The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the (A)certainty of things [a](B)hoped for, a [b]proof of (C)things not seen. For by it the (D)people of old [c](E)gained approval.

By faith we understand that the [d](F)world has been created (G)by the word of God so that what is seen (H)has not been made out of things that are visible. By faith (I)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was (J)attested to be righteous, God testifying [e]about his (K)gifts, and through [f]faith, though (L)he is dead, he still speaks. By faith (M)Enoch was taken up so that he would not (N)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who (O)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. By faith (P)Noah, being (Q)warned by God about (R)things not yet seen, [g](S)in reverence (T)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of (U)the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith (V)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [h]by going out to a place which he was to (W)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a stranger in (X)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, (Y)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, (Z)fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for (AA)the city which has (AB)foundations, (AC)whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even (AD)Sarah herself received [i]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him (AE)faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore even from one man, and (AF)one who was as good as dead [j]at that, there were born descendants who were (AG)just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

13 (AH)All these died in faith, (AI)without receiving the promises, but (AJ)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and (AK)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 [k]thinking of that country which they left, (AL)they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a (AM)heavenly one. Therefore (AN)God is not [l]ashamed to be (AO)called their God; for (AP)He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith (AQ)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had (AR)received the promises was offering up his [m]only son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “(AS)Through Isaac your [n]descendants shall be named.” 19 [o]He considered that (AT)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [p]as a [q](AU)type. 20 By faith (AV)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21 By faith (AW)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and (AX)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith (AY)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23 By faith (AZ)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the (BA)king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, (BB)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to (BC)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 26 (BD)considering the [r]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the (BE)reward. 27 By faith he (BF)left Egypt, not (BG)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though (BH)seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he [s](BI)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that (BJ)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they (BK)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [t]drowned.

30 By faith (BL)the walls of Jericho fell down [u](BM)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute (BN)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies [v]in peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of (BO)Gideon, (BP)Barak, (BQ)Samson, (BR)Jephthah, of (BS)David and (BT)Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith (BU)conquered kingdoms, (BV)performed acts of righteousness, (BW)obtained promises, (BX)shut the mouths of lions, 34 (BY)quenched the power of fire, (BZ)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, (CA)became mighty in war, (CB)put foreign armies to flight. 35 (CC)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their [w]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others [x]experienced mocking and flogging, and further, (CD)chains and imprisonment. 37 They were (CE)stoned, they were sawn in two, [y]they were tempted, they were (CF)put to death with the sword; they went about (CG)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, (CH)tormented 38 (people of whom the world was not worthy), (CI)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes [z]in the ground.

39 And all these, having (CJ)gained approval through their faith, (CK)did not receive [aa]what was promised, 40 because God had [ab]provided (CL)something better for us, so that (CM)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:1 Or expected
  2. Hebrews 11:1 Or conviction about
  3. Hebrews 11:2 Lit obtained a good testimony
  4. Hebrews 11:3 Or worlds were; lit ages
  5. Hebrews 11:4 I.e., by receiving his gifts
  6. Hebrews 11:4 Lit it
  7. Hebrews 11:7 Or was reverent and prepared
  8. Hebrews 11:8 Lit to go out
  9. Hebrews 11:11 Lit power for the laying down of seed
  10. Hebrews 11:12 Lit in these things
  11. Hebrews 11:15 Or remembering
  12. Hebrews 11:16 Lit ashamed of them, to be
  13. Hebrews 11:17 I.e., only son with Sarah
  14. Hebrews 11:18 Lit seed
  15. Hebrews 11:19 Lit Considering
  16. Hebrews 11:19 Lit in
  17. Hebrews 11:19 I.e., of resurrection, figuratively, pointing to the future
  18. Hebrews 11:26 I.e., insults like those later suffered by Christ
  19. Hebrews 11:28 Lit has kept
  20. Hebrews 11:29 Lit swallowed up
  21. Hebrews 11:30 Lit after they had been encircled for
  22. Hebrews 11:31 Lit with
  23. Hebrews 11:35 Lit redemption
  24. Hebrews 11:36 Lit received the trial of
  25. Hebrews 11:37 One early ms does not contain they were tempted
  26. Hebrews 11:38 Lit of
  27. Hebrews 11:39 Lit the promise
  28. Hebrews 11:40 Or foreseen

By Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of (A)things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by (B)the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of (C)things that are visible.

By faith (D)Abel offered to God (E)a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And (F)through his faith, though he died, he (G)still speaks. By faith (H)Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God (I)must believe that he exists and (J)that he rewards those who seek him. By faith (K)Noah, being warned by God concerning (L)events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of (M)the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith (N)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place (O)that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in (P)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, (Q)living in tents (R)with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to (S)the city that has (T)foundations, (U)whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith (V)Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered (W)him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and (X)him as good as dead, were born descendants (Y)as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, (Z)not having received the things promised, but (AA)having seen them and greeted them from afar, and (AB)having acknowledged that they were (AC)strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, (AD)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 (AE)to be called their God, for (AF)he has prepared for them a city.

17 By faith (AG)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, (AH)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 (AI)He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith (AJ)Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith (AK)Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, (AL)bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith (AM)Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith (AN)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of (AO)the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, (AP)refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 (AQ)choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy (AR)the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 (AS)He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to (AT)the reward. 27 By faith he (AU)left Egypt, (AV)not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured (AW)as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith (AX)he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith (AY)the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith (AZ)the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith (BA)Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she (BB)had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of (BC)Gideon, (BD)Barak, (BE)Samson, (BF)Jephthah, of (BG)David and (BH)Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, (BI)stopped the mouths of lions, 34 (BJ)quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, (BK)became mighty in war, (BL)put foreign armies to flight. 35 (BM)Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even (BN)chains and imprisonment. 37 (BO)They were stoned, they were sawn in two,[a] (BP)they were killed with the sword. (BQ)They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—(BR)wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, (BS)though commended through their faith, (BT)did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, (BU)that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:37 Some manuscripts add they were tempted

11 Now Emunah is the substance of things for which we have tikvah. Emunah is the conviction of things not seen.

For by Emunah have our Zekenim been given approval.

By Emunah we have binah Shomayim v’ha’Aretz found their "barah" from the Dvar Hashem, so that not from anything visible has what we see come into being. [TEHILLIM 33:6]

By Emunah Hevel (Abel) offered to Hashem a korban that was a mincha tovah than that of Kayin. Through this he was given approval that he was a tzaddik, Hashem bearing solemn eidus (testimony) to his matanot; and by his Emunah, Hevel, though niftar (deceased), still speaks.

By Emunah Chanoch was taken up, was translated, not to see mavet, V’EINENNU KI LAKACH OTO ELOHIM ("and he was not, because G-d took him [up]" Gn 5:24). Before Chanoch was raptured in his aliyah l’Shomayim, he received solemn eidus (testimony) that he had been pleasing to Hashem.

And without Emunah it is impossible to please Hashem. For it is necessary for the one making a kiruv approach to Hashem to have Emunah in the fact that yesh Elohim (G-d is there), and that Elohim gives sachar (reward) to those who seek him with zerizut.

By Emunah Noach, having been warned about the things not yet visible to the eye of flesh, and being an ish of yirat Shomayim, built the Teva (Ark) for the Geulah of the Beis HaNoach. By his Emunah he condemned the Olam Hazeh and he became the yoresh (heir) of the Tzedek Hashem that is credited to Emunah. [Gn 15:6; Hab 2:4]

By Emunah Avraham Avinu, when he was called to go out to a place which he was about to receive as a nachalah (inheritance), responded with mishma’at (obedience), and he went out, not having da’as of where he was going.

By Emunah he made aliyah to HA’ARETZ ASHER DIBER ("the land that He promised" DEVARIM 9:28), Ha’aretz haHavtacha (the Promised Land), as in an eretz zarah (a strange land), living in oholim (tents), as did Yitzchak and Ya’akov, the fellow yorshim (heirs) of the same havtachah (promise);

10 For Avraham Avinu was looking forward to HaIr (The City) having a yesod Olam (eternally firm foundation), whose Planner and Builder is Hashem.

11 By Emunah also Sarah, herself barren, received the ability to found a posterity, and she did so even beyond the normal age, als (since) she considered ne’eman (faithful) the One having given the Havtachah (promise);

12 therefore, also, from one man were born [DEVARIM 26:5] and indeed this man was kimat (practically, as good as) dead many, as numerous as HAKOKHAVIM in HASHOMAYIM and as innumerable as the sand ASHER AL SEFAT ("that is on the seashore”). [BERESHIS 15:5; 22:17]

13 Yet all of these became niftarim (deceased) in Emunah, not having received the havtachot (promises), but having seen them and, as it were, they gave the havtachot a "Baruch Habah!" welcome from a distance, and they made the Ani Ma’amin hoda’ah (confession) that they were GERIM ["strangers" Ps 39:13(12)] and TOSHAVIM ("sojourners") in the Golus of the Olam Hazeh.

14 For those saying such things make it clear that they are searching for an Eretz Moshav.

15 And if they were remembering ha’aretz from which they made aliyah, they would have had an opportunity to make yerida (to descend back, return).

16 But, as it is, they aspire for something better, an Eretz HaAvot b’Shomayim; therefore, Hashem is not ashamed to be called "Ehoheihem;" for he prepared for them an Ir Kodesh.

17 By Emunah Avraham Avinu, when he underwent nisayon, offered up the Akedas HaYitzchak; and he who had received the Havtachot (Promises) was offering as a korban his Ben Yechid. [Yn 3:16]

18 This was Avraham Avinu, about whom it was said KI VEYITZCHAK YIKARE LECHA ZERA ("In Yitzchak will be called your seed" BERESHIS 21:12).

19 Avraham Avinu considered that Hashem was able to bring about the Techiyas HaMesim, from which he also received back Yitzchak as a tipus (type, pattern).

20 By Emunah Yitzchak invoked brachot with respect to future events on Ya’akov and Esav.

21 By Emunah Ya’akov, as he was dying, gave a bracha to each of the banim of Yosef and V’YISHTAKHU YISROEL ("And Yisroel worshiped" BERESHIS 47:31).

22 By Emunah Yosef, as he was dying, dermohn (made mention) of the Yetzi’at Bnei Yisroel (the Going Out, the Exodus of Bnei Yisroel) and he gave instructions concerning his ATZMOT (bones, BERESHIS 50:25).

23 By Emunah, Moshe Rabbeinu, when he was born, was hidden SHELOSHA CHODESHIM [SHEMOT 2:2) because they saw he was a yeled TOV (SHEMOT 2:2) and they had no pachad (terror) at the king’s decree.

24 By Emunah, Moshe Rabbeinu, when he had grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 Chosing rather to endure redifah (persecution) with the Am Hashem than to enjoy the ephemeral ta’anugot (pleasures) of averos for a season.

26 For Moshe Rabbeinu considered abuse and tzoros for the sake of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach greater osher (riches) than the otzar (treasure) of Mitzrayim (Egypt), for he had respect unto the recompense of the sachar (reward).

27 By Emunah, Moshe Rabbeinu departed from Mitzrayim (Egypt), not having pachad (fear) of the ka’as (anger) of the king, for he persevered as seeing the One who is unseen.

28 By Emunah, Moshe Rabbeinu kept Pesach and the sprinkling of the dahm [on the mezuzot, SHEMOT 12:22], for fear that the Destroyer of the Bechorim might destroy them.

29 By Emunah, they went through the Yam Suf as through YABASHAH (dry ground, BERESHIS 1:10); and those of Mitzrayim (Egypt), when they attempted it, were drowned. [MICHOH 7:19]

30 By Emunah, the walls of Yericho fell down, after they had been encircled for shivat yamim.

31 By Emunah, Rachav the Zonah did not perish along with the ones without mishma’at (obedience), after she gave the kabbalat panim to the spies b’shalom (YEHOSHUA 2:9).

32 And what more shall I say? For the time will fail me if I tell of Gid’on, Barak, Shimshon, Yiftach, Dovid, Shmuel and the Nevi’im,

33 Who by Emunah conquered mamlechot (kingdoms), worked tzedek (righteousness), obtained havtachot (promises), shut the mouths of arayot (lions),

34 Quenched the power of eish (fire), escaped from the edge of the cherev (sword), out of weakness found strength, became mighty in milchamah (war), put to flight tzive’ot zarim (armies of the aliens).

35 Nashim received back their mesim restored to Chayyim; and others were tortured to death al kiddush ha-Shem, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better Techiyas HaMesim;

36 And others underwent the nisayon of cruel mockings and scourgings, also the sharsherot (chains) and the beis hasohar.

37 They were killed by seqilah (stoning), they were sawn in two, they were murdered by the cherev, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being nitzrach (needy) and destitute, oppressed, under redifot (persecutions),

38 those of whom the Olam Hazeh was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having Hashem’s commendation through their Emunah, did not receive the havtachah (promise),

40 Hashem having foreseen something better for us, so that, apart from us, they should not be made shleimut.