Hebrews 11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Meaning of Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance[a] of things hoped for, the conviction[b] of things not seen.(A)2 Indeed, by faith[c] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[d](B)

The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable[e] sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith[f] he still speaks.(C)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.”(D)6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would approach God 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.(E)

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.(F)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.(G)10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.(H)11 By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered[g] him faithful who had promised.(I)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.”(J)

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,(K)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 homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.(L)

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,(M)18 of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.”(N)19 He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.(O)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.”(P)22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.[h](Q)

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.[i](R)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[j] 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[k] 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.[l](S)

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.(T)30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.(U)31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,[m] because she had received the spies in peace.(V)

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,(W)34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.(X)35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.(Y)36 Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment.(Z)37 They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two;[n] they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented(AA)38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.(AB)

39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. 11.1Or reality
  2. 11.1Or evidence
  3. 11.2Gk by this
  4. 11.3Or was not made out of visible things
  5. 11.4Gk greater
  6. 11.4Gk through it
  7. 11.11Other ancient authorities read By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered
  8. 11.22Gk his bones
  9. 11.23Other ancient authorities add By faith Moses, when he was grown up, killed the Egyptian, because he observed the humiliation of his brothers and sisters
  10. 11.26Or the Messiah
  11. 11.27Or because
  12. 11.28Gk would not touch them
  13. 11.31Or unbelieving
  14. 11.37Other ancient authorities add they were tempted

Cross references

  1. 11.1 : Rom 8.24; 2 Cor 4.18; 5.7
  2. 11.3 : Gen 1.1; Jn 1.3; Heb 6.5
  3. 11.4 : Gen 4.4, 10; Heb 12.24; 1 Jn 3.12
  4. 11.5 : Gen 5.21–24
  5. 11.7 : Gen 6.13–22
  6. 11.8 : Gen 12.1–4; Acts 7.2–4
  7. 11.9 : Gen 12.8; 18.1, 9; Heb 6.17
  8. 11.10 : Heb 12.22; 13.14; Rev 21.2
  9. 11.11 : Gen 17.19; 18.11–14; 21.2
  10. 11.12 : Gen 22.17; 32.12; Rom 4.19
  11. 11.13 : Gen 23.4; Ps 39.12
  12. 11.16 : Ex 3.6, 15; Phil 3.20; Heb 13.14
  13. 11.17 : Gen 22.1–10; Jas 2.21
  14. 11.18 : Gen 21.12; Rom 9.7
  15. 11.19 : Rom 4.21
  16. 11.21 : Gen 48.5, 16, 20
  17. 11.22 : Gen 50.24, 25; Ex 13.19
  18. 11.23 : Ex 1.16; 2.2
  19. 11.28 : Ex 12.21
  20. 11.29 : Ex 14.21–31
  21. 11.30 : Josh 6.12–21
  22. 11.31 : Josh 2.9ff; 6.23; Jas 2.25
  23. 11.33 : Judg 14.5; 1 Sam 17.34; 2 Sam 7.11; Dan 6.22
  24. 11.34 : Judg 15.8; 2 Kings 20.7
  25. 11.35 : 1 Kings 17.22; Acts 22.25
  26. 11.36 : Jer 20.2
  27. 11.37 : 1 Kings 21.13; 2 Kings 1.8; Acts 7.58
  28. 11.38 : 1 Kings 18.4
  29. 11.40 : Heb 5.9

You Might Also Like:

Hebrews 11 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

11 And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction, 2 for in this were the elders testified of; 3 by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing; 4 by faith a better sacrif...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

11 But faith is the substance of things that be to be hoped, and an argument of things not appearing. [Forsooth faith is the substance of things to be hoped, an argument, or certainty, of things not appearing.] 2 And in this faith old men have gotten witnessing. 3 By faith we understand that the w...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

11 If people believe God, then they know they have the things they hope to get. It is the proof of things we do not see. 2 There were people long ago believed God. He said they were good because they believed him. 3 We believe in God, so that is how we know that God made the world by his word. The t...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - World English Bible (WEB)

11 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony. 3 By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith, Abel offered to...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - The Voice (VOICE)

11 Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen. 2 It was by faith that our forebears were approved. 3 Through faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God; everything we now see was fashioned from t...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

The Faithful See from Afar11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen. 2 For by it the elders received commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen did not come from anything visible. 4 By fa...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Meaning of Faith11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old received divine approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. Th...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Meaning of Faith11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old received divine approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. Th...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

11 Now faith is the confidence of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it our elders were given a good report. 3 Through faith, we understand that the world was ordained by the word of God, so that the things which we see are not made of things which are visible. 4 By fait...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

What Faith Really Means11 What then is faith? It is what gives assurance to our hopes; it is what gives us conviction about things we can’t see. 2 It is what the men and women of old were famous for. 3 It is by faith that we understand that the worlds were formed by God’s word; in other words, tha...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Meaning of Faith11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith[a] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Meaning of Faith11 Now faith is the assurance[a] of things hoped for, the conviction[b] of things not seen.(A)2 Indeed, by faith[c] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not v...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

What faith is, and a commendation of the same. The steadfast belief of the fathers in old time. 11 Faith is a sure confidence of things that are hoped for, and a certainty of things that are not seen. 2 By it the elders were well reported of. 3 Through faith we understand that the world and all th...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Great Examples of Faith11 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. 3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not co...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - New Life Version (NLV)

Faith11 Now faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see. 2 God was pleased with the men who had faith who lived long ago. 3 Through faith we understand that the world was made by the Word of God. Things we see were made from what could not be seen. 4 Bec...
Read More

Hebrews 11 - New King James Version (NKJV)

By Faith We Understand11 Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence (A)of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that (B)the [c]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of thin...
Read More