רַ֫הַב

From the study of Isaiah 30:7

Range of meaning

(1) As a common noun: storminess, blustering, arrogance or pride (Job 9:13 'the helpers of Rahab', and the related root r-h-b, 'to storm at, press, act boisterously', Isa 3:5). (2) As a proper name: a monster of the sea that God defeated, a picture of the chaos of the waters (Job 26:12; Ps 89:10; Isa 51:9). (3) A poetic nickname for Egypt (Ps 87:4; probably Isa 51:9–10, where Rahab sits next to the drying of the sea at the Exodus).

Against the English

BSB, WEB and most modern versions keep the name 'Rahab'. KJV and YLT turn it into 'their strength', following an older tradition that read the word as 'pride, boldness'. NLT's 'Harmless Dragon' gives the sense rather than the name.

How it drifted

English readers mostly know Rahab as the woman of Jericho (Joshua 2). In Hebrew that is a different name, spelled differently (רָחָב, rachav, 'broad'). The KJV's 'strength' hides the name entirely.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Hebrew Bible uses Rahab alongside Leviathan, Tannin ('the dragon') and Yam ('the Sea') as the chaos powers God subdues. Similar stories of a storm-god defeating the sea and its monsters appear in Canaanite texts from Ugarit, where Baal defeats Yam and Lotan (the same monster as Leviathan), although the name Rahab itself is not clearly found outside the Bible. Ps 87:4 lists 'Rahab and Babylon' among the nations, which shows Rahab as a standing name for Egypt.

From the study of Psalm 87:4

Range of meaning

From a root meaning to storm, press or behave arrogantly (Isa 3:5; Prov 6:3; compare Ps 40:4, 'the proud'). As a proper name, Rahab is the chaos monster of the sea that God defeated (Job 9:13, 'the helpers of Rahab'; Job 26:12; Ps 89:10; Isa 51:9, 'you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon'). By extension it became a scornful poetic name for Egypt (Isa 30:7, 'Rahab who sits still').

Against the English

Every English version simply writes 'Rahab'. Most readers then think of Rahab of Jericho (Josh 2), whose name is spelled differently in Hebrew (רָחָב, rachav, 'broad', H7343). NLT replaces the name with 'Egypt', which gives the right referent but loses the monster image.

How it drifted

In English, and already in Greek and Latin, the two names look identical. Greek and Latin have no letters for the difference between Hebrew he (ה) and chet (ח), so the Septuagint and the Vulgate spell both 'Rahab'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Within the Hebrew Bible, the parallel lines in Isaiah 51:9–10 and Psalm 89:10 tie Rahab to the dragon and the sea, and in Isaiah 51 to the Exodus crossing. Unlike Leviathan, which has a counterpart (Lotan) in Ugaritic myth, the name Rahab has not turned up as a monster's name in texts outside the Bible (J. Day). The image of God subduing the sea, though, is common Near Eastern stock.