Hebrews 11:31
What does Hebrews 11:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:31 means
Rahab, though a harlot, did not perish with the disobedient citizens of Jericho because she welcomed the spies in peace. Her faith aligned her with God’s people and purposes, and God counted her trust as salvation. This shows that background and past sins are not barriers to grace; faith that receives God’s messengers and sides with his plan brings deliverance. Rahab’s story anticipates the inclusion of the nations and, as later Scripture notes, she becomes part of the lineage leading to Christ, displaying the wideness of God’s mercy to those who believe.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
KJV
King James Version · 1611By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By faith Rahab, the loose woman, was not put to death with those who had gone against God's orders, because she had taken into her house in peace those sent to see the land.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862by faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who disbelieved, having received the spies with peace.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with the unbelieving, having received the spies in peace.
Context
Rahab’s example concludes the Jericho episode by spotlighting individual faith within a condemned city. The narrative now broadens rapidly: the writer indicates that time would fail to recount all the faithful, listing judges, a king, a prophet, and then grouping “the prophets” together. This sets up a sweeping catalogue of faith’s achievements (verses 33–35a) and its endurance under persecution (verses 35b–38).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 3:20
that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:
- Matthew 1:5
and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
- 1 Peter 2:8
and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
- Hebrews 3:18
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient?
- Joshua 2:1
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Jericho. And they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lay there.
- Joshua 6:22
And Joshua said unto the two men that had spied out the land, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
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