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. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 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

By 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.

By 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:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through 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.

12 Therefore 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.

13 These 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.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But 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.

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Faithful Abraham(A)

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. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:11 NU omits she bore a child
  2. Hebrews 11:13 NU, M omit were assured of them