Hebrews 11

Faith is being sure of the things we hope for. It is being certain of things we cannot see.

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

NoteThe Greek word behind "substance" can mean either a settled confidence about something or the underlying reality of the thing itself, so the sentence can be read as "faith is being sure of what we hope for" or as "faith is the reality of what we hope for." Translators have gone both ways. The word behind "evidence" likewise means either objective proof or inner conviction.

2It was because of faith that the people who lived long ago were spoken well of by God.

2For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Note"The elders" means the ancestors, the earlier generations, not officers of a congregation. "Obtained a good report" means they were spoken well of or commended, the way a witness vouches for someone.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command. So what we can see was not made out of things that can be seen.

3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Note"The worlds" translates a Greek word meaning the ages, the whole span of time and everything in it. "Framed" means fitted together or set in order.

4By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. Because of his faith he was declared to be a good and right man, since God approved of his gifts. And through his faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

NoteAbel and Cain were the first two sons of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4). Both brought offerings; Abel's was accepted and Cain's was not, and Cain then killed his brother. "He being dead yet speaketh" recalls God telling Cain that Abel's blood cried out from the ground.

5By faith Enoch was taken away from this life, so he never died. He could not be found, because God had taken him. Before he was taken, it was said of him that he pleased God.

5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

NoteIn 1611 "translated" meant carried across from one place to another; it has nothing to do with languages. Enoch is the man of whom Genesis 5:24 says he walked with God and "was not, for God took him," with no account of his death.

6And without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real, and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7By faith Noah listened when God warned him about things that had not happened yet. With deep respect and fear of God, he built a large boat to save his family. By his faith he showed the world was guilty, and he received the right standing that comes through faith.

7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

NoteAn ark is simply a large box or chest, which is why the word is used for Noah's vessel: a floating container, not a ship with keel and sails (Genesis 6 to 9). "He condemned the world" means that his acting on the warning left everyone who ignored it without excuse, so his obedience functioned as a verdict on theirs.

8By faith Abraham obeyed when God called him to go to a place he would later receive as his own. He left, even though he did not know where he was going.

8By 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.

NoteAbraham was told to leave his home and travel to a land God would show him (Genesis 12:1-4). The force of "not knowing whither he went" is that the destination was not named when he set out.

9By faith he lived in the land God had promised him as though he were a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise he did.

9By 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:

Note"Tabernacles" here simply means tents, ordinary portable shelters, and not the tent sanctuary called the tabernacle elsewhere in the Old Testament. "Sojourned" means lived as a temporary resident, a foreigner holding no legal claim on the land. Isaac was Abraham's son and Jacob his grandson.

10For he was waiting for the city that has real foundations, the city that God designed and built.

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

NoteThe contrast is with the tents of the previous verse: a foundation is what a permanent building has and a tent does not. "Builder and maker" renders two words, the first meaning a skilled designer or craftsman, the second the one who actually constructs.

11By faith Sarah herself was given the ability to have a child, even though she was too old. She was able because she believed that the one who made the promise would keep it.

11Through 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.

NoteSara is the Greek spelling of Sarah, Abraham's wife. "Past age" means past the years of childbearing (Genesis 17 and 18). The Greek phrase rendered "received strength to conceive seed" is normally used of the father's part in conceiving, so some read the sentence as being about Abraham with Sarah named alongside him, while others read it as the KJV does. The grammar allows both.

12So from this one man, who was as good as dead, came as many descendants as the stars in the sky. They were as countless as the sand on the seashore.

12Therefore 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.

Note"Him as good as dead" refers to Abraham's age, about a hundred when Isaac was born. The comparison to stars and sand repeats promises made to him in Genesis 15:5 and 22:17.

13All these people died still trusting God. They did not receive the things that were promised, but they saw them far ahead and welcomed them. They openly said that they were strangers and travelers on the earth.

13These 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.

Note"Pilgrims" in 1611 did not mean religious travelers. The word means resident foreigners, people living in a country not their own and without the rights of citizens. "Strangers" carries the same sense.

14People who say things like that make it clear they are looking for a country of their own.

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

15If they had kept thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back.

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

16Instead, they wanted a better country, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

16But 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.

17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered up Isaac. The man who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Note"Tried" means tested, put to the proof. The episode is Genesis 22, where Abraham is told to sacrifice Isaac and is stopped before he does it. "Only begotten" translates a Greek word meaning one of a kind or unique; Abraham had another son, Ishmael, so the word marks Isaac as the single son through whom the promise ran.

18even though God had told him, "It is through Isaac that your descendants will be counted."

18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

NoteA quotation of Genesis 21:12. "Seed" is the older English word for offspring, used as a collective for a whole line of descendants.

19Abraham figured that God was able to raise the dead. And in a manner of speaking, he did get Isaac back from death.

19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Note"In a figure" translates a Greek phrase that can mean as a symbol, in a manner of speaking, or as a foreshadowing of something later. Isaac did not actually die, so receiving him back was a return from death only in some figurative sense; which sense is meant is left open.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau about things that were still to come.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

NoteA father's deathbed blessing was a formal and binding pronouncement about his sons' futures and their share of the family inheritance, not a kind wish. Isaac's blessing of Jacob and Esau is Genesis 27.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons. He worshiped God as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.

21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

NoteThe scene is Genesis 48. The detail about the staff follows the Greek Old Testament, which this letter quotes. In Hebrew the consonants for "staff" and for "bed" are identical, so the same text can be read either as bowing on the top of his staff or as bowing at the head of his bed, which is how the Hebrew Bible takes it.

22By faith Joseph, when his life was nearly over, spoke about the people of Israel leaving Egypt. He gave instructions about what to do with his bones.

22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Note"The departing" translates the Greek word exodos, a going out, meaning Israel's departure from Egypt. Joseph made his family swear to carry his bones out of Egypt when that happened (Genesis 50:24-25); Exodus 13:19 records that they did.

23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was a fine child. They were not afraid of the king's order.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

Note"Proper" in 1611 meant fine-looking or handsome; it has nothing to do with behaving properly. "The king's commandment" was Pharaoh's order that every newborn Hebrew boy be thrown into the Nile (Exodus 1:22).

24By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

NotePharaoh's daughter found the infant Moses hidden in the river and raised him as her own, so he grew up inside the Egyptian royal household (Exodus 2:1-10). "Come to years" means reached adulthood.

25He chose to be mistreated along with God's people rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26He counted being disgraced for Christ as worth more than all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to the reward.

26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Note"Christ" is a title rather than a name: the Greek for "anointed one," matching the Hebrew word Messiah. "The reproach of Christ" is compressed and has been read both as the kind of disgrace Christ suffered and as disgrace endured for the sake of the anointed one. "Recompence of the reward" is a doubled phrase meaning the payment that was coming to him.

27By faith he left Egypt, not afraid of the king's anger. He kept going as though he could see the God no one can see.

27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

NoteWhich departure is meant is disputed. Moses left Egypt twice: first fleeing to Midian after killing an Egyptian, where Exodus 2:14-15 says he was afraid, and later at the exodus itself. "Not fearing the wrath of the king" fits the second better, while the order of events in this chapter fits the first.

28By faith he kept the Passover and had the blood sprinkled, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

NoteThe Passover was the meal Israel ate on the night they left Egypt, eaten with lamb's blood brushed on the doorframes so that the destroyer moving through the country would pass over those houses and not kill the oldest son inside (Exodus 12). "He that destroyed the firstborn" names the agent of that last plague.

29By faith the people walked through the Red Sea as if it were dry ground. When the Egyptians tried to do the same, they drowned.

29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

NoteThe crossing is Exodus 14. The Hebrew name of the sea means "sea of reeds," and exactly which body of water is meant is uncertain. "Assaying" is the old word for attempting.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

NoteJoshua 6. Israel marched around the walled city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh, then shouted, and the walls collapsed. "Compassed about" means encircled.

31By faith Rahab the prostitute was not killed along with those who refused to obey, because she welcomed the spies in peace.

31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

NoteJoshua 2. Rahab lived in the wall of Jericho and hid the two men Israel had sent to scout the city. "Them that believed not" translates a Greek word closer to refused to be persuaded, or disobeyed, than to simply lacked belief.

32What more should I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, or about David, Samuel, and the prophets.

32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

NoteGedeon and Jephthae are the Greek spellings of Gideon and Jephthah. They, with Barak and Samson, were military leaders during the period of the judges, before Israel had kings (the book of Judges). "The time would fail me" is a standard speaker's formula for cutting a list short.

33Through faith they defeated kingdoms, did what was right, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions,

33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Note"Wrought righteousness" means carried out justice, the work of a ruler or judge, rather than private moral goodness. "Stopped the mouths of lions" points to Daniel in the lion pit (Daniel 6).

34put out raging fires, and escaped being killed by the sword. They were weak and were made strong. They became mighty in battle and drove back foreign armies.

34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Note"Quenched the violence of fire" points to the three men thrown into the furnace in Daniel 3. "Waxed valiant" means grew strong or brave; "waxed" meant to increase. "Aliens" here means foreigners, that is, enemy nations, with no modern sense attached.

35Women received their dead family members back, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be set free, so that they might rise to a better life.

35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

NoteTwo mothers whose sons were restored to them are the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17) and the woman of Shunem (2 Kings 4). The Greek word behind "tortured" refers to being beaten while stretched over a frame. "Not accepting deliverance" means they turned down release that was offered on condition of giving way; refusals of that kind under Greek persecution are described in 2 Maccabees 6 and 7.

36Others were mocked and whipped, and some were put in chains and thrown in prison.

36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37They were stoned to death, they were sawed in two, they were tested, they were killed with the sword. They went around wearing sheepskins and goatskins. They had nothing, and they were treated badly and cruelly.

37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Note"Sawn asunder" means sawed in two, a method of execution; Jewish tradition says the prophet Isaiah died this way. "Were tempted" sits oddly among these deaths, and the manuscripts differ here: some leave the word out, and some have a similar-looking Greek word meaning "were burned." The word itself means tested or put to the proof more than enticed. Sheepskins and goatskins were the rough clothing associated with prophets such as Elijah, so the detail marks the wearers out as well as showing their poverty.

38The world did not deserve people like them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and lived in caves and holes in the ground.

38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39All these people were spoken well of because of their faith, yet none of them received what was promised.

39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be made complete without us.

40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Note"Made perfect" translates a Greek word meaning brought to completion or brought to the intended goal, like finishing a course. It does not mean made morally flawless.