Devine Scripture

James 2:25

What does James 2:25 mean?

A plain-English look at James 2:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 2:25 means

Rahab, a harlot in Jericho, was likewise justified by works when she received the Israelite messengers and sent them out by another way. Her action risked her life because she believed the God of Israel and sided with His people. Like Abraham, her faith expressed itself in costly obedience. Her story shows that this pattern spans the spectrum—from patriarch to prostitute. Moreover, by God’s grace, Rahab was later joined to Israel and even appears in the Messiah’s lineage. Thus, living faith is not the privilege of the noble but the gift that remakes the lowly and the outsider as well.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And in the same way, was not the righteousness of Rahab, the loose woman, judged by her works, when she took into her house those who were sent and let them go out by another way?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and in like manner also Rahab the harlot--was she not out of works declared righteous, having received the messengers, and by another way having sent forth?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers and sending them out another way?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put [them] forth by another way?

Context

This second example confirms the principle stated in verse 24, balancing Abraham’s story with that of a Gentile woman of ill repute. It shows that genuine faith, wherever found, acts decisively for God’s people. With two witnesses, James’s case is made. Verse 26 will now conclude the argument with a memorable analogy that ties back to the life-and-death language used earlier about faith without works being dead.

v.24Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.

v.25This passage

v.26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Joshua 2:6

    But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 1:5

    and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

  • Matthew 21:31

    Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

  • Joshua 2:15

    Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the side of the wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

  • James 2:18

    Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.

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