James 2:25

Mace New Testament

was it not likewise for her actions, that Rahab, formerly a loose liver, was accounted as just, for having entertain'd the messengers of Joshuah, and dismiss'd them the securest way?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Another example is Rahab. She was a prostitute, but she was made right with God by something she did. She helped those who were spying for God's people. She welcomed them into her home and helped them escape by a different road.

Revised Standard Version
And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Lyke wyse also was not Raab the harlot iustifyed thorow workes when she receaved the messengers and sent the out another waye?

Hebrew Names Version
In like manner wasn't Rachav the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

New American Standard Bible
In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

New Century Version
Another example is Rahab, a prostitute, who was made right with God by something she did. She welcomed the spies into her home and helped them escape by a different road.

Update Bible Version
And in like manner wasn't also Rahab the prostitute justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

Webster's Bible Translation
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?

English Standard Version
And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

World English Bible
In like manner wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
In like manner Rahab the harlot also was justified by works, having received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Weymouth's New Testament
In the same way also was not the notorious sinner Rahab declared to be righteous because of her actions when she welcomed the spies and hurriedly helped them to escape another way?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
In lijk maner, and whether also Raab, the hoore, was not iustified of werkis, and resseyuede the messangeris, and sente hem out bi anothir weie?

English Revised Version
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?

Berean Standard Bible
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them off on another route?

Contemporary English Version
For example, Rahab had been a prostitute. But she pleased God when she welcomed the spies and sent them home by another way.

Amplified Bible
In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the [Hebrew] spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away [to escape] by a different route?

American Standard Version
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?

Bible in Basic English
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?

Complete Jewish Bible
Likewise, wasn't Rachav the prostitute also declared righteous because of actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another route?

Darby Translation
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?

International Standard Version
Likewise, Rahab the prostitute was justified by works when she welcomed the messengersspies">[fn] and sent them away on a different road, wasn't she?Joshua 2:1; Hebrews 11:31;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
So also Rachab the harlot, was she not by works justified when she received the spies, and by another way sent them forth?

Murdock Translation
So also Rahab, the harlot, was not she justified by works, when she entertained the spies, and sent them forth by another way?

King James Version (1611)
Likewise also, was not Rahab the harlot iustified by works, when she had receiued the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

New Living Translation
Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.

New Life Bible
The same was true with Rahab, the woman who sold the use of her body. She became right with God by what she did in helping the men who had been sent to look through the country and sent them away by another road.

New Revised Standard
Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot iustified through workes, when she had receiued ye messengers, & sent them out another way?

George Lamsa Translation
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot, justified by works, when she welcomed the spies, and sent them out another way?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, in like manner also, Rahab the harlot, Was it not, by works, she was declared righteous, when she gave welcome unto the messengers, and, by another way, urged them forth?

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

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Lykewyse also, was not Rahab the harlot iustified through workes, when she had receaued the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Good News Translation
It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.

Christian Standard Bible®
In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route?

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

Lexham English Bible
And likewise was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?

Literal Translation
But in the same way Rahab the harlot was also justified out of works, having received the messengers, and sending them out by another way.

Young's Literal Translation
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?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Likewise also was not Raab the harlot iustified thorow workes, when she receaued the messengers, and sent them out another waye?

THE MESSAGE
The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.

New English Translation
And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?

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

Simplified Cowboy Version
Even Rahab the hooker was made right in the Boss's eyes because she helped out the Israelite spies and kept them safe.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ What advantage is it, my brethren, for a man to say he has faith, if he has no beneficence? can such a faith save him? ¹⁵ suppose one of your brethren should be destitute of cloths, and of his daily nourishment, ¹⁶ and one of you should thus address him; "go and prosper, I wish you a warm fire, and a full meal:" without relieving his wants, would he be the better for your wish? ¹⁷ just so faith, if it be not operative, is intirely lifeless. ¹⁸ it will be said, "you have a speculative faith, but mine is practical. where is your faith, if no effects appear? as for me, my actions will vouch for my faith. ¹⁹ you believe there is but one God, very well: the demons believe as much, and tremble." ²⁰ Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects? ²¹ was not our father Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar? ²² don't you see his actions and his faith conspir'd, and that his faith had its perfect effect in his conduct? ²³ it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

was: Joshua 2:1, Matthew 1:5

the harlot: Matthew 21:31

justified: James 2:18, James 2:22

when: Joshua 2:19-21, Joshua 6:17, Joshua 6:22-25, Hebrews 11:31

Reciprocal: Joshua 6:25 - because Song of Solomon 1:8 - go

Cross-References

Mark 8:38
whosoever therefore shall be asham'd of me, and of my doctrine in this degenerate and corrupted age, of him likewise shall the son of man be asham'd, when he shall come with the glory of his father, accompanied with holy angels.

Luke 9:26
for whoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my doctrine, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in the glory of his father, and of the holy angels.

Romans 10:11
for the scripture saith , "whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot,....

:- justified by works; this woman was an instance of the grace of God in calling the chief of sinners, and was a true believer; and what she did, she did in faith, Hebrews 11:31 and her faith was shown by her works to be true and genuine; and it was manifest that she was a justified person. This instance is produced with the other, to show, that wherever there is true faith, whether in Jew or Gentile, in man or woman, in greater or lesser believers, or in such who have been greater or lesser sinners, there will be good works; and therefore that person is a vain man that talks and boasts of his faith, and depends upon it, and slights and rejects good works as unnecessary to be done.

When she had received the messengers: the spies that Joshua sent, into her house, with peace and safety:

and had sent them out another way; than they came in, even through the window upon the town wall, Joshua 2:1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works? - In the same sense in which Abraham was, as explained above - showing by her act that her faith was genuine, and that it was not a mere cold and speculative assent to the truths of religion. Her act showed that she truly believed God. If that act had not been performed, the fact would have shown that her faith was not genuine, and she could not have been justified. God saw her faith as it was; he saw that it would produce acts of obedience, and he accepted her as righteous. The act which she performed was the public manifestation of her faith, the evidence that she was justified. See the case of Rahab fully explained in the notes at Hebrews 11:31. It may be observed here, that we are not to suppose that everything in the life and character of this woman is commended. She is commended for her faith, and for the fair expression of it; a faith which, as it induced her to receive the messengers of the true God, and to send them forth in peace, and as it led her to identify herself with the people of God, was also influential, we have every reason to suppose, in inducing her to abandon her former course of life. When we commend the faith of a man who has been a profane swearer, or an adulterer, or a robber, or a drunkard, we do not commend his former life, or give a sanction to it. We commend that which has induced him to abandon his evil course, and to turn to the ways of righteousness. The more evil his former course has been, the more wonderful, and the more worthy of commendation, is that faith by which he is reformed and saved.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. Rahab the harlot — Joshua 2:1, c., and "Hebrews 11:31", &c. Rahab had the approbation due to genuine faith, which she actually possessed, and gave the fullest proof that she did so by her conduct. As justification signifies, not only the pardon of sin, but receiving the Divine approbation, James seems to use the word in this latter sense. God approved of them, because of their obedience to his will and he approves of no man who is not obedient.