Hebrews 11:17-40

By Faith

17 By faith j Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, k "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 19 l He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith m Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith n Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, o bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith p Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith q Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of r the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, s refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 t choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy u the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 v He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to w the reward. 27 By faith he x left Egypt, y not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured z as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith a he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith b the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith c the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith d Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she e had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of f Gideon, g Barak, h Samson, i Jephthah, of j David and k Samuel and the prophets - 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, l stopped the mouths of lions, 34 m quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, n became mighty in war, n put foreign armies to flight. 35 o Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even p chains and imprisonment. 37 q They were stoned, they were sawn in two, 1 r they were killed with the sword. s They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - 38 of whom the world was not worthy - t wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, u though commended through their faith, u did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, v that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 22:1 - 10
    After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I.
    James 2:21
    Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
  2. Cross References
    Romans 9:7
    And not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.
    Genesis 21:12
    But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 21:12
    But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 4:17 - 21
    As 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.
  5. Cross References
    Genesis 27:27 - 29
    So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
    Genesis 27:39 - 40
    Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: "Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 48:16
    The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
    Genesis 48:20
    So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'" Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 47:31
    And he said, "Swear to me"; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 50:24 - 25
    And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
    Exodus 13:19
    Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 2:2 - 3
    The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
    Acts 7:20
    At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 1:16
    "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live."
    Exodus 1:22
    Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 2:10 - 11
    When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, "Because," she said, "I drew him out of the water.
  12. Cross References
    Job 36:21
    Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
    Psalms 84:10
    For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
  13. Cross References
    1 John 2:17
    And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
  14. Cross References
    Hebrews 13:13
    Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
    Psalms 89:50 - 51
    Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations.
    Philippians 3:7 - 8
    But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
    1 Peter 4:14
    If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
  15. Cross References
    Hebrews 2:2
    For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution.
    Hebrews 10:35
    Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
  16. Cross References
    Exodus 12:37
    And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.
    Exodus 13:17 - 18
    When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.
  17. Cross References
    Exodus 10:28 - 29
    Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.
  18. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:13
    These 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.
    1 Timothy 1:17
    To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
  19. Cross References
    Exodus 12:21 - 30
    Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb.
  20. Cross References
    Exodus 14:21 - 30
    Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
  21. Cross References
    Joshua 6:15 - 16
    On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
    Joshua 6:20
    So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
  22. Cross References
    Joshua 6:25
    But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
    James 2:25
    And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
  23. Cross References
    Joshua 2:1
    And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
    Joshua 2:8 - 13
    Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof
  24. Cross References
    Judges 6:11
    Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
  25. Cross References
    Judges 4:6
    She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, "Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun.
  26. Cross References
    Judges 13:24
    And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him.
  27. Cross References
    Judges 11:1
    Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.
  28. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:1
    The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.
    1 Samuel 16:13
    Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
  29. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:20
    And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the Lord.
  30. Cross References
    Judges 14:6
    Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
    1 Samuel 17:35
    I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
    Daniel 6:22
    My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.
  31. Cross References
    Daniel 3:25
    He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
  32. Cross References
    Judges 7:21
    Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled.
    1 Samuel 17:51
    Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
    2 Samuel 12:29
    So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.
  33. Cross References
    Judges 7:21
    Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled.
    1 Samuel 17:51
    Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
    2 Samuel 12:29
    So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.
  34. Cross References
    1 Kings 17:22
    And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.
    2 Kings 4:35
    Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 39:20
    And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
    Jeremiah 20:2
    Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the Lord.
    Jeremiah 37:15
    And the officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for it had been made a prison.
  36. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:13
    And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.
    2 Chronicles 24:21
    But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord.
  37. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:10
    He said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.
    Jeremiah 26:23
    And they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and dumped his dead body into the burial place of the common people.
  38. Cross References
    2 Kings 1:8
    They answered him, "He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite.
  39. Cross References
    1 Samuel 22:1
    David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
    1 Kings 18:4
    And when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)
    1 Kings 19:9
    There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?
  40. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:2
    For by it the people of old received their commendation.
    Hebrews 11:13
    These 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.
    1 Peter 1:12
    It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
  41. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:2
    For by it the people of old received their commendation.
    Hebrews 11:13
    These 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.
    1 Peter 1:12
    It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
  42. Cross References
    Revelation 6:11
    Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.