Hebrews 11:4-38
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable[a] sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith[b] he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
The Faith of Abraham
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.[c] 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 19 He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.” 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.[d]
The Faith of Moses
23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.[e] 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ[f] to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger; for he persevered as though[g] he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.[h]
The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,[i] because she had received the spies in peace.
32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two,[j] they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 11:4 Gk greater
- Hebrews 11:4 Gk through it
- Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Sarah herself, though barren, received power to conceive, even when she was too old, because she considered him faithful who had promised.
- Hebrews 11:22 Gk his bones
- Hebrews 11:23 Other ancient authorities add By faith Moses, when he was grown up, killed the Egyptian, because he observed the humiliation of his people (Gk brothers)
- Hebrews 11:26 Or the Messiah
- Hebrews 11:27 Or because
- Hebrews 11:28 Gk would not touch them
- Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
- Hebrews 11:37 Other ancient authorities add they were tempted
Hebrews 11:4-38
New King James Version
Faith at the Dawn of History(A)
4 By faith (B)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 (C)speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, (D)“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith (E)Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, (F)prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of (G)the righteousness which is according to faith.
Faithful Abraham(H)
8 By faith (I)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, (J)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, (K)the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for (L)the city which has foundations, (M)whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith (N)Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and (O)she[a] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him (P)faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as (Q)dead, were born as many as the (R)stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
The Heavenly Hope
13 These all died in faith, (S)not having received the (T)promises, but (U)having seen them afar off [b]were assured of them, embraced them and (V)confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things (W)declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind (X)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 (Y)to be called their God, for He has (Z)prepared a city for them.
The Faith of the Patriarchs(AA)
17 By faith Abraham, (AB)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, (AC)“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God (AD)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
20 By faith (AE)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, (AF)blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith (AG)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
The Faith of Moses(AH)
23 By faith (AI)Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s (AJ)command.
24 By faith (AK)Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the [d]passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming (AL)the [e]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures [f]in Egypt; for he looked to the (AM)reward.
27 By faith (AN)he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith (AO)he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith (AP)they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
By Faith They Overcame
30 By faith (AQ)the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith (AR)the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who [g]did not believe, when (AS)she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of (AT)Gideon and (AU)Barak and (AV)Samson and (AW)Jephthah, also of (AX)David and (AY)Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, (AZ)stopped the mouths of lions, 34 (BA)quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 (BB)Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were (BC)tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and (BD)of chains and imprisonment. 37 (BE)They were stoned, they were sawn in two, [h]were tempted, were slain with the sword. (BF)They wandered about (BG)in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, (BH)in dens and caves of the earth.
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 11:25 temporary
- Hebrews 11:26 reviling because of
- Hebrews 11:26 NU, M of
- Hebrews 11:31 were disobedient
- Hebrews 11:37 NU omits were tempted
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
