Hebrews · Young's Literal Translation
Hebrews 11 Young's Literal Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction,
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
2 for in this were the elders testified of;
2 For by this, the elders obtained approval.
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;
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 a better sacrifice did Abel offer to God than Cain, through which he was testified to be righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it, he being dead, doth yet speak.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was translated — not to see death, and was not found, because God did translate him; for before his translation he had been testified to — that he had pleased God well,
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
6 and apart from faith it is impossible to please well, for it behoveth him who is coming to God to believe that He is, and to those seeking Him He becometh a rewarder.
6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah, having been divinely warned concerning the things not yet seen, having feared, did prepare an ark to the salvation of his house, through which he did condemn the world, and of the righteousness according to faith he became heir.
7 By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham, being called, did obey, to go forth to the place that he was about to receive for an inheritance, and he went forth, not knowing whither he doth go;
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
9 by faith he did sojourn in the land of the promise as a strange country, in tabernacles having dwelt with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise,
9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10 for he was looking for the city having the foundations, whose artificer and constructor [is] God.
10 For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith also Sarah herself did receive power to conceive seed, and she bare after the time of life, seeing she did judge Him faithful who did promise;
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
12 wherefore, also from one were begotten — and that of one who had become dead — as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as sand that [is] by the sea-shore — the innumerable.
12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
13 In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted [them], and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth,
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 for those saying such things make manifest that they seek a country;
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 and if, indeed, they had been mindful of that from which they came forth, they might have had an opportunity to return,
15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
16 but now they long for a better, that is, an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for He did prepare for them a city.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham hath offered up Isaac, being tried, and the only begotten he did offer up who did receive the promises,
17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son,
18 of whom it was said — 'In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'
18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,”
19 reckoning that even out of the dead God is able to raise up, whence also in a figure he did receive [him].
19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
20 By faith, concerning coming things, Isaac did bless Jacob and Esau;
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
21◆ by faith Jacob dying — each of the sons of Joseph did bless, and did bow down upon the top of his staff;
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 by faith, Joseph dying, concerning the outgoing of the sons of Israel did make mention, and concerning his bones did give command.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, having been born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child comely, and were not afraid of the decree of the king;
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 by faith Moses, having become great, did refuse to be called a son of the daughter of Pharaoh,
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 having chosen rather to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have sin's pleasure for a season,
25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
26 greater wealth having reckoned the reproach of the Christ than the treasures in Egypt, for he did look to the recompense of reward;
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 by faith he left Egypt behind, not having been afraid of the wrath of the king, for, as seeing the Invisible One — he endured;
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that He who is destroying the first-born might not touch them.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
29 By faith they did pass through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians having received a trial of, were swallowed up;
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
30 by faith the walls of Jericho did fall, having been surrounded for seven days;
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 by faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who disbelieved, having received the spies with peace.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
32 And what shall I yet say? for the time will fail me recounting about Gideon, Barak also, and Samson, and Jephthah, David also, and Samuel, and the prophets,
32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—
33 who through faith did subdue kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped mouths of lions,
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made powerful out of infirmities, became strong in battle, caused to give way camps of the aliens.
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.
35 Women received by a rising again their dead, and others were tortured, not accepting the redemption, that a better rising again they might receive,
35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 and others of mockings and scourgings did receive trial, and yet of bonds and imprisonment;
36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tried; in the killing of the sword they died; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins — being destitute, afflicted, injuriously treated,
37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—
38 of whom the world was not worthy; in deserts wandering, and [in] mountains, and [in] caves, and [in] the holes of the earth;
38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
39 and these all, having been testified to through the faith, did not receive the promise,
39 These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise,
40 God for us something better having provided, that apart from us they might not be made perfect.
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abel
A shepherd whose faithful offering pleased God, murdered by his own brother.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 4; Hebrews 11:4
Enoch
He walked with God, and was not, for God took him — he did not die.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 5:21–24; Hebrews 11:5
Rahab
The woman of Jericho who hid the spies and became mother of Boaz.
Cited in the guide: Joshua 2, 6; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31
Cross references (40)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Romans 8:24–25; Hebrews 11:7; Hebrews 10:22
- 2 Hebrews 11:39; Hebrews 11:4
- 3 Psalm 33:6; 2 Peter 3:5; John 1:3; Romans 4:17; Acts 17:24
- 4 Genesis 4:3–5; 1 John 3:11–12; Hebrews 12:24; Proverbs 15:8; Genesis 4:10
- 5 Genesis 5:21–24; Jude 14; Hebrews 11:6; 2 Kings 2:11; Revelation 11:9–12
- 6 Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13–14; Matthew 6:33; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 105:3–4
- 7 Genesis 6:13–7:1; 1 Peter 3:20; Ezekiel 14:14; Luke 17:26; Romans 4:13
- 8 Genesis 12:1–4; Acts 7:2–4; Matthew 7:24–25; Genesis 15:7–8; Genesis 22:18
- 9 Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:18; Genesis 13:3; Acts 7:5–6; Hebrews 6:17
- 10 Hebrews 13:14; Philippians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 12:22; John 14:2
- 11 Hebrews 10:23; Romans 4:20–21; Genesis 18:11–14; Genesis 21:1–2; Luke 1:36
- 12 Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12; Hosea 1:10; Genesis 15:5; Jeremiah 33:22
- 13 Genesis 23:4; Psalm 39:12; Hebrews 11:27; Romans 8:24; Hebrews 11:39
- 14 2 Corinthians 4:18–5:7; Romans 8:23–25; Hebrews 13:14; Hebrews 11:16; Philippians 1:23
- 15 Genesis 24:6–8; Genesis 12:10
- 16 Hebrews 13:14; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:10; Matthew 25:34; John 14:2
- 17 Genesis 22:16; James 2:21–24; Genesis 22:1–12; James 5:11; 1 Peter 1:6–7
- 18 Genesis 21:12; Romans 9:7; Genesis 17:19
- 19 Romans 4:17–21; Matthew 9:28; Ephesians 3:20; Genesis 22:13; Genesis 22:4–5
- 20 Genesis 27:27–40; Genesis 28:2–3
- 21 Genesis 47:31–48:1; Genesis 48:5–22
- 22 Exodus 13:19; Genesis 50:24–25; Joshua 24:32; Acts 7:16
- 23 Exodus 1:22; Exodus 1:16; Hebrews 13:6; Exodus 2:2–10; Matthew 10:28
- 24 Exodus 2:10–11; Acts 7:21–24
- 25 Psalm 84:10; 2 Timothy 2:3–10; Job 36:21; 1 Peter 4:12–16; 2 Corinthians 5:17
- 26 Hebrews 10:35; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 4:14; Matthew 5:12; 2 Corinthians 6:10
- 27 2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 11:13; Exodus 2:14–15; Hebrews 11:1; Exodus 4:19
- 28 Exodus 12:21–30; Hebrews 9:19; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 12:24; Exodus 12:3–14
- 29 Exodus 14:13–15:21; Psalm 106:9–11; Psalm 78:13; Habakkuk 3:8–10; Isaiah 63:11–16
- 30 Joshua 6:3–20; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5
- 31 James 2:25; Joshua 6:22–25; Matthew 1:5; Joshua 2:1–24; Matthew 1:1
- 32 1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Samuel 1:20; 1 Samuel 16:13; Judges 13:1–16; Judges 11:1–12
- 33 Hebrews 6:12–15; Psalm 144:1–2; 2 Timothy 4:17; Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 11:4–8
- 34 1 Samuel 17:51–52; 2 Kings 6:16–18; Psalm 144:10; Judges 15:8; 2 Chronicles 32:20–22
- 35 2 Kings 4:27–37; 1 Kings 17:22–24; Philippians 3:11; Acts 9:41; 1 Corinthians 15:54
- 36 Jeremiah 20:2; Genesis 39:20; Jeremiah 37:15–21; 2 Chronicles 30:10; 2 Chronicles 16:10
- 37 2 Chronicles 24:21; Jeremiah 26:23; 1 Kings 19:10; 1 Kings 21:13–15; 2 Kings 1:8
- 38 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Samuel 22:1; 1 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 57:1; 1 Samuel 24:1–3
- 39 Luke 10:23–24; Hebrews 11:13; Hebrews 11:2; 1 Peter 1:12
- 40 Revelation 6:11; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 10:11–14; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 7:19
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- Hebrews 11:21 and Genesis 47:31: Jacob’s staff or Jacob’s bed?
In the Hebrew text of Genesis 47:31 Israel bows “upon the bed’s head.” In the Septuagint he bows “on the top of his staff,” and Hebrews 11:21 quotes the Greek. The Hebrew consonants can be read either way; only the later vowel marks decide. The Orthodox Church reads “staff,” and St John of Damascus used the verse in defending the veneration of holy things.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Faith needs a generous and vigorous soul, and one rising above all things of sense, and passing beyond the weakness of human reasonings. For it is not possible to become a believer, otherwise than by raising one's self above the common customs [of the world].
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
Let us take (for instance) Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and death was never known to happen to him. Noah, being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry; and the Lord saved by him the animals which, with one accord, entered into the ark.
… those places and times--being itself the while the same always and everywhere, not one thing in one place, and another in another; according to which Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, and David, and all those commended by the mouth of God were righteous, but were judged unrighteous by foolish men, judging out of man's judgment, and gauging by …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… how he saith, "They that say these things, show plainly that they seek a country; and truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned: but now they desire another, a better country." And again, "These all died in faith, not having obtained the promises, but having seen …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
The lesson also which was read to-day invites you to the true faith, by setting before you the way in which you also must please God: for it affirms that without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)