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. 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 chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:8 Lit to go out
  2. Hebrews 11:11 Lit power for the laying down of seed
  3. Hebrews 11:12 Lit in these things
  4. Hebrews 11:15 Or remembering
  5. Hebrews 11:16 Lit ashamed of them, to be
  6. Hebrews 11:17 I.e., only son with Sarah
  7. Hebrews 11:18 Lit seed
  8. Hebrews 11:19 Lit Considering
  9. Hebrews 11:19 Lit in
  10. Hebrews 11:19 I.e., of resurrection, figuratively, pointing to the future

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.

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.

Read full chapter

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
  2. Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12