Who was Rahab in the Bible?
Lived before Israel had a king
Rahab was a Canaanite woman who lived in Jericho at the time of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land (Jos.2.1). Rahab appears in 11 verses across 7 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Rahab for 2 different people. All 2 are below, each with its own passages.
Rahab in Joshua
Rahab was a Canaanite woman who lived in Jericho at the time of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land (Jos.2.1). She is described as a prostitute who provided lodging for the two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to survey the city. When the king of Jericho ordered Rahab to hand over the spies, she hid them on her roof and misdirected the king's men (Jos.2.3-7). Rahab acknowledged the God of Israel and asked for protection for herself and her family when the city would be taken (Jos.2.8-13). The spies agreed to spare her if she would tie a scarlet cord in her window (Jos.2.14-21). During the conquest of Jericho, Rahab and her family were saved as promised (Jos.6.17, 23, 25). Rahab's faith and actions are commended in the New Testament (Heb.11.31; Jam 2.25). She is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, indicating that she married Salmon and became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ (Mat.1.5).
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Rahab in Job
Rahab is a poetic name used in the Old Testament to refer to Egypt, often represented as a mythical sea monster or dragon. The name Rahab means "proud" or "arrogant" in Hebrew. In Job.9.13 and 26:12, Rahab is mentioned in the context of God's power over creation and His ability to subdue the forces of chaos. In Psalm 89:10, God is praised for crushing Rahab and scattering His enemies, using the defeat of this sea monster as a metaphor for His triumph over the nations. Similarly, in Isaiah 51:9, the prophet calls upon God to awaken and defeat Rahab as He did in ancient times, using this imagery to plead for God's intervention on behalf of His people. The use of Rahab as a poetic name for Egypt emphasizes the nation's pride and opposition to God, while also highlighting God's supreme power and authority over all earthly powers.
4 verses: Isaiah 51:9, Job 9:13, Job 26:12, Psalms 89:10
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Rahab appear in the Bible?
Rahab is referenced in 11 verses across 7 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Hebrews 11:31
- James 2:25
- Joshua 2:3
- Joshua 6:17
- Joshua 6:23
- Joshua 6:25
- Matthew 1:5
Showing the first 7 of 11.
Open all 11 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Rahab.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Rahab?
Rahab refers to 2 different people in the Bible: Rahab in Joshua; Rahab in Job.
How many times does the Bible mention Rahab?
Rahab appears in 11 verses across 7 books, most often in Joshua, which accounts for 4 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Rahab?
Joshua, Job, Hebrews, James, Matthew, Isaiah, Psalms.
Where can I read every verse about Rahab?
This page lists 7 of them. Protos carries all 11, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
