Rahab's Faith
Rahab the harlot of Jericho risks her life to hide Israelite spies, confessing faith in the God of Israel and securing salvation for herself and her household.
Joshua 2:1-24, Joshua 6:22-25, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25
Take the Joshua 2 Quiz
Test your knowledge of this chapter
Explore Joshua Chapters
Study all chapters of Joshua
The Story
Rahab's account stands as one of Scripture's most remarkable testimonies to the transforming power of faith. A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, she occupied the lowest rungs of social respectability. Yet when Joshua sent two spies to view the land, divine providence led them to Rahab's house.
When the king of Jericho demanded she surrender the spies, Rahab hid them on her roof and misdirected their pursuers. Her confession revealed theological conviction: 'I know that the Lord hath given you the land... The Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.' She requested that the spies swear by the Lord to show kindness to her family when Israel conquered Jericho.
The scarlet cord that Rahab hung in her window echoes the blood on the doorposts during the Passover. When Jericho's walls fell flat, her portion remained standing. Joshua commanded that Rahab and all her family be brought out safely.
Rahab married Salmon of Judah, bore a son named Boaz, and entered the messianic line that would culminate in King David and Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Matthew names her in Jesus' genealogy. Rahab's transformation from Canaanite harlot to covenant mother illustrates that God delights to show mercy to the humble heart that turns to Him in faith.
Rahab and the Scarlet Cord
Kids Version
Rahab lived in the city of Jericho, a city with huge, strong walls. She had heard amazing stories about the one true God of Israel—how God parted the Red Sea and helped His people win battles. These stories made Rahab believe that the God of Israel was the real God.
One day, two men from Israel came to Jericho. They were spies sent by Joshua. The spies came to Rahab's house, and she let them stay. But someone told the king! The king sent soldiers to get them. Rahab had to make a brave choice. Because she believed in God, she hid the spies on her roof and told the soldiers they had already left.
Rahab said to the spies, 'I know that the Lord has given you this land. Everyone in Jericho is afraid because we've heard about your amazing God. The Lord your God is the true God in heaven and on earth!' Then Rahab asked the spies to save her and her family when Israel attacked. The spies told her to hang a scarlet (bright red) cord in her window and gather her family inside.
When Joshua and the Israelites came, they marched around the city for seven days. On the seventh day, the walls fell down flat! But the part where Rahab's house was stayed standing! The spies brought Rahab and her whole family out safely.
Rahab came to live with God's people. Many years later, one of her great-great-great grandchildren was King David, and even later, Jesus was born into her family! Rahab's story shows us that when we believe in God and trust Him, He saves us and makes us part of His family.
Ready to test your knowledge?
See how well you know this story from Joshua.
Characters in This Story
Settings & Locations
Scripture — Joshua 2:1-24 (KJV)
1And 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. sent: or, had sent lodged: Heb. lay
2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
7And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
8And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
9And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. faint: Heb. melt
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. did there: Heb. rose up
12Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
13And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
14And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. for: Heb. instead of you to die
15Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
16And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
17And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
18Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. bring: Heb. gather
19And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
21And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
22And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
23So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
24And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us. faint: Heb. melt
Memory Verse
“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. sent: or, had sent lodged: Heb. lay”
— Joshua 2:1 (KJV)
Test Your Knowledge
How well do you know the story of “Rahab's Faith”? Take the quiz to find out.
More from Heroes of Faith
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Rahab's Faith” in the Bible?
Rahab the harlot of Jericho risks her life to hide Israelite spies, confessing faith in the God of Israel and securing salvation for herself and her household. This story is found in Joshua 2:1-24, Joshua 6:22-25, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25.
Where is “Rahab's Faith” found in the Bible?
“Rahab's Faith” is found in Joshua 2:1-24, Joshua 6:22-25, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25, in the book of Joshua.
What can children learn from “Rahab's Faith”?
This story teaches children about Saving Faith, God's Grace, Courage, Redemption. Rahab was brave enough to help God's spies and trust in the Lord, and God saved her whole family when the walls of Jericho fell down.