Hebrews 11:10

Hebrews 11:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
• New International Version (NIV)For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Context of Hebrews 11:10

8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. 11It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

Hebrews 11:10 word by word

ἐξεδέχετο γὰρ τὴν τοὺς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν πόλιν ἧς τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς ὁ θεός.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he looked forἐκδέχομαιekdechomai · to wait forG1551
• a cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• which hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• foundationsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• foundationsθεμέλιοςthemelios · foundationG2310
• whoseὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• builderτεχνίτηςtechnitēs · craftsmanG5079
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• makerδημιουργόςdēmiourgos · builderG1217
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Hebrews 11:10

• Hebrews 12:22No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.
• Hebrews 13:14For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
• John 14:2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
• Philippians 3:20But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
• Revelation 21:2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
• Hebrews 3:4For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.
• Isaiah 14:32What should we tell the Philistine messengers? Tell them, “The Lord has built Jerusalem; its walls will give refuge to his oppressed people.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

Commentaries on Hebrews 11:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations - He knew that earth could afford no permanent residence for an immortal mind, and he looked for that heavenly building of which God is the architect and owner; in a word, he lost sight of earth, that he might keep heaven in view. And all who are partakers of his faith possess the same spirit, walk by the same rule, and mind the same thing. Whose builder and maker is God - The word signifies an architect…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations - It has been doubted to what the apostle here refers. Grotius and some others suppose, that he refers to Jerusalem, as a permanent dwelling for his posterity, in contradistinction from the unsettled mode of life which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob led. But there is no evidence that Abraham looked forward to the building of such a city, for no promise was made to him of this kind; and this interpretation falls…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-19Verses 8-19 We are often called to leave worldly connexions, interests, and comforts. If heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall obey and go forth, though not knowing what may befall us; and we shall be found in the way of duty, looking for the performance of God's promises. The trial of Abraham's faith was, that he simply and fully obeyed the call of God. Sarah received the promise as the promise of God; being convinced of that, she truly judged that he both…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10By faith he dwelt in the promised land: Abraham did not receive the promised land. Instead, he lived like a foreigner in tents (see Genesis 12:10–13:18). as did Isaac and Jacob: This faith continued with the next two generations. They received the same promise and trusted God but did not see it fulfilled. the city with foundations: Abraham did not settle in Canaanite cities. He followed God's will, looking forward to a heavenly city.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. looked for--Greek, "he was expecting"; waiting for with eager expectation (Ro 8:19). a city--Greek, "the city," already alluded to. Worldly Enoch, son of the murderer Cain, was the first to build his city here: the godly patriarchs waited for their city hereafter (He 11:16; 12:22; 13:14). foundations--Greek, "the foundations" which the tents had not, nor even men's present cities have. whose builder and maker--Greek, "designer [Ep 1:4, 11] and…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 11:10

• Abraham
• Builder
• Cities
• Faith
• Heaven
• Immortality
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• God
• Maker
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• 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