ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Hebrews 11

Heb. 11:1 assurance. Or “confidence” (3:14). hoped for. On hope, see 6:11; 18; 10:23. conviction of things not seen. Faith is a settled confidence that something in the future—something that God has promised—will actually happen because God will make it happen.

Heb. 11:3 God created the universe by his word. The wording so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible is consistent with the doctrine of creation “from nothing.” Compare Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6; 9; 90:2; John 1:3; Acts 14:15; Rom. 4:17.

Heb. 11:4 commended as righteous. The acceptance of Abel’s offering (Gen. 4:4, 7) showed God’s acceptance of the person (see Gen. 4:7).

Heb. 11:5 Enoch was taken up. Genesis 5:21–24 indicates that Enoch did not die.

Heb. 11:6 to please him. The Greek Septuagint translation of Genesis states that certain patriarchs “pleased God” (translating the Hebrew phrase for “walked with God”): Enoch (Gen. 5:22, 24), Noah (Gen. 6:9), Abraham (Gen. 17:1; 24:40; 48:15), and Isaac (Gen. 48:15). Each is discussed in Hebrews 11. draw near. See note on 4:16.

Heb. 11:7 Noah. See Gen. 6:9–9:29. events as yet unseen. See Heb. 11:1. reverent fear. See 5:7 and 12:28, where such an attitude is also commended. condemned the world. Noah’s righteous obedience to God showed how sinful the world was to reject Noah’s message (compare 2 Pet. 2:5) and God’s moral standards. heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Noah is called “righteous” in Gen. 7:1, after his faithful response in building the ark (Gen. 6:22).

Heb. 11:8–9 God called Abraham to leave Haran and go to Canaan (Gen. 12:1–4). inheritance. Compare Heb. 9:15. not knowing where he was going. See 11:1. land of promise. See Gen. 15:18–21. On God’s promises, see Heb. 6:12–15. foreign land. See 11:13–16.

Heb. 11:11–12 Sarah. See Gen. 21:1–7. Sarah first laughed, apparently in unbelief (Gen. 18:9–15). However she later believed, as her laughter expressed joy at Isaac’s birth (Gen. 21:6), whose name means “laughter.” considered him faithful. See Heb. 10:23. stars . . . sand. A reference to Gen. 22:17.

Heb. 11:13 died in faith. They were faithful until they died. not having received. Abraham and Sarah were called to a Promised Land and promised many offspring. They believed these promises while moving from place to place in a land not wholly theirs. They believed that their family would grow over generations from one child to an immense number of people. strangers and exiles on the earth. See Gen. 23:4; Ex. 2:22; Lev. 25:23. See also 1 Chron. 29:15; Ps. 39:12; 1 Pet. 2:11.

Heb. 11:14–16 The people he has mentioned in vv. 1–13 were seeking a better (heavenly) country. This was their true homeland. prepared for them a city. See v. 10; 12:22–24; 13:13–14.

Heb. 11:17–19 Abraham, when he was tested (see Gen. 22:1–19). For “tested,” see note on Heb. 4:15. Here it means testing to strengthen faith. See also 2:18 (compare James 1:2–4, 12–15; 1 Pet. 1:6–7; 4:12–14). Only son designates Isaac as Abraham’s unique son. Though Abraham had other children (Gen. 16:15; 25:1–2), Isaac was the son who was “one of a kind,” in the sense of being Abraham’s only heir and the only bearer of covenant promises (Gen. 21:12; 22:15–18; 25:5). raise him from the dead. Abraham expressed confidence that he would return with Isaac (Gen. 22:5). Hebrews draws an analogy between resurrection and Isaac being spared.

Heb. 11:20 Isaac. See Gen. 27:1–45. These promised future blessings (especially Gen. 27:28–29, 39–40) show Isaac’s hope for the future.

Heb. 11:21 Jacob. See Gen. 48:8–22. Similar to Isaac, Jacob’s future hope was based on God’s promises (see Gen. 48:3–6). This hope is clear in his blessing of his sons (Gen. 49:1–27) and the sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh, Gen. 48:8–22).

Heb. 11:22 Joseph. Joseph’s future hope was that God would give his people the Promised Land. That is why Joseph wanted his bones to be moved to that land (Gen. 50:24–25).

Heb. 11:23 The parents of Moses preserved his life in hope. beautiful. See Ex. 2:2; Acts 7:20.

Heb. 11:24–26 Moses refused the privileges of Egypt, including those of being the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Ex. 2:10). Instead he identified with God’s people (Ex. 2:11–12). He sought God’s reward (Heb. 10:35; 11:6). fleeting pleasures of sin. Contrasted with eternal reward (compare Ps. 16:11). reproach of Christ. Moses personally suffered because he was faithful to God and the promise of the coming Christ.

Heb. 11:27 By faith he left Egypt could refer to Moses fleeing Egypt for Midian (but see Ex. 2:14–15) or to the exodus. It could also continue the description of Moses’ decision to stand with God’s people rather than the Egyptians. He “left,” or “abandoned,” all that Egypt represented. seeing him who is invisible. Moses could not see God, but he trusted him fully (see Heb. 11:1).

Heb. 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover. Moses celebrated the Passover before God delivered Israel from Egypt (Ex. 12:1–32).

Heb. 11:29 It took faith to walk through the Red Sea with walls of water on each side (Ex. 14:10–31). The people had to rely on God’s promise (Ex. 14:1–4, 15–18).

Heb. 11:30 At Jericho, the Israelites followed God’s commandment before receiving the promised victory (Josh. 6:1–21).

Heb. 11:31 Before the destruction of Jericho (v. 30; see Josh. 2:1–21), Rahab showed remarkable faith, since she was a Gentile and a sinner (prostitute).

Heb. 11:32 Despite their sins, Gideon (Judges 6–8), Barak (Judges 4–5), Samson (Judges 13–16), and Jephthah (Judges 11–12) demonstrated faith in the one true God at key moments in their lives. the prophets. Old Testament prophets who either wrote the OT Prophetic Books or appear in OT historical narratives (like Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, some of whom are clearly referred to in Heb. 11:33–38).

Heb. 11:33 enforced justice. Or “worked righteousness.” This was an especially important role of the judges (see 1 Sam. 7:15–17) and the king (see 2 Sam. 8:15; compare Jer. 23:5–6). obtained promises. God kept all the promises he made to Israel’s leaders (for example, Judg. 4:14; 6:12–16; 7:7), especially to David and his messianic heir (2 Sam. 7:11–14; Heb. 1:5). stopped the mouths of lions. Likely a reference to Daniel (Dan. 6:16–28).

Heb. 11:34 Quenched the power of fire likely refers to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan. 2:49–3:30). escaped the edge of the sword. See 1 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 6:31–33; Jer. 36:26; and contrast Heb. 11:37. made strong out of weakness. Perhaps providing an example to readers in their “weaknesses” (4:15).

Heb. 11:35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. E.g., Elijah (1 Kings 17:17–24), and Elisha (2 Kings 4:18–37). rise again to a better life. Literally, “obtain a better resurrection,” a final one, to eternal life.

Heb. 11:36 mocking . . . imprisonment. Much like some of the first readers of Hebrews endured (10:32–34; 13:3). This would especially remind readers of Jeremiah’s suffering (see Jer. 20:2; 37:4; 15–21), though others were also mistreated (see 1 Kings 22:26–27; 2 Chron. 16:7–10; 36:15–16).

Heb. 11:37 stoned . . . sawn in two. These probably represent the traditional accounts of the deaths of Jeremiah and Isaiah. Other prophets were also stoned (2 Chron. 24:21; Matt. 23:37; see Luke 11:49–51; 13:33–34). killed with the sword. Some believers escape death (Heb. 11:34), but others do not (see 1 Kings 19:10, 14; Jer. 2:30; 26:20–23). skins of sheep and goats. The clothing of prophets, such as Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) and other poor people (Zech. 13:4; Matt. 7:15).

Heb. 11:38 dens and caves. Especially associated with prophets in hiding (1 Kings 18:4; 13; 19:9).

Heb. 11:39–40 commended through their faith. See vv. 2, 4–5. did not receive what was promised. These people of faith looked for a greater future hope (v. 16). In light of chs. 1–10, something better for us refers to the new covenant realities of the sovereign Son of God. made perfect. The perfection of believers is elsewhere the goal (compare 10:14; 12:23), accomplished through the work of the perfect Son of God (2:10; 5:9; 7:28). apart from us. OT believers and all believers since then share the same future perfection.