English Standard Version
Hebrews 11:1
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- New International Version (NIV)Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
Context of Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3By 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.
Read all of Hebrews 11Hebrews 11:1 word by word
Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nowδέde · thenG1161
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the substanceὑπόστασιςhupostasis · confidence/essenceG5287
- of things hoped forἐλπίζωelpizō · to hope/expectG1679
- the evidenceἔλεγχοςelegchos · rebukeG1650
- of thingsπρᾶγμαpragma · thingG4229
- notοὐou · noG3756
- seenβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
Cross-references for Hebrews 11:1
- Hebrews 11:13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
- Hebrews 10:22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Acts 20:21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
- Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
- 1 Peter 1:7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 2 Peter 1:1Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
- Psalms 27:13I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
- Psalms 42:11Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
- Hebrews 2:3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,
- Hebrews 3:14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
- 2 Corinthians 9:4Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.
- 2 Corinthians 11:17What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool.
- Hebrews 6:12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Romans 8:24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
Commentaries on Hebrews 11:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Faith is the substance of things hoped for - ̔· Faith is the Subsistence of things hoped for; · The Demonstration of things not seen. The word ̔, which we translate substance, signifies subsistence, that which becomes a foundation for another thing to stand on. And signifies such a conviction as is produced in the mind by the demonstration of a problem, after which demonstration no doubt can remain, because we see from it that the thing is; that it cannot…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for - On the general nature of faith, see the notes on Mark 16:16. The margin here is, “ground or confidence.” There is scarcely any verse of the New Testament more important than this, for it states what is the nature of all true faith, and is the only definition of it which is attempted in the Scriptures. Eternal life depends on the existence and exercise of faith Mark 16:16, and hence, the importance of an…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The nature and power of faith described. (1-3) It is set forth by instances from Abel to Noah. (4-7) By Abraham and his descendants. (8-19) By Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, and Rahab. (20-31) By other Old Testament believers. (32-38) The better state of believers under the gospel. (39-40) Verses 1-3 Faith always has been the mark of God's servants, from the beginning of the world. Where the principle is planted by the regenerating Spirit of God…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Before sharing examples, the author explains faith: It means acting on what God has shown about his will and character. Our faith is based on the reality that God keeps his promises.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-40Examples from the Old Covenant for Our Perseverance in Faith. 1. Description of the great things which faith (in its widest sense: not here restricted to faith in the Gospel sense) does for us. Not a full definition of faith in its whole nature, but a description of its great characteristics in relation to the subject of Paul's exhortation here, namely, to perseverance. substance, &c.--It substantiates promises of God which we hope for, as future in…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 11:1
In the dictionaries
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
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