Hebrews 11:3

Hebrews 11:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Through 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.
• New International Version (NIV)By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
• English Standard Version (ESV)By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
• New King James Version (NKJV)By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Context of Hebrews 11:3

1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2This is why the ancients were commended. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Hebrews 11:3 word by word

Πίστει νοοῦμεν κατηρτίσθαι τοὺς αἰῶνας ῥήματι θεοῦ εἰς τὸ μὴ ἐκ φαινομένων τὸ βλεπόμενον γεγονέναι.¶Read the interlinear

• By faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• we understand thatνοέωnoieō · to understandG3539
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• universeαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• was formedκαταρτίζωkatartizō · to completeG2675
• at God’s commandῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
• at God’s commandθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• so thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
• is seenβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• was not madeμήmē · notG3361
• was not madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• was visibleφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316

Cross-references for Hebrews 11:3

• Hebrews 1:2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
• Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
• Genesis 2:1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
• Psalms 33:6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
• Isaiah 40:26Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
• Jeremiah 10:11Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”
• John 1:3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
• Acts 14:15“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
• Acts 17:24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
• Romans 1:19For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
• Romans 4:17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
• 2 Peter 3:5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
• Revelation 4:11“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

Commentaries on Hebrews 11:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Through faith we understand - By worlds, , we are to understand the material fabric of the universe; for can have no reference here to age or any measurement of time, for he speaks of the things which are Seen; not being made out of the things which do Appear; this therefore must refer to the material creation: and as the word is used in the plural number, it may comprehend, not only the earth and visible heavens, but the whole planetary system; the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed - The first instance of the strength of faith which the apostle refers to is that by which we give credence to the declarations in the Scriptures about the work of creation; Genesis 1:1. This is selected first, evidently because it is the first thing that occurs in the Bible, or is the first thing there narrated in relation to which there is the exercise of faith. He points to no particular instance…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The belief that God created the entire universe is fundamental to Jewish and Christian theology (see Genesis 1:1–3). God made everything we see today. A faithful life believes that, like creation, God's promises are real and will become reality, even if they are not visible now.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. we understand--We perceive with our spiritual intelligence the fact of the world's creation by God, though we see neither Him nor the act of creation as described in Ge 1:1-31. The natural world could not, without revelation, teach us this truth, though it confirms the truth when apprehended by faith (Ro 1:20). Adam is passed over in silence here as to his faith, perhaps as being the first who fell and brought sin on us all; though it does not follow…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 11:3

• Faith
• God
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Word of God
• Builder
• Conceive
• Confess
• Cruel
• Faith
• Impossible
• Proper

Commentaries on Hebrews 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings