1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2For by this, the elders obtained testimony. 3By 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. 4By 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. 5By 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. 6Without 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. 7By 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. 8By 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. 9By 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. 10For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11By 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. 12Therefore 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. 13These 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. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16But 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. 17By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; 18even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your seed be called;" 19concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. 20By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. 21By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23By 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. 24By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; 26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up. 30By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace. 32What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets; 33who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched 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. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. 37They 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), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth. 39These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise, 40God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
The Book ofHebrews 11Chapter XI 11
· 40 verses · 5 minute read
About this chapter
Hebrews 11 — The Chapter of Faith
Hebrews 11 is known as "The Chapter of Faith" or "The Hall of Fame of Faith." It opens with Scripture's most celebrated definition: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (11:1). The Greek word hypostasis, translated "substance," carries the weight of reality itself—faith is what gives substance to our hope. The author (whose identity remains uncertain, though Paul, Apollos, or Barnabas are proposed) then parades before us the heroes of faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David, and the prophets. It is a remarkable gallery—one that includes a prostitute (Rahab), a murderer who repented (Moses), a man who doubted (Gideon), and one who broke his covenant vow (Samson). The message cuts against all our assumptions: faith is not perfection; faith is trusting a God who does the impossible. Verse 6 forms the backbone of the entire chapter: "But 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." Two foundational beliefs are required: that God exists, and that God rewards those who seek Him. The chapter concludes with a sobering truth—not all the faithful saw their promises fulfilled in their lifetime: "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise" (11:39). Sometimes faith means trusting God without seeing how the story ends, resting in His faithfulness beyond our earthly days.
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians tempted to abandon their faith and return to Judaism around 60-70 AD. The author builds a sustained argument that Christ is superior to all things—including the Old Testament heroes catalogued in this chapter.
Read this when your faith grows weary, when God's promises seem delayed, or when you need to remember you walk in a long line of imperfect people who trusted anyway.
Key verses in Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11:1Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:16 · Promise · High comfort
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