Hebrews 11

Hebrews · Chapter 11

Hebrews 11:1

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2For by it the elders obtained a good report.3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.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 had this testimony, that he pleased God.6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Hebrews 11:1-3What faith is

About Hebrews 11"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," and "without faith it is impossible to please him." By faith Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab and many others trusted God, and "These all died in faith, not having received the promises," confessing "that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." They "obtained a good report through faith," yet "received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Hebrews 11:1Hebrews 11:4Hebrews 11:5Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:7Hebrews 11:8Hebrews 11:11Hebrews 11:13Hebrews 11:20Hebrews 11:21Hebrews 11:22Hebrews 11:24Hebrews 11:31Hebrews 11:32Hebrews 11:39Hebrews 11:40

Why this verse matters here"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
IsἜστινEstinG1510
you are

εἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

nowδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

faithπίστιςpistisG4102G
faith

πίστις (pistis) πίστις, -εως, ἡ (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמוּנָה ;] 1. in active sense, faith, belief, trust, confidence, in NT always of religious faith in God or Christ or spiritual things: Mat.8:10, Luk.5:20, Act.14:9, Rom.1:8, 1Co.2:5, 2Co.1:24, 1Ti.1:5, al.; with genitive obj., Mrk.11:22, Act.3:16, Rom.3:22, Gal.2:16, Eph.3:12, Jas.2:1, al.; with prep., ἐν, Rom.3:25, Gal.3:26, Eph.1:15, Col.1:24, 1Ti.1:14 3:13, 2Ti.1:13 3:15, 2Pe.1:1; εἰς, Act.20:21 24:24 26:18, Col.2:5, 1Pe.1:21; πρός, 1Th.1:8, Phm 5; ἐπί, with accusative Heb.6:1; ἐν τῇ π. στήκειν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Co.16:13, 1Co.13:5, 1Ti.2:15; ὑ …

of [things] hoped forἐλπιζομένωνelpizomenōnG1679
to hope/expect

ἐλπίζω (elpizō) ἐλπίζω [in LXX chiefly for בָּטַח, also for חָסָה, יָחַל pi., hi., etc. ;] to look for, expect, hope (for): with accusative of thing(s), Rom.8:24-25, 1Co.13:7, Heb.11:1; with dative of thing(s) (τ. τύχῃ, Thuc., iii, 97, 2), Mat.12:21; before καθώς, 2Co.8:5; with inf., Luk.6:34 23:8, Act.26:7, Rom.15:24, 1Co.16:7, 2Co.5:11, Php.2:19, 23, 1Ti.3:14, II Jn 12, 3Jn.14; before ὅτι, with pres., Luk.24:21; with fut., Act.24:26, 2Co.1:13 13:6, Phm 22. As in LXX (WM, § xxxiii, d; and esp. in the pf., Ellic. on 1Ti.4:10; Bl., § 59, 2), with prep.; εἰς, Jhn.5:45 (see Ellis., l.with), 1Pe.3:5; before ὅτι …

[the] assurance,ὑπόστασις,hupostasisG5287
confidence/essence

ὑπόστασις (hupostasis) ὑπό-στασις, -εως, ἡ (ὑφίστημι, to set under, stand under, support) [in LXX for מַצָּב (1Ki.13:23 14:4 B), תִּקְוָה (Rut.1:12, Eze.19:5), etc., also in Wis.16:21 ;] 1. a support, base or foundation (in various senses). 2. substance (Arist., al.; opposite to φαντασία, ἔμφασις): Heb.1:3 3. steadiness, firmness (Polyb., al.), hence, assurance, confidence: 2Co.9:4 11:17, Heb.3:14 11:1 (here perhaps title-deed, as that which gives reality or guarantee; see MM, xxv).† (AS)

of thingsπραγμάτωνpragmatōnG4229
thing

πρᾶγμα (pragma) πρᾶγμα, -τος, τύ (πράσσω), [in LXX chiefly for דָּבָר ;] 1. that which has been done, a deed, act: Luk.1:1, Act.5:4, 2Co.7:11, Heb.6:18. 2. That which is being done (like Lat. res), hence, a thing, matter, affair: Mat.18:19, Rom.16:2, 1Th.4:6 (see M, Th., in l), Heb.10:1 11:1, Jas.3:16; in forensic sense (as frequently in π., see Deiss., BS, 233), a law-suit: 1Co.6:1.† (AS)

[the] convictionἔλεγχοςelegchosG1650
rebuke

ἔλεγχος (elegchos) ἔλεγχος, -ου, ὁ (ἐλέγχω) [in LXX: frequently in Pr, Jb (יָכַח) יָכַח) Wis.5:1-23, Sir.3:1-31, etc. ;] a proof, test: Heb.11:1.† (AS)

notοὐouG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

being seen.βλεπομένων.blepomenōnG0991
to see

βλέπω (blepō) βλέπω, [in LXX chiefly for ראה, also for פּנה, etc. ;] 1. of bodily sight; (a) to see, have sight (opposite to τυφλὸς): Mat.12:22, Jhn.9:7, Act.9:9, Rom.11:8, Rev.3:18, al.; (b) to perceive, look (at), see: absol., Act.1:9; with accusative, Mat.7:3, Mrk.5:31, Luk.6:41, Jhn.1:29, al.; ὅραμα, Act.12:9; γυναῖκα, Mat.5:28; βιβλίον, Rev.5:3, 4; τ. βλεπόμενα, 2Co.4:18. 2. Metaphorical, of mental vision; (a) to see, perceive, discern: absol., Mat.13:13, Luk.8:10; δι ̓ ἐσόπτρου, 1Co.13:12; with accusative, Heb.2:9 10:25; before ὅτι, Heb.3:19, Jas.2:22; …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.