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Hebrews 11:8-19
New International Version
Hebrews 11:8-19
New International Version
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(A) obeyed and went,(B) even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land(C) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(D) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(E) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(F) with foundations,(G) whose architect and builder is God.(H) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(I) was enabled to bear children(J) because she[a] considered him faithful(K) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(L) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(M)
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(N) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(O) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(P) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(Q) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(R) Therefore God is not ashamed(S) to be called their God,(T) for he has prepared a city(U) for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(V) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b](W) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(X) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
- Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
Hebrews 11:8-19
New American Standard Bible
Hebrews 11:8-19
New American Standard Bible
8 By faith (A)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [a]by going out to a place which he was to (B)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as a stranger in (C)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, (D)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, (E)fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for (F)the city which has (G)foundations, (H)whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even (I)Sarah herself received [b]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him (J)faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore even from one man, and (K)one who was as good as dead [c]at that, there were born descendants who were (L)just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.
13 (M)All these died in faith, (N)without receiving the promises, but (O)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and (P)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been [d]thinking of that country which they left, (Q)they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a (R)heavenly one. Therefore (S)God is not [e]ashamed to be (T)called their God; for (U)He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith (V)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had (W)received the promises was offering up his [f]only son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “(X)Through Isaac your [g]descendants shall be named.” 19 [h]He considered that (Y)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [i]as a [j](Z)type.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 11:8 Lit to go out
- Hebrews 11:11 Lit power for the laying down of seed
- Hebrews 11:12 Lit in these things
- Hebrews 11:15 Or remembering
- Hebrews 11:16 Lit ashamed of them, to be
- Hebrews 11:17 I.e., only son with Sarah
- Hebrews 11:18 Lit seed
- Hebrews 11:19 Lit Considering
- Hebrews 11:19 Lit in
- Hebrews 11:19 I.e., of resurrection, figuratively, pointing to the future
Hebrews 11:8-19
Amplified Bible
Hebrews 11:8-19
Amplified Bible
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.(A) 10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word].(B) 12 So from one man, though he was [physically] as good as dead, were born as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand on the seashore.(C)
13 All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.(D) 14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return. 16 But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.(E)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested [that is, as the testing of his faith was still in progress], [a]offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises [of God] was ready to sacrifice his only son [of promise];(F) 18 to whom it was said, “Through Isaac your descendants shall be called.”(G) 19 For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 11:17 Lit has offered. Even though Abraham did not follow through with the sacrifice per the fact that it was a test from God, from Abraham’s perspective the offering was completed although he did not physically offer Isaac.
Hebrews 11:8-19
New King James Version
Hebrews 11:8-19
New King James Version
Faithful Abraham(A)
8 By faith (B)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, (C)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, (D)the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for (E)the city which has foundations, (F)whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith (G)Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and (H)she[a] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him (I)faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as (J)dead, were born as many as the (K)stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
The Heavenly Hope
13 These all died in faith, (L)not having received the (M)promises, but (N)having seen them afar off [b]were assured of them, embraced them and (O)confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things (P)declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind (Q)that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed (R)to be called their God, for He has (S)prepared a city for them.
The Faith of the Patriarchs(T)
17 By faith Abraham, (U)when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 [c]of whom it was said, (V)“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God (W)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 11:11 NU omits she bore a child
- Hebrews 11:13 NU, M omit were assured of them
- Hebrews 11:18 to
Hebrews 11:8-19
New Century Version
Hebrews 11:8-19
New Century Version
8 It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. 9 It was by faith that he lived like a foreigner in the country God promised to give him. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had received that same promise from God. 10 Abraham was waiting for the city[a] that has real foundations—the city planned and built by God.
11 He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised.[b] 12 This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.
13 All these great people died in faith. They did not get the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future and were glad. They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth. 14 When people say such things, they show they are looking for a country that will be their own. 15 If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back. 16 But they were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.
17 It was by faith that Abraham, when God tested him, offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God made the promises to Abraham, but Abraham was ready to offer his own son as a sacrifice. 18 God had said, “The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac.”[c] 19 Abraham believed that God could raise the dead, and really, it was as if Abraham got Isaac back from death.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 11:10 city The spiritual “city” where God’s people live with him. Also called “the heavenly Jerusalem.” (See Hebrews 12:22.)
- 11:11 It . . . promised. Some Greek copies refer to Sarah’s faith, rather than Abraham’s.
- 11:18 “The descendants . . . Isaac.” Quotation from Genesis 21:12.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Century Version (NCV)
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.