, had died. Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, who had helped Moses in his work.
• Joshua 2:4But Rahab had hidden the two men. She replied, ‘Yes, some men did come to me. I did not know where they had come from.

Commentaries on Hebrews 11:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31The harlot Rahab perished not - See this account Joshua 2:1, Joshua 2:9, Joshua 2:11, and Joshua 6:23, where it is rendered exceedingly probable that the word זונה zonah in Hebrew, and in Greek, which we translate harlot, should be rendered innkeeper or tavernkeeper, as there is no proper evidence that the person in question was such a woman as our translation represents her. As to her having been a harlot before and converted afterwards, it is a figment…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31By faith the harlot Rahab - She resided in Jericho; Joshua 2:1. When Joshua crossed the Jordan, he sent two men as spies to her house, and she saved them by concealment from the enemies that would have destroyed their lives. For this act of hospitality and kindness, they assured her of safety when the city should be destroyed, and directed her to give an indication of her place of abode to the invading Israelites, that her house might be spared; Joshua…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-31Verses 20-31 Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come. Things present are not the best things; no man knoweth love or hatred by having them or wanting them. Jacob lived by faith, and he died by faith, and in faith. Though the grace of faith is of use always through our whole lives, it is especially so when we come to die. Faith has a great work to do at last, to help the believer to die to the Lord, so as to honour him, by patience, hope…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31Rahab, a prostitute (Joshua 2; 6:25), showed faith in the God of Israel by hiding the spies who visited her home (see James 2:25). Because of this, she and her family were spared and became part of the Israelite community. Rahab was even an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. Rahab showed her "faith" in her confession, Jos 2:9, 11, "I know that Jehovah hath given you the land; Jehovah your God, is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." the harlot--Her former life adds to the marvel of her repentance, faith, and preservation (Mt 21:31, 32). believed not--Greek, "were disobedient," namely, to the will of God manifested by the miracles wrought in behalf of Israel (Jos 2:8-11). received--in her house (Jos 2:1, 4, 6). with…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 11:31

• Faith
• Harlot (Prostitute)
• Jericho
• Rahab
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Rahab
• Rahab, or Rachab
• Builder
• Conceive
• Confess
• Cruel
• Faith
• Harlot
• Impossible
• Proper

Commentaries on Hebrews 11

• 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