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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Context of Hebrews 11:3

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 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. 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. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Through faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• we understandνοέωnoieō · to understandG3539
• thatκαταρτίζωkatartizō · to completeG2675
• the worldsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the worldsαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• by the wordῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• so thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
• things which are seenβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• wereγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• notμήmē · notG3361
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• things which do appearφαίνωphainō · 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 the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
• Genesis 1:1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
• Genesis 2:1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
• Psalms 33:6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
• Isaiah 40:26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.
• Jeremiah 10:11Thus shall you say to them: "The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens."
• John 1:3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
• Acts 14:15"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
• Acts 17:24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
• Romans 1:19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
• Romans 4:17as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
• 2 Peter 3:5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,
• Revelation 4:11"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed 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