HEB 11:8-19

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah

8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was about to receive as an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. [11:9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise — [11:10] for he was awaiting the city having foundations, whose architect and builder is God. [11:11] By faith Sarah herself also received power for the laying down of a seed — even beyond the season of age — since she considered the one who had promised to be faithful; [11:12] and so from one man — and that one as good as dead — were born descendants as the stars of the sky in number, and as the sand along the shore of the sea, innumerable. [11:13] In faith all these died, without receiving the promises — yet having seen them from a distance and having embraced them, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth. [11:14] For those who say such things make clear that they are seeking a homeland. [11:15] And if indeed they had in mind that country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return; [11:16] but as it is, they were reaching for a better one — that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he prepared a city for them. [11:17] By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac — and the one who had received the promises was offering up his one and only son — [11:18] of whom it was said, 'In Isaac shall your offspring be named.' [11:19] He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a symbol.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, Jewish listeners would have understood Abraham’s story as foundational to their identity as God’s covenant people. The term (inheritance) evoked the promise of land and blessing given to Abraham’s descendants, a central theme in Jewish tradition. Abraham’s obedience to leave his homeland (Genesis 12) and his sojourning in tents would resonate with Jewish listeners familiar with their ancestors’ nomadic history and the hope of a permanent homeland. The mention of Sarah’s barrenness and her eventual conception of Isaac would highlight God’s miraculous intervention, a recurring motif in Jewish narratives. The reference to a city with foundations, whose architect is God, would evoke eschatological hopes of a heavenly Jerusalem, a concept present in Second Temple Jewish thought. This framing underscores Abraham’s faith as a model of trust in God’s promises, even when fulfillment seems impossible.

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How other translations render this

HEB 11:8

KJV: 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.
BSB: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
Koinōnos: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was about to receive as an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

HEB 11:9

KJV: 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:
BSB: By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Koinōnos: By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise —

HEB 11:10

KJV: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
BSB: For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Koinōnos: for he was awaiting the city having foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

HEB 11:11

KJV: 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.
BSB: By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Koinōnos: By faith Sarah herself also received power for the laying down of a seed — even beyond the season of age — since she considered the one who had promised to be faithful;

HEB 11:12

KJV: 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.
BSB: And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Koinōnos: and so from one man — and that one as good as dead — were born descendants as the stars of the sky in number, and as the sand along the shore of the sea, innumerable.

HEB 11:13

KJV: 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.
BSB: All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Koinōnos: In faith all these died, without receiving the promises — yet having seen them from a distance and having embraced them, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.

HEB 11:14

KJV: For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
BSB: Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
Koinōnos: For those who say such things make clear that they are seeking a homeland.

HEB 11:15

KJV: And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
BSB: If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
Koinōnos: And if indeed they had in mind that country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return;

HEB 11:16

KJV: 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.
BSB: Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Koinōnos: but as it is, they were reaching for a better one — that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he prepared a city for them.

HEB 11:17

KJV: By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
BSB: By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,
Koinōnos: By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac — and the one who had received the promises was offering up his one and only son —

HEB 11:18

KJV: Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
BSB: even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
Koinōnos: of whom it was said, 'In Isaac shall your offspring be named.

HEB 11:19

KJV: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
BSB: Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Koinōnos: He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a symbol.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

HEB 11:8

to receive:The word translated 'to receive' here carries the sense of inheriting something as an heir, implying a rightful claim and a future possession, not just a general act of receiving.

HEB 11:9

he sojourned:The term used here for 'he sojourned' describes someone living in a foreign land without permanent citizenship or full rights, emphasizing their temporary and outsider status.

HEB 11:11

for:The word translated 'for' in this context refers to the 'foundation' or 'beginning' of something, often used in ancient texts to describe the act of conception or the laying down of a basis.

HEB 11:13

having been persuaded:The word translated 'having been persuaded' also carries the meaning of warmly greeting or embracing something, suggesting an eager and welcoming acceptance rather than just intellectual conviction.