Hebrews 11:31 (ASV)

Passage

By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.

Hebrews 11:31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:

Hebrews 11:33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "rahab", "harlot", "perished", "disobedient", "having", "received", and "spies". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "rahab", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "By faith the walls of Jericho fell..." into verse 32's "And what shall I more say for...", so "faith" and "rahab" belong inside that flow. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "rahab" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.