Who was Rachab?

Rachab, mentioned in Matthew 1:5, is a significant figure in both Old and New Testaments. She is identified in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as the mother of Boaz by Salmon, making her an ancestor of King David and ultimately of the Messiah Himself. The name “Rachab” (Greek: Ῥαχάβ, Rachab; Hebrew: רָחָב, Rachav) means “wide” or “broad.” In the Old Testament, she is more commonly known as Rahab, the woman of Jericho who hid the Hebrew spies (Joshua 2) and later joined the people of Israel.

Rachab is a remarkable example of faith, transformation, and inclusion in the covenant community. Though she began her life as a pagan prostitute in the doomed city of Jericho, she came to believe in the God of Israel and was spared during the city’s destruction. Her faith, affirmed in Hebrews 11 and James 2, stands as a testimony to God‘s mercy and the power of saving faith.

Biblical References

• Matthew 1:5 – “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rachab…”

• Joshua 2 – Rahab hides the Israelite spies.

• Joshua 6:22-25 – Rahab and her family are spared.

• Hebrews 11:31 – Her faith is commended.

• James 2:25 – Her faith is demonstrated by her works.

Cross-references:

• Ruth 4:21-22 – Genealogy showing Boaz as father of Obed, leading to David.

• Romans 11:17 – Gentile inclusion in the people of God.

Rachab in the Biblical Narrative

In the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. They lodged in the house of Rahab, described as a harlot (Joshua 2:1), likely because her home was on the city wall and functioned as an inn. Rahab recognized that Israel’s God was the true God and chose to protect the spies, lying to the king’s men and hiding the spies under flax on her roof.

She then made a bold request: that she and her family be spared when Israel attacked. The spies agreed, instructing her to hang a scarlet cord from her window as a sign. When Jericho fell, Rahab and her household were rescued, and she was incorporated into the Israelite community.

Matthew’s Gospel highlights her inclusion in the Messianic line. Though she was a Canaanite and former prostitute, she became the wife of Salmon, mother of Boaz (who married Ruth), and great-great-grandmother of David. Her presence in Jesus’ genealogy emphasizes the grace of God and His redemptive purposes.

Faith and Transformation

Rahab’s story is one of dramatic transformation. In a city doomed for destruction, she responded in faith to what she had heard about the Lord (Joshua 2:10-11). Her fear of God led her to abandon her people and align herself with Israel. This kind of faith is what the New Testament commends:

• Hebrews 11:31 calls her a woman of faith who did not perish because she welcomed the spies.

• James 2:25 emphasizes her deeds as evidence of her justified faith.

Her faith was not passive but active. She risked her life to protect God’s people, and in doing so, she demonstrated a heart that had turned to the Lord.

Rachab and the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Rachab’s inclusion in the genealogy of Christ underscores the heart of the gospel: Jesus came to save sinners, even the least expected. Her story shows that salvation is not based on lineage, merit, or moral background, but on faith in the true God. Her transformation from prostitute to progenitor of the Messiah is a picture of redemption through grace.

Rachab also prefigures the gospel in her actions:

• The scarlet cord symbolizes deliverance through blood, a shadow of the blood of Christ that marks those who are spared from judgment.

• Her faith response to hearing about God‘s mighty acts parallels how people today come to faith by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

• Her integration into Israel foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles in the covenant promises through Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Broader Biblical Themes

1. Grace and Redemption

Rachab’s past did not define her future. Her story is one of grace overcoming guilt and redemption replacing ruin. God saves people not based on their past but based on His mercy.

2. Faith in Action

She believed, and she acted. Her story supports the biblical truth that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). True faith manifests in courageous obedience.

3. God’s Sovereign Purposes

Though she was a Gentile and outsider, God ordained for Rachab to be in the line of Christ. This highlights God’s sovereign election and His ability to use anyone for His redemptive purposes.

4. God’s Heart for the Nations

Rachab is a reminder that God’s redemptive plan always included Gentiles. Her inclusion anticipates the Great Commission and the global nature of Christ’s kingdom.

Reflection Questions

1. What does Rachab’s story teach us about God’s grace and forgiveness?

2. In what ways can we emulate her faith and courage in our own spiritual journey?

3. How does the scarlet cord foreshadow the work of Christ?

4. What does her inclusion in Jesus’ genealogy teach us about the reach of the gospel?

5. Are there people or groups we might be tempted to exclude from God‘s grace that Rachab’s story challenges us to reconsider?

Rachab’s life is a beautiful testimony that God delights in redeeming the unlikely, using them to fulfill His promises, and showcasing His glory through vessels of mercy.