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11 Now faith is [a]assurance of things hoped for, a [b]conviction of things not seen. For therein the elders had witness borne to them. By faith we understand that the [c]worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, [d]God bearing witness [e]in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: [f]for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, [g]dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose [h]builder and maker is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised: 12 wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable. 13 These all died [i]in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. 15 And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, being tried, [j]offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 even he [k]to whom it was said, [l]In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 accounting the reproach of [m]Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he [n]kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. 35 Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were [o]tortured, not accepting [p]their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. 39 And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, 40 God having [q]provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:1 Or, the giving substance to
  2. Hebrews 11:1 Or, test
  3. Hebrews 11:3 Greek ages. Compare 1 Tim. 1:17 margin.
  4. Hebrews 11:4 The Greek text in this clause is somewhat uncertain.
  5. Hebrews 11:4 Or, over his gifts
  6. Hebrews 11:5 Or, for before his translation he hath had witness borne to him that he etc.
  7. Hebrews 11:9 Or, having taken up his abode in tents
  8. Hebrews 11:10 Or, architect
  9. Hebrews 11:13 Greek according to.
  10. Hebrews 11:17 Greek hath offered up.
  11. Hebrews 11:18 Or, of
  12. Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12.
  13. Hebrews 11:26 Or, the Christ. Compare 1 Cor. 10:4.
  14. Hebrews 11:28 Or, instituted. Greek hath made.
  15. Hebrews 11:35 Or, beaten to death
  16. Hebrews 11:35 Greek the redemption.
  17. Hebrews 11:40 Or, foreseen

11 Now de faith pistis is eimi the assurance hypostasis of things hoped for elpizō, the conviction elenchos of things pragma not ou seen blepō. For gar by en it houtos the ho men of the past presbyteros were approved martyreō by God.

By faith pistis we understand noeō that the ho universe aiōn was created katartizō by the word rhēma of God theos, so that eis what ho is seen blepō was ginomai not brought into being ginomai from ek anything observable phainō.

By faith pistis Abel Habel offered prospherō to ho God theos a more acceptable polys sacrifice thusia than para Cain Kain, through dia which hos faith he was attested martyreō as eimi righteous dikaios, God theos himself showing his approval martyreō by epi accepting · ho his autos gifts dōron. · ho And kai though he died apothnēskō, he laleō still eti speaks laleō through dia his autos faith.

By faith pistis Enoch Henōch was taken up metatithēmi so that ho he did not see death thanatos, and kai he could not ou be found heuriskō, because dioti God theos had taken metatithēmi him autos. · ho For gar before pro he ho was taken metathesis he had been approved martyreō as one who had been pleasing euaresteō to ho God theos, and de without chōris faith pistis it is impossible adynatos to please euaresteō him, for gar the ho one who approaches proserchomai God theos must dei believe pisteuō · ho that hoti he exists eimi and kai that he rewards misthapodotēs those ho who seek ekzēteō him autos.

By faith pistis Noah Nōe, having been warned chrēmatizō by God concerning peri events ho as yet unseen mēdepō, took heed eulabeomai and built kataskeuazō an ark kibōtos for eis the safety sōtēria of ho his autos household oikos. By dia this hos act of faith he condemned katakrinō · ho humanity kosmos and kai became ginomai an heir klēronomos of the ho righteousness dikaiosynē that comes by kata faith pistis.

By faith pistis Abraham Abraam obeyed hypakouō when he was called kaleō to go out exerchomai to eis a place topos which hos he would mellō receive lambanō as eis an inheritance klēronomia. · kai He set out exerchomai even though he did not know epistamai where pou he was going erchomai. By faith pistis he migrated paroikeō to eis the land · ho he had been promised epangelia, as hōs to a foreign allotrios land , living katoikeō in en tents skēnē as did meta Isaac Isaak and kai Jacob Iakōb, · ho heirs with synklēronomos him of the ho same autos promise epangelia, · ho 10 for gar he was looking forward to ekdechomai the ho city polis which ho has echō foundations themelios, whose hos designer technitēs and kai builder dēmiourgos is · ho God theos. 11 By faith pistis · kai Abraham was lambanō enabled dynamis to become lambanō a father katabolē—even though Sarah Sarra herself autos was sterile steira and kai beyond para the normal age kairos of childbearing hēlikia because epei he regarded hēgeomai as faithful pistos the ho one who had made the promise epangellomai. 12 And kai so dio it was that from apo this one heis man , and he was already impotent nekroō, there were born gennaō · kai descendants houtos as many as kathōs the ho stars astron of ho heaven ouranos in ho number plēthos and kai as innumerable anarithmētos as hōs the ho grains of sand ammos · ho along para the ho shore cheilos of the ho sea thalassa · ho

13 These houtos all pas died apothnēskō in kata faith pistis, without receiving lambanō the ho fulfillment of the promises epangelia, but alla they saw them autos from a distance porrōthen and kai greeted aspazomai them. · kai They acknowledged homologeō that hoti they were eimi strangers xenos and kai exiles parepidēmos in epi the ho land . 14 For gar those ho who speak legō in such a way toioutos make it clear emphanizō that hoti they are seeking epizēteō a land of their own patris. 15 · kai If ei they had been referring to mnēmoneuō that ekeinos country from apo which hos they had set out ekbainō, they would an have had echō opportunity kairos to return anakamptō. 16 But de as it is nyn, they were longing for oregō a better kreittōn homeland, that houtos is eimi, a heavenly epouranios one . For this reason dio God theos is not ou ashamed epaischunomai · ho to be called epikaleō their autos God theos, for gar he has prepared hetoimazō a city polis to receive them autos.

17 By faith pistis Abraham Abraam, when he was being tested peirazō, offered up prospherō · ho Isaac Isaak; yes kai, he ho who had received anadechomai the ho promises epangelia was offering prospherō his ho only son monogenēs, 18 of pros whom hos he had been told laleō, “It is through en Isaac Isaak that descendants sperma will be named kaleō for you sy.” 19 He considered logizomai that hoti God theos was able dynatos to raise egeirō him up egeirō even kai from ek the dead nekros, · ho and kai, in en a sense parabolē, he did receive komizō him autos back from there hothen.

20 By faith pistis Isaac Isaak invoked blessings on eulogeō Jacob Iakōb and kai Esau ēsau, even kai regarding peri things to come mellō. · ho · ho

21 By faith pistis Jacob Iakōb, while dying apothnēskō, blessed eulogeō each hekastos of ho the sons hyios of Joseph Iōsēph, and kai bowed in worship proskyneō, leaning on epi the ho top akron of ho his autos staff rhabdos.

22 By faith pistis Joseph Iōsēph, at the end of his life teleutaō, spoke mnēmoneuō about peri the ho exodus exodos of the ho sons hyios of Israel Israēl and kai gave instructions entellō regarding peri the burial of ho his autos bones osteon.

23 By faith pistis Moses Mōysēs, when he was born gennaō, was hidden kryptō for three months trimēnos by hypo · ho his autos parents patēr, because dioti they saw that he was an extraordinary asteios · ho child paidion, and kai they were not ou afraid phobeomai of the ho king’ s basileus edict diatagma. · ho

24 By faith pistis Moses Mōysēs, when he was ginomai grown up megas, disdained arneomai to be called legō the son hyios of Pharaoh’ s Pharaō daughter thugatēr, 25 choosing haireō rather mallon to suffer hardship along with synkakoucheomai the ho people laos of ho God theos than ē to enjoy echō the transient proskairos pleasure apolausis of sin hamartia. 26 He considered hēgeomai abuse oneidismos for the sake of ho Christ Christos greater megas wealth ploutos than the ho treasures thēsauros of Egypt Aigyptos, · ho for gar he was looking ahead apoblepō to eis his ho reward misthapodosia. 27 By faith pistis he left kataleipō Egypt Aigyptos, not fearing phobeomai the ho anger thumos of the ho king basileus, for gar he endured kartereō as though hōs seeing horaō the ho one who is invisible aoratos. 28 By faith pistis he kept poieō the ho Passover pascha and kai the ho sprinkling proschysis of ho blood haima, so that hina the ho destroying angel olothreuō would thinganō not touch thinganō · ho their autos firstborn prōtotokos.

29 By faith pistis they crossed diabainō the ho Red erythros Sea thalassa as hōs if on dia dry xēros land ; but when hos the ho Egyptians Aigyptios tried peira lambanō, they were drowned katapinō.

30 By faith pistis the ho walls teichos of Jericho Ierichō fell down piptō after they had been encircled kykloō for epi seven hepta days hēmera.

31 By faith pistis Rahab Rhaab the ho prostitute pornē did not ou perish synapollymi with the ho unbelievers apeitheō, because she had received dechomai the ho spies kataskopos with meta peace eirēnē.

32 And kai what tis more eti shall I say legō? For gar time chronos would fail epileipō me egō if I told diēgeomai · ho about peri Gideon Gedeōn, Barak Barak, Samson Sampsōn, Jephthah Iephthae, about both te David Dauid and kai Samuel Samouēl and kai the ho prophets prophētēs, 33 who hos through dia faith pistis conquered katagōnizomai kingdoms basileia, brought about ergazomai justice dikaiosynē, obtained epitynchanō what was promised epangelia; who shut phrassō the mouths stoma of lions leōn, 34 extinguished sbennymi raging dynamis flames pyr, escaped pheugō the edge stoma of the sword machaira; who after apo weakness astheneia were made strong dynamoō, who became ginomai mighty ischuros in en war polemos and put foreign allotrios armies parembolē to flight klinō. 35 Women gynē received lambanō their autos dead nekros by ek resurrection anastasis. · ho But de others allos were tortured tympanizō, after refusing ou to accept prosdechomai · ho release apolytrōsis, so that hina they might gain tynchanō a better kreittōn resurrection anastasis. 36 Others heteros · de experienced peira jeering empaigmos and kai flogging mastix, and de even eti chains desmos and kai prison phylakē. 37 They were stoned lithazō; they were sawn prizō in en two phonos; they were murdered apothnēskō by the sword machaira. They went about perierchomai in en sheepskins mēlōtē and goatskins aigeios derma, destitute hystereō, persecuted thlibō, mistreated kakoucheō 38 ( of whom hos the ho world kosmos was eimi not ou worthy axios). They wandered aimlessly planaō in epi deserts erēmia and kai on mountains oros, · kai living in caves spēlaion and kai · ho crevices opē in the ho ground , 39 and kai although they houtos all pas had received commendation martyreō for dia their ho faith pistis, they did not ou receive komizō what ho had been promised epangelia, 40 for · ho God theos had provided problepō something tis better kreittōn with peri us hēmeis in mind, so that hina they should teleioō not reach their goal teleioō apart from chōris us hēmeis.

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(D) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(E) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(F) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(G)

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](H) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(J) in holy fear built an ark(K) to save his family.(L) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(M)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(N) obeyed and went,(O) even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land(P) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(Q) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(R) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(S) with foundations,(T) whose architect and builder is God.(U) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(V) was enabled to bear children(W) because she[b] considered him faithful(X) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(Y) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(Z)

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(AA) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(AB) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(AC) 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.(AD) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(AE) Therefore God is not ashamed(AF) to be called their God,(AG) for he has prepared a city(AH) for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(AI) 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.”[c](AJ) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(AK) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(AL)

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(AM) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(AN)

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(AO) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(AP)

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(AQ) 25 He chose to be mistreated(AR) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(AS) for the sake of Christ(AT) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(AU) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(AV) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer(AW) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.(AX)

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(AY)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(AZ)

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d](BA)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(BB) Barak,(BC) Samson(BD) and Jephthah,(BE) about David(BF) and Samuel(BG) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(BH) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(BI) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(BJ) and escaped the edge of the sword;(BK) whose weakness was turned to strength;(BL) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(BM) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(BN) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(BO) and even chains and imprisonment.(BP) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e](BQ) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(BR) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(BS) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(BT) and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended(BU) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(BV) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(BW) would they be made perfect.(BX)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
  2. 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
  3. Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
  4. Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
  5. Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;