Ῥαάβ (Rhaab)
Rhaab
Rahab
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Rhaab refers to Rahab, the woman of Jericho who hid the Israelite spies and ensured her family’s survival during the city’s conquest. The sources identify this as a transliteration of the Hebrew name meaning "wide," likely reflecting a personal characteristic or perhaps a symbolic contrast to the narrowness of her former life.
Although she appears only twice in the New Testament, her significance is profound. Both Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 cite her as a primary example of faith working through action. In these contexts, she is not merely remembered as a harlot, but as a Gentile whose courageous deed demonstrated genuine trust in God’s power.
Her inclusion in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1:5 further highlights how God incorporates outsiders into His redemptive plan. The New Testament writers use her story to show that faith is validated by deeds, making her a lasting witness to the reach of divine grace beyond Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Rahab appears in the New Testament as a powerful reminder that God’s grace reaches far beyond traditional boundaries. Originally meaning "wide" or "broad," her story shows how a life once closed off by fear and sin can become wide open to faith. She was not an Israelite, yet she recognized the power of the God of Israel and acted on that belief.
In Hebrews 11:31, we see her faith in action. By hiding the spies, she risked everything to align herself with God’s people. This wasn’t just a clever trick; it was a profound trust that God would keep His promise. Her story encourages us that our past does not disqualify us from being part of God’s family.
James 2:25 further highlights how her faith was proven through what she did. She didn’t just believe in theory; she moved her body to protect the messengers. This shows that true faith always leads to action. It is a comforting thought that our deeds, when rooted in trust, become a testimony of God’s work in us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Rahab2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ῥαὰβ2×
Key Verses
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Hebrews 11:31
By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
This verse places Rahab among the heroes of faith, showing that her trust in God saved her from judgment alongside the disobedient.
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James 2:25
In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
Here, James uses her specific act of sending the spies out another way to demonstrate how works complete and justify faith.