Font Size
Hebrews 11:2-4
New International Version
Hebrews 11:2-4
New International Version
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.(A)
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(B) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(C) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(D) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(E)
Hebrews 11:2-4
New King James Version
Hebrews 11:2-4
New King James Version
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that (A)the [a]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Faith at the Dawn of History(B)
4 By faith (C)Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still (D)speaks.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 11:3 Or ages, Gr. aiones, aeons
Hebrews 11:2-4
English Standard Version
Hebrews 11:2-4
English Standard Version
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by (A)the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of (B)things that are visible.
4 By faith (C)Abel offered to God (D)a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And (E)through his faith, though he died, he (F)still speaks.
Read full chapter
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 King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.