Bible Dictionaries
Rahab (2)

Holman Bible Dictionary

(ray' hab) Personal name meaning, “broad.” Harlot in Jericho who hid two Hebrew spies Joshua sent there to determine the strength of the city (Joshua 2:1 ). When the king of Jericho learned of the spies' presence, he sent men to arrest them. Rahab outsmarted the king and hid the men on her roof, sending the arresting officers on a false chase toward the Jordan River. In return for her help Joshua spared her and her clan when the Hebrews destroyed Jericho (Joshua 6:17-25 ). Matthew named Rahab as Boaz' mother (Joshua 1:5 ) in his genealogy of Christ, making her one of the Lord's ancestors. Some interpreters think, however, that the Rahab in Matthew was a different woman. Hebrews 11:31 lists Rahab among the heroes of faith.