Hebrews 11
11
Living by Faith
1Now faith is the reality#11:1 Or assurance of what is hoped for, the proof#11:1 Or conviction of what is not seen.#Rm 8:24; 2Co 4:18 2For by this our ancestors were approved.
3By faith we understand that the universe was#11:3 Or the worlds were, or the ages were created by the word of God,#Gn 1:1; Jn 1:3; 2Pt 3:5 so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.#11:3 Or so that what is seen was made out of what was not visible
4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.#Gn 4:4; 1Jn 3:12
5By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away.#11:5Gn 5:21–24 For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.#Gn 5:21–24; 2Kg 2:11 6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.#Gn 6:13–22; 1Pt 3:20
8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.#Gn 12:1–4,7; Ac 7:2–4 9By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise.#Gn 12:8; 18:1; Ac 7:5; Heb 6:17 10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.#Heb 12:22; 13:14; Rv 21:2,10,14
11By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she#11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was past age — and Sarah herself was barren — received the ability to procreate since he considered that the one who had promised was faithful.#Gn 17:19; 18:11–14; 21:2 12Therefore, from one man — in fact, from one as good as dead — came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.#Gn 22:17; Rm 4:19
13These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance,#Mt 13:17; Jn 8:56; Heb 11:39 greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.#Gn 23:4; 1Ch 29:15; Ps 39:12; 1Pt 1:17 14Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16But they now desire a better place — a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.#Ex 3:6,15; Mk 8:38; 2Tm 4:18; Heb 13:14
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.#Gn 22:1–10; Jms 2:21 He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, 18the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring#11:18 Lit seed will be traced through Isaac.#11:18Gn 21:12#Gn 21:12; Rm 9:7 19He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead;#Rm 4:17 therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.#11:19 Or back, as a foreshadowing, or as a type
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau#Gn 25:25; 27:26–40 concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.#11:21Gn 47:31#Gn 47:31; 48:1,5,16,20 22By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned#11:22 Or remembered the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.#Gn 50:24–25; Ex 13:19
23By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict.#Ex 1:16,22; 2:2 24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.#Ex 2:10–11; Ps 84:10 26For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.#Heb 10:35; 13:13
27By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.#Rm 1:20; Col 1:15–16; 1Tm 1:17 28By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. 29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.#Ex 14:22–30
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.#Jos 2:1; 6:23
32And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,#Jdg 4:6; 11:1; 13:24 David, Samuel, and the prophets,#1Sm 1:20; 16:1,13 33who by faith conquered kingdoms,#2Sm 7:11; 8:1–3 administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,#Jdg 14:5–6; 1Sm 17:34–37; Dn 6:22 34quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.#Jdg 15:8; 2Kg 20:7; Dn 3:25 35Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.#Gn 39:20; Jr 20:2 37They were stoned,#11:37 Other mss add they were tempted,#1Kg 21:13; 2Ch 24:20–21 they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins,#1Kg 19:10; 2Kg 1:8 destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.#Heb 11:16; Rv 6:11
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Hebrews 11
11
1Now faith is the substantiating of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For in the power of this the elders have obtained testimony. 3By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks. 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he has the testimony that he had pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who seek him out. 7By faith, Noah, oracularly warned concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is the artificer and constructor. 11By faith also Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and that beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised. 12Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which is by the sea shore. 13All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. 14For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek their country. 15And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned; 16but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city. 17By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received to himself the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18as to whom it had been said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19counting that God was able to raise him even from among the dead, whence also he received him in a figure. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph when dying called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, being born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the injunction of the king. 24By faith Moses, when he had become great, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25choosing rather to suffer affliction along with the people of God than to have the temporary pleasure of sin; 26esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as through dry land; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with the unbelieving, having received the spies in peace.
32And what more do I say? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33who by faith overcame kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions' mouths, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, became strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, made the armies of strangers give way. 35Women received their dead again by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted deliverance, that they might get a better resurrection; 36and others underwent trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, and of bonds and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, died by the death of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, evil treated, 38(of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caverns of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained witness through faith, did not receive the promise, 40God having foreseen some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.