New King James Version
Hebrews 11:31
31By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
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 Living Translation (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.
Context of Hebrews 11:31
29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Read all of Hebrews 11Hebrews 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 2:1Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.
- Joshua 6:22But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.”
- Matthew 1:1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
- James 2:25Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
- Hebrews 3:18And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?
- 1 Peter 2:8and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
- 1 Peter 3:20who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
- Joshua 1:1After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:
- Joshua 2:4Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries