Hebrews 11:2

Hebrews 11:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For by it the elders obtained a good report.
• New International Version (NIV)This is what the ancients were commended for.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

Context of Hebrews 11:2

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For 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. 4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Hebrews 11:2 word by word

ἐν ταύτῃ γὰρ ἐμαρτυρήθησαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• itοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• the eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder: oldG4245
• obtained a good reportμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 11:2

• Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Commentaries on Hebrews 11:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report - By the elders are meant ancestors, forefathers, such as the patriarchs and prophets, several of whom he afterwards particularly names, and produces some fact from the history of their lives. It is very remarkable that among the whole there is root one word concerning poor Adam and his wife, though both Abraham and Sarah are mentioned. There was no good report concerning them; not a word of their repentance…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For by it - That is, by that faith which gives reality to things hoped for, and a certain persuasion to the mind of the existence of those things which are not seen. The elders - The ancients; the Hebrew patriarchs and fathers. Obtained a good report - Literally, “were witnessed of;” that is, an honorable testimony was borne to them in consequence of their faith. The idea is, that their acting under the influence of faith, in the circumstances in which…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2the ancients were commended: Scripture speaks positively about their lives of faith (see also Hebrews 11:39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. For--So high a description of faith is not undeserved; for ... [Alford]. by it--Greek, "in it": in respect to ... in the matter of," it, "or, as Greek more emphatically, "this." the elders--as though still living and giving their powerful testimony to the reasonableness and excellence of faith (He 12:1). Not merely the ancients, as though they were people solely of the past; nay, they belong to the one and the same blessed family as ourselves (He…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 11:2

• Elder
• Faith

In the dictionaries

• Builder
• Conceive
• Confess
• Cruel
• Faith
• Impossible
• Proper
• Rewarder
• Trial
• Wander

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