Rahab
The Faith of the Scarlet Cord
The Jericho harlot whose faith hid Israel's spies and brought her family into the people of God.
Joshua 2 introduces Rahab as a harlot in Jericho who confessed, 'the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath' (2:11 KJV). She hid Israel's spies, was spared when the city fell, and was grafted into Israel — appearing in Matthew 1:5 in the genealogy of Christ.
Her Story
When two Hebrew spies entered Jericho, Rahab hid them under flax on her roof and lied to the king's men. She asked for mercy for her family, and the spies told her to bind a scarlet cord in her window. When the walls fell, Joshua's army spared Rahab and her household. She married Salmon and bore Boaz, the redeemer of Ruth, becoming great-great-grandmother of David. Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 both name her for faith and obedient works.
What Scripture Teaches
- 1Harlot of Jericho (Joshua 2:1)
- 2Confessed faith in the LORD before the spies (2:9-11)
- 3Hid the spies and arranged their escape
- 4Saved by the scarlet cord in her window (2:18-21)
- 5Mother of Boaz; ancestor of David and Christ (Matthew 1:5)
- 6Named for faith in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25
Key KJV Scriptures
"And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."
"By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace."
"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?"
Why It Matters
Rahab proves that no past is too dark for grace, no city too pagan for a believer, and no genealogy too noble to receive a former harlot when she comes by faith.
Application for Today
Bind the scarlet cord — trust the blood of Christ — in the window of your house, and your household will be in covenant with the people of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Rahab right to lie to the king of Jericho?
Scripture commends her faith and her works (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). Many treat her case alongside the midwives of Exodus 1 — protecting innocent life under tyranny — without making it a general license to deceive.
How is Rahab in the line of Jesus?
Matthew 1:5 names her as the mother of Boaz, husband of Ruth. From Boaz came Obed → Jesse → David → Christ. Her grafted-in faith placed her in the messianic line.
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