Ῥαχάβ

Rahab

Definition

Ῥαχάβ (Rahab) refers to a specific historical figure in the New Testament: Rahab, the Canaanite woman from Jericho. She is remembered for her faith and action in hiding the Israelite spies sent by Joshua, as recorded in Joshua 2:1-21 and Joshua 6:17-25. In the New Testament, she is explicitly mentioned in Matthew 1:5 as an ancestor of King David and, by extension, of Jesus Christ, highlighting her inclusion in the messianic lineage. She is also commended for her faith in Hebrews 11:31 and for her righteous action of welcoming the spies in James 2:25.

Biblical Usage

This proper noun is used only once in the Greek New Testament, in Matthew 1:5, within the genealogy of Jesus. Its usage is purely referential, identifying a specific person from Israel's history. The context is the list of ancestors, where Rahab is noted as the wife of Salmon and mother of Boaz. While the name itself appears only here, her story and character are referenced and expounded upon in other New Testament passages (Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25) that discuss her faith and works.

Etymology

The Greek Ῥαχάβ (Rachab) is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name רָחָב (Rāḥāḇ, Strong's H7343). The Hebrew root likely relates to 'breadth' or 'width,' possibly meaning 'broad,' 'spacious,' or 'large.' This name passed into Greek without semantic change, functioning solely as a proper name for the individual.

Semantic Range

Rahab is a profoundly significant figure theologically. Her inclusion in Matthew's genealogy (Matthew 1:5) demonstrates God's grace in incorporating Gentiles and people with morally complex pasts into the lineage of the Messiah. She is a premier example of justifying faith combined with action, as highlighted in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25. Understanding her as Ῥαχάβ connects her directly to these key New Testament teachings on faith, grace, and the inclusive scope of God's redemptive plan.

In her original Canaanite cultural setting, Rahab was a citizen of Jericho and, by the biblical account, a prostitute (Joshua 2:1). This social status made her an unlikely candidate for heroism in Israel's story. Her confession of faith in the God of Israel (Joshua 2:9-11) represents a radical conversion and alignment with a foreign deity, contrasting with her pagan surroundings. Her actions defied her king and city for the sake of the Israelite spies.

Word Details

Scripture References