Hebrews 11:1 BSB — MannaFest

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

KJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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Commentary

3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for - On the general nature of faith, see the notes on Mar 16:16. The margin here is, “ground or confidence.” There is scarcely any verse of the New Testament more important than this, for it states what is the nature of all true faith, and is the only definition of it which is attempted in the Scriptures. Eternal life depends on the existence and exercise of faith Mar 16:16, and hence, the importance of an accurate understanding of its nature.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

For faith justifies only as it refers to, and depends on, Christ. But here is no mention of him as the object of faith; and in several of the instances that follow, no notice is taken of him or his salvation, but only of temporal blessings obtained by faith.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

A definition or description of the grace of faith in two parts. It is the substance of things hoped for. Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the object of our hope are the object of our faith.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

9 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Ἔστιν	Estin	Is	G1510 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
πίστις	pistis	faith	G4102 →
ἐλπιζομένων	elpizomenōn	of [things] hoped for	G1679 →
ὑπόστασις,	hupostasis	[the] assurance,	G5287 →
πραγμάτων	pragmatōn	of things	G4229 →
ἔλεγχος	elegchos	[the] conviction	G1650 →
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
βλεπομένων.	blepomenōn	being seen.	G991 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
leads to
- Romans 8:24–25
  For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
  For we walk by faith, not by sight.
- 1 John 2:16–17
  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
Through
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
leads to
- Hebrews 11:1–27
  Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- 1 Peter 1:8
  Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
- Hebrews 10:38
  But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
Through
Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
leads to
- Ezekiel 36:25
  I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

Featured studies on this passage

On Hebrews 11:1

The Hall of Faith

Hebrews 11 walks the whole Old Testament as one procession — witness by witness, each name a deed, all of them running toward Jesus.

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The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek (Rubens)

On Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews, the Study Guide

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Elijah Ascends to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire — engraving by Gustave Doré

Walks through Hebrews 11

Enoch, the Man Who Walked with God, MannaFest

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The Courage of a Mother — engraving by Gustave Doré

Walks through Hebrews 11

The Seven Brothers and Their Mother

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Walks through Hebrews 11

Adam to Noah

Ten generations, sixteen centuries, and one man who did not die — the register of Genesis 5, read honestly.

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Walks through Hebrews 11

The Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22), MannaFest

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About Hebrews

Christ Presented to the People — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Hebrews: the study guide →Read chapter 11 →The featured study →

Faith
The chapter's definition: faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hope
Faith itself defined in terms of the things hope is fixed on.

Continue: Hebrews 11 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Hebrews

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Hebrews