Hebrews 11

1:1 formerly (g-11) Or ‘of old.’

Hebrews 11:1

11:1 substantiating (f-5) Or ‘assurance,’ ‘firm conviction.’ see ch. 3.14.

Hebrews 11:4

11:4 yet (a-33) He alludes. I judge, to the voice which called to God from the ground , but supposes the voice still heard as witnessing to Abel’s faith.

Hebrews 11:5

11:5 pleased (b-32) The LXX so translated into Greek the Hebrew expression ‘walked with God’ in Genesis 5:24 .

Hebrews 11:9

11:9 foreign (c-15) i.e. not his own.

Hebrews 11:13

11:13 faith, (d-5) Or ‘according to faith;’ having only the promise and not the fulfilment. earth. (e-31) Or ’land.’

Hebrews 11:17

11:17 himself (f-15) The Greek implies the will or action of the person receiving. It is used only here and in Acts 28:7 . Publius received, ’took,’ Paul and his company into his house. It has the sense of taking on oneself physically, or as a debt or responsibility. Abraham’s own mind had taken up and appropriated the promises, and yet he gave up Isaac. It was not merely they were given and taken away, with which he had nothing to do; but he had adopted them by faith in his heart, and trusted God enough to give them up according to flesh.

Hebrews 11:18

11:18 said, (g-7) See Genesis 21:12 .

Hebrews 11:19

11:19 received (h-17) The force of the Greek, thus applied, is to get back what one had, or what belonged to one, when it might have seemed lost for ever, as Matthew 25:27 . The sense I think quite certain in its application to Isaac’s sacrifice. The aorist is constantly used in this chapter historically.

Hebrews 11:21

11:21 staff. (a-20) This follows the LXX translation of Gen 47:31 .

Hebrews 11:22

11:22 dying (b-5) Lit. ’ending life.’

Hebrews 11:25

11:25 choosing (c-1) These are aorists, but in English the present participle is joined to the perfect tense as characterizing the action. ‘He refused … choosing;’ ‘he refused … having chosen’ would make a different time of it, not the same. In Greek all is referred to the time of speaking.

Hebrews 11:26

11:26 esteeming (c-1) These are aorists, but in English the present participle is joined to the perfect tense as characterizing the action. ‘He refused … choosing;’ ‘he refused … having chosen’ would make a different time of it, not the same. In Greek all is referred to the time of speaking.

Hebrews 11:27

11:27 fearing (c-7) These are aorists, but in English the present participle is joined to the perfect tense as characterizing the action. ‘He refused … choosing;’ ‘he refused … having chosen’ would make a different time of it, not the same. In Greek all is referred to the time of speaking.

Hebrews 11:28

11:28 celebrated (d-4) Here and ver. 17, as to the offering up Isaac, the verbs are in the perfect; this is remarkable. The other facts are generally passing facts, part of the whole history; these are of standing significance, either figuratively setting the believer on a new ground, or viewed as continued till the time of the epistle. ‘by faith Abraham has offered,’ ‘by faith he has celebrated;’ only this is not possible in English. It was not external continuance, for the blood sprinkling was only once.

Hebrews 11:31

11:31 in (e-17) Lit. ‘with.’

Hebrews 11:33

11:33 promises, (f-9) i.e. ‘what was promised.’

Hebrews 11:35

11:35 tortured, (g-11) Perhaps ‘beaten [to death].’