Bible Dictionary: Rahab

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Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Rahab

large; extended (name of a woman)

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Rahab

a poetical name of Egypt, (Psalms 89:10; Isaiah 51:9) signifying "fierceness, insolence, pride." Rahab, as a name of Egypt, occurs once only without reference to the exodus: this is in (Psalms 87:4) In (Isaiah 30:7) the name is alluded to.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Rahab

The English word Rahab represents two different Hebrew words:

1.RAHAB, a Canaanite woman of Jericho, who gave shelter to the two spies sent in thither by Joshua; and in return was spared, with all her kindred, when the city was taken and destroyed, Joshua 2:1-21 6:17-25. Her faith, in doing this, is commended in Hebrews 11:31 James 2:25. The Jews and many Christians endeavor to show that Rahab was only an honest innkeeper; but more probably the designation of "harlot" given to her in our Bible is correct. If she had at some time led a dissolute life, she had evidently repented; and she afterwards became a worshipper of Jehovah, and the wife of Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah, Ruth 4:21 Matthew 1:4.

The penitent publican and sinner are always welcome to Christ; and many such a one, through the renovating power of grace, will shine gloriously in heaven, while the unbelieving moralist will perish in his sins.

2.RAHAB, pride, insolence, a symbolical name for Egypt, Psalm 87:4 89:10 Isaiah 30:7 51:9. In the last of these passages, Egypt is further symbolized as a ferocious sea-monster; but it is doubtful whether the word Rahab itself is ever used to denote a sea-monster.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Insolence; pride, a poetical name applied to Egypt in Psalm 87:4; 89:10; Isaiah 51:9, as "the proud one."

Rahab, (Hebrews Rahab; i.e., "broad, " "large"). When the Hebrews were encamped at Shittim, in the "Arabah" or Jordan valley opposite Jericho, ready to cross the river, Joshua, as a final preparation, sent out two spies to "spy the land." After five days they returned, having swum across the river, which at this season, the month Abib, overflowed its banks from the melting of the snow on Lebanon. The spies reported how it had fared with them (Joshua 2:1-7). They had been exposed to danger in Jericho, and had been saved by the fidelity of Rahab the harlot, to whose house they had gone for protection. When the city of Jericho fell (6:17-25), Rahab and her whole family were preserved according to the promise of the spies, and were incorporated among the Jewish people. She afterwards became the wife of Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah (Ruth 4:21; 1 Chronicles 2:11; Matthew 1:5). "Rahab's being asked to bring out the spies to the soldiers (Joshua 2:3) sent for them, is in strict keeping with Eastern manners, which would not permit any man to enter a woman's house without her permission. The fact of her covering the spies with bundles of flax which lay on her house-roof (2:6) is an `undesigned coincidence' which strictly corroborates the narrative. It was the time of the barley harvest, and flax and barley are ripe at the same time in the Jordan valley, so that the bundles of flax stalks might have been expected to be drying just then" (Geikie's Hours, etc., ii., 390).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

RAHAB

ra'-hab:

(1) (rachabh, "broad"; in Josephus, Ant, V, i, 2, 7, Rhachab; Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25, Rhaab): A zonah, that is either a "harlot," or, according to some, an "innkeeper" in Jericho; the Septuagint porne, "harlot"). The two spies sent by Joshua from Shittim came into her house and lodged there (Joshua 2:1). She refused to betray them to the king of Jericho, and when he demanded them, she hid them on the roof of her house with stalks of flax that she had laid in order to dry. She pretended that they had escaped before the shutting of the gate, and threw their pursuers off their track. She then told the spies of the fear that the coming of the Israelites had caused in the minds of the Canaanites-"Our hearts did melt.... for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath"-and asked that the men promise to spare her father, mother, brothers and sisters, and all that they had. They promised her to spare them provided they would remain in her house and provided she would keep their business secret. Thereupon she let them down by a cord through the window, her house being built upon the town wall, and gave them directions to make good their escape (Joshua 2:1-24). True to their promise, the Israelites under Joshua spared Rahab and her family (Joshua 6:16 the King James Version); "And," says the author of Josh, "she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day." Her story appealed strongly to the imagination of the people of later times. Hebrews 11:31 speaks of her as having been saved by faith; James, on the other hand, in demonstrating that a man is justified by works and not by faith only, curiously chooses the same example (James 2:25). Jewish tradition has been kindly disposed toward Rahab; one hypothesis goes so far as to make her the wife of Joshua himself (Jew Encyclopedia, under the word). Naturally then the other translation of zonah, deriving it from zun, "to feed," instead of zanah, "to be a harlot," has been preferred by some of the commentators.

(2) (Rhachab): Josephus, Ant, V, 1, 2, 7, so spells the name of (1) Septuagint and New Testament contra). The wife of Salmon and mother of Booz (Boaz) according to the genealogy in Matthew 1:5. Query, whether there was a tradition identifying (1) and (2); see Lightfoot, Horae Hob on Matthew 1:5.

(3) (rahabh, literally, "storm," "arrogance"): A mythical sea-monster, probably referred to in several passages where the word is translated as a common noun "pride" (Job 9:13), "the proud" (Job 26:12; compare Psalm 89:10). It is used in parallelism with tannin, "the dragon" (Isaiah 51:9). It is most familiar as an emblem of Egypt, `the boaster that sitteth still' (Isaiah 30:7 Psalm 87:4; compare Psalm 89:10). The Talmud in Babha' Bathra' speaks of rahabh as sar ha-yam, "master of the sea."

See also ASTRONOMY.

Nathan Isaacs

Greek

4460. Rhaab -- Rahab, a Canaanitess and an ancestor of Christ
... Rahab, a Canaanitess and an ancestor of Christ. Part of Speech: Proper Noun,
Indeclinable Transliteration: Rhaab Phonetic Spelling: (hrah-ab') Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4460.htm - 6k

4477. Rhachab -- Rachab.
... Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Rhachab Phonetic Spelling:
(hrakh-ab') Short Definition: Rahab Definition: Rahab, a Canaanitess, who ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4477.htm - 6k

1003. Boos -- Boaz, an Israelite
... Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Boos Phonetic Spelling: (bo-oz') Short
Definition: Boaz Definition: Boaz, son of Salmon and Rahab, husband of Ruth ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1003.htm - 6k

Topical Bible Verses

Joshua 2:1-24
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Topicalbible.org

James 2:25
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Topicalbible.org

Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 1:5
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Topicalbible.org

Joshua 6:25
And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwells in Israel even to this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Topicalbible.org

Strong's Hebrew

7294. Rahab -- "storm," a name for Eg.
... 7293, 7294. Rahab. 7295 . "storm," a name for Eg. Transliteration: Rahab
Phonetic Spelling: (rah'-hab) Short Definition: Rahab. ...
/hebrew/7294.htm - 6k

7293. Rahab -- "storm," a sea monster
... 7292, 7293. Rahab. 7294 . "storm," a sea monster. Transliteration: Rahab
Phonetic Spelling: (rah'-hab) Short Definition: Rahab. ...
/hebrew/7293.htm - 6k

7295. rahab -- proud, defiant
... 7294, 7295. rahab. 7296 . proud, defiant. Transliteration: rahab Phonetic Spelling:
(raw-hawb') Short Definition: proud. ... proud. From rahab; insolent -- proud ...
/hebrew/7295.htm - 6k

7292. rahab -- to act stormily, boisterously or arrogantly
... rahab. 7293 . to act stormily, boisterously or arrogantly. Transliteration: rahab
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-hab') Short Definition: confused. ... rahab. 7293 . ...
/hebrew/7292.htm - 6k

7343. Rachab -- a harlot in Jericho
... 7342, 7343. Rachab. 7344 . a harlot in Jericho. Transliteration: Rachab
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-khawb') Short Definition: Rahab. ... Rahab. ...
/hebrew/7343.htm - 6k

7296. rohab -- pride
... Word Origin from rahab Definition pride NASB Word Usage pride (1). strength. From
rahab; pride -- strength. see HEBREW rahab. 7295, 7296. rohab. 7297 . ...
/hebrew/7296.htm - 6k

4787b. marhebah -- boisterous, raging behavior
... Word Origin from rahab Definition boisterous, raging behavior NASB Word Usage
fury (1). 4787a, 4787b. marhebah. 4788 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4787b.htm - 5k

Library

Rahab
... THE BOOK OF JOSHUA RAHAB. 'And Joanna paved Rahab the harlot alive... and she dwelleth
in Israel even unto this day.'"Joshua 6:25. ... Rahab fled to God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/rahab.htm

Rahab's Faith
... Rahab's Faith. A Sermon ... "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed
not, when she had received the spies with peace.""Hebrews 11:31. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/rahabs faith.htm

But Some Man Will Say, Would Then those Midwives and Rahab have ...
... Section 34. But some man will say, Would then those midwives and Rahab
have done better� 34. But some man will say, Would then ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 34 but some man.htm

The Rewards of Faith and Hospitality. Rahab.
... Chapter XII."The rewards of faith and hospitality. Rahab. On account of
her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. ...
/.../chapter xii the rewards of faith.htm

The Rewards of Faith and Hospitality. Rahab.
... Chapter XII."The Rewards of Faith and Hospitality. Rahab. On account of
her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xii the rewards of faith.htm

Five Kings in a Cave
... light and peace.". When once they were in Canaan what an interesting story
that is in connection with Rahab of Jericho! The spies ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/five kings in a cave.htm

Crossing the River Jordan
... sent two men as spies, with the command: "Go, explore the land and especially Jericho."
So they went and entered the house of a woman named Rahab, and stayed ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/crossing the river jordan.htm

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... as he was at supper, that there were some persons come from the Hebrews' camp to
view the city as spies, and that they were in the inn kept by Rahab, and were ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

Psalm LXXXVII.
... Listen whence: "I will think upon Rahab and Babylon, with them that know Me"
(ver.4). In that city, the Prophet, in the person of God, says, "I will think upon ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxvii.htm

A Nation that was Born in a Day.
... land. They went to the walled city of Jericho, and to the house of a woman
named Rahab. The ... Jericho. And Rahab was not forgotten. The ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xiv a nation that.htm

Thesaurus

Rahab (14 Occurrences)
... Insolence; pride, a poetical name applied to Egypt in Psalm 87:4; 89:10; Isaiah
51:9, as "the proud one.". Rahab, (Hebrews Rahab; ie, "broad, " "large"). ...
/r/rahab.htm - 16k

Spies (22 Occurrences)
... They learned from Rahab (qv), in whose house they found a hiding-place, that terror
had fallen on all the inhabitants of the land because of the great things ...
/s/spies.htm - 15k

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 11:31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were
disobedient, having received the spies in peace. (WEB NIV). ...
/p/prostitute.htm - 33k

Spy (27 Occurrences)
... the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house,
named Rahab, and lodged there. (KJV WBS). Joshua 2:2 The ...
/s/spy.htm - 16k

Nightmonster
... We have the following set of items in which such traces have been discovered: "Rahab"
(rachabh), mentioned in Job 9:13; Job 26:12 Isaiah 51:9; "Tanin" (tannin ...
/n/nightmonster.htm - 17k

Night-monster
... We have the following set of items in which such traces have been discovered: "Rahab"
(rachabh), mentioned in Job 9:13; Job 26:12 Isaiah 51:9; "Tanin" (tannin ...
/n/night-monster.htm - 17k

Notorious (16 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 11:31 Through faith the notorious sinner Rahab did not perish along with
the disobedient, for she had welcomed the spies and had sheltered them. (WEY). ...
/n/notorious.htm - 11k

Rachab (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary =Rahab, a name found in the genealogy of our Lord
(Matthew 1:5). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RACHAB. ...
/r/rachab.htm - 7k

Salmon (7 Occurrences)
... From Matthew 1:5 we learn that he married Rahab, by whom he begat Boaz.
(2 ... Matthew 1:5 Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz ...
/s/salmon.htm - 11k

Spared (45 Occurrences)
... Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house,
because she hid the messengers that we sent. (See NIV). ...
/s/spared.htm - 20k

Bible Concordance

Rahab (14 Occurrences)

Matthew 1:5 Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
(WEB WEY ASV BBE YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 11:31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

James 2:25 In like manner wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 2:1 Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, including Jericho." They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 2:3 The king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered into your house; for they have come to spy out all the land."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 6:17 The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is in it, to Yahweh. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 6:23 The young men who were spies went in, and brought out Rahab with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. They also brought out all her relatives, and they set them outside of the camp of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 6:25 But Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lived in the midst of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 9:13 "God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Job 26:12 He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 87:4 I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: "This one was born there."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 89:10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 30:7 For Egypt helps in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I called her Rahab who sits still.
(WEB ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of Yahweh; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Isn't it you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the monster?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Rahab

Rahab or Rachab

Rahab: (A Woman of Jericho) is Spared when the Israelites Captured Jericho

Rahab: (A Woman of Jericho): An Ancestor of Joseph of Nazareth

Rahab: (A Woman of Jericho): Assists the Spies of the Israelites

Rahab: (A Woman of Jericho): The Faith of, Commended

Rahab: A Symbolic Name Applied to Egypt

Related Terms

Spies (22 Occurrences)

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)

Spy (27 Occurrences)