Hebrews 11:31 - Printer Friendly

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

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

NASB: By faith the prostitute Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

CSB: By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

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.

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

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

True faith in God is not merely agreement, or belief. Nor is it simple obedience, without the right attitude. According to the book of Hebrews, godly faith means trust—relying on God, based on what we know, and depending on Him to fulfill His promises in the future (Hebrews 11:1–3). This kind of reliance leads to obedience, even when we're not clear on all of the details. Abraham (Hebrews 11:17–19) and Moses (Hebrews 11:24–28) demonstrated this kind of faith. The nation of Israel did, as well, at both the Red Sea (Hebrews 11:29) and at Jericho (Hebrews 11:30), resulting in victory.

The example given here is fascinating for several reasons. Rahab was a prostitute in the city of Jericho—the site of an Israeli victory just mentioned in the book of Hebrews (Joshua 2:1–2). Rahab's obedience to God exemplifies godly faith: she relied on what she knew of God (Joshua 2:9–10), and trusted God's control of the future (Joshua 2:11–13), causing her to obey God (Joshua 2:15–16), instead of living in fear of other men (Joshua 2:3–6). It's important to remember that God's actions in Jericho were a judgment on that people for their outrageous wickedness (Deuteronomy 9:4–5)—and Rahab was spared from this very judgment (Joshua 2:14–15). This presents a unique contrast, showing that God can legitimately judge sin, and rescue the righteous, even when we can't see how He could do both at once.

Further, it should be noted that Rahab was not Jewish—she was a Gentile. At the time this letter of Hebrews was written, not all of the Christians experiencing persecution were Jews. And, there was a lingering sense in which some Gentile believers would have felt a certain distance from their Hebrew brothers (Acts 15:1–21). The reference to Rahab helps reinforce the idea that God's promises, in the new covenant, are for all people, Jew and Gentile alike (Galatians 3:7–8). Rahab is also interesting, as she is eventually listed in the genealogy of the Messiah. Rahab's great-great-grandson was Israel's king David (Matthew 1:5).

Hebrews 11:17–31 makes a subtle shift from the prior verses. Earlier, the writer had given examples of faithful obedience leading to God's blessings. Those cases were mostly general, where a willingness to trust God was weighed against an uncertain future. In this passage, however, we are shown men and women who chose to trust God despite immediate, personal hardships. This, as well, is a crucial aspect of faith, which the writer has already defined as a confident trust in God.

True, godly faith is defined as trust, relying on God when looking to the future, and obeying even when we don't fully understand all details. The great figures of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Moses, and David, all lived according to this type of faith. Ultimately, that means trusting God's intent to make good on His promises from an eternal perspective. The model of faith presented by those people, in light of the struggles they faced, ought to inspire Christians towards a more confident, purposeful faith.

Up to this point, the book of Hebrews has given extensive evidence proving that Jesus Christ, and the new covenant He brought about, is God's ultimate plan for mankind's salvation. Chapter 10 provided an additional warning about the danger of falling away from this truth. Chapter 11 begins by clarifying the meaning of the word ''faith,'' primarily by listing examples of Old Testament figures who exemplify it. The ultimate application of this knowledge should be a motivation to ''hold fast'' to the gospel, despite hardships. That encouragement is a major theme of chapter 12.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.