Hebrews

Explains Jesus' superiority and encourages believers to persevere in faith amid persecution.

Chapter 11

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

*Now, faith means having confidence in things we hope to happen, and it's proof of things we can't see.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

*For this reason, the older people got a positive mention.

3 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.

*Through belief, we understand that God created the world using His power, not from visible things.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

*By believing, Abel gave God a better offering than Cain, showing he was good. God agreed and praised his gift. Even though Abel is gone, his actions still prove his goodness.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

*By faith, Enoch was taken up to heaven so he wouldn't die; he couldn't be found because God moved him there. This happened because Enoch made God happy.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

*Without faith, it's hard to make God happy. To get close to God, you need to believe in his existence and that he rewards those who truly search for him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

*By believing in God, Noah received a warning about future events. Scared, he built an ark to save his family. This action showed the world's wrongdoing and made him an inheritor of righteousness through faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

*By belief, Abraham followed the call to leave for a place he would later inherit, and he went without knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

*He traveled in the promised land like a visitor, living in temporary homes with Isaac and Jacob, who were also promised the same thing.

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

*He searched for a city with strong foundations, built by God himself.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

*Through faith, Sarah got the power to have a baby, even when she was old. She believed the one who promised would keep his word.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

*So from one nearly dead person, many, many people appeared, just like the countless stars in the sky and the endless grains of sand on the beach.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

*They believed but didn't see the promises. They saw them from far away, trusted them, accepted them, and admitted they were just passing through Earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

*For those who talk about it clearly show they want a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

*If they had remembered their homeland, they could have had a chance to go back.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

*Now they want a better home, which is in heaven: that's why God isn't embarrassed to be their God, because he has prepared a special city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

*By belief, Abraham, when tested, gave up Isaac; the one who got the promises also gave his unique child.

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

*This verse says that the people are called "seed of Isaac."

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

*Understanding that God could bring him back to life, even after death; is why he received him symbolically.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

*By belief, Isaac gave blessings to Jacob and Esau about future events.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

*As he was about to die, Jacob blessed Joseph's two sons and then worshiped, leaning on his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

*When Joseph died, he spoke by faith about the leaving of the Israeli children. He also ordered what to do with his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

*Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born because they knew he was special and weren't scared of the king's orders.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

*Moses, after growing up, didn't want to be called Pharaoh's daughter's son; he relied on his faith.

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

*Preferring to endure hardship with God's people instead of having temporary fun from doing wrong.

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

*Valuing Christ's disgrace more than Egypt's wealth, because he cared about the payment of the prize given.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

*He left Egypt because of his faith and wasn't afraid of the king's anger. He could do this because he saw, in his mind, someone unseen who was supporting him.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

*By believing, he protected the Passover and used blood to prevent the destroyer of firstborns from harming them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

*Through faith, they crossed the Red Sea like walking on dry ground. The Egyptians tried to follow but were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

*By believing, the walls of Jericho collapsed after being circled for seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

*By faith, the prostitute Rahab did not die with those who didn't believe, after welcoming the spies kindly.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

*And what else can I say? There wouldn't be enough time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

*Who, by believing, conquered lands, did what was right, received promises, and silenced lions' roars.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

*Put out the fire's anger, got away from the knife's sharp side, became powerful from being weak, bravely fought, and chased away foreign armies running.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

*Women brought their deceased back to life: while others endured torture, refusing to be saved. They did this to achieve a superior rising from the dead.

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

*They experienced harsh ridicule and whippings, as well as chains and being locked up.

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

*They faced stones and sawing, experienced temptations, were killed by swords. They wore animal skins because they had nothing, and suffered greatly.

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

*Those who were not fit for the world lived in deserts, on mountains, and in underground holes and caves.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

*And they all, who got a good reputation by their faith, didn't receive the promise.

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

*God gave us something better, so others can't be complete without us.

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