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

1Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. 2God accepted our ancestors because of their faith. Faith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen. 4Faith led Abel to offer God a better sacrifice than Cain’s sacrifice. Through his faith Abel received God’s approval, since God accepted his sacrifices. Through his faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. 5Faith enabled Enoch to be taken instead of dying. No one could find him, because God had taken him. Scripture states that before Enoch was taken, God was pleased with him.

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 1:2In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe.
• Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created heaven and earth.
• Genesis 2:1Heaven and earth and everything in them were finished.
• Psalms 33:6The heavens were made by the Lord’s word and all the stars by the breath of his mouth.
• Isaiah 40:26Look at the sky and see. Who created these things? Who brings out the stars one by one? He calls them all by name. Because of the greatness of his might and the strength of his power, not one of them is missing.
• Jeremiah 10:11Tell them this: These gods will disappear from the earth and from under heaven because they didn’t make heaven and earth.
• John 1:3Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.
• Acts 14:15and said, “Men, what are you doing? We’re human beings like you. We’re spreading the Good News to you to turn you away from these worthless gods to the living God. The living God made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.
• Acts 17:24The God who made the universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in shrines made by humans,
• Romans 1:19What can be known about God is clear to them because he has made it clear to them.
• Romans 4:17as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.
• 2 Peter 3:5They are deliberately ignoring one fact: Because of God’s word, heaven and earth existed a long time ago. The earth ⌞appeared⌟ out of water and was kept alive by water.
• Revelation 4:11“Our Lord and God, you deserve to receive glory, honor, and power because you created everything. Everything came into existence and was created because of your will.”

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